The morning came early for some… a pre-breakfast stroll along the main island of Coiba National Park for bird-watching and photography. While there, National Geographic Sea Lion repositioned a short distance away to a tiny paradise island called Granito de Oro, or “Golden Nugget.”
Upon swinging legs out of Zodiacs, the first thing most people noticed was a perpetual movement along the sand. Hermit crabs everywhere! How fun to watch them scurry and scramble along and then ZIP! curl themselves inside their shells when a movement seemed to close. Getting acquainted with the rest of the island… a half-dozen coconut palm trees, a few other trees, and a rocky outcropping. That’s it! Think Gary Larson’s “Far Side” cartoon. The high-tide shoreline was filled with washed-up white coral and sea shells. Activities here included snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, and lazing on the beach. Many colorful fish were seen, as well as turtles and reef sharks by some lucky snorkelers.
In the afternoon, the ship repositioned back to Coiba Island for a picnic lunch – thank you galley and hotel staff! – and more snorkeling, swimming, frisbee and soccer on the beach, and siestas in the lounge chairs and hammocks. A short birding walk turned into a monkey walk when a troop of white-faced capuchin monkeys came on the scene.
Tired and happy, we returned to the ship just as rumbles of thunder turned into torrential rains. Perfect timing! We gathered in the lounge for a talk to prepare us for our arrival in Costa Rica tomorrow morning, followed by recap and another delicious meal.
