From the National Geographic Sea Lion in Costa Rica & Panama

Bona and Otoque Island, Panamá Canal – Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks

Early in the morning we were very excited to wake up in front of this magical place, the Bona and Otoque Islands. Hundreds of frigate birds, brown boobies, and brown pelicans were ready to give us a very warm good morning. As we all prepared to get aboard the Zodiacs the excitement and expectations were growing. Little by little we approach these beautiful islands located at the Gulf of Panama to observe all these birds in their natural habitat. On every Zodiac cruise we had the chance to observe from a very close distance how the male frigate birds built their nest and proudly their amazing gular pouches with a most vibrant red color.

After this delightful morning our captain was ready to proceed with repositioning our ship right in front of Panama City to wait for our Panamanian Pilot to take us across the first set of locks of the Panama Canal. Once more the expectations were huge and everyone on deck you could hear stories from many of our guest saying this was my childhood dream, to go across the Panama Canal, and today is the day. With their faces full of smiles, expectants of the grand moment we start our way through the Miraflores Locks to then proceed with the Pedro Miguel Locks.

An evening full of emotions and beautiful memories needed a great ending, and what better than a Central American buffet dinner served specially to commemorate this amazing life experience of all our guests aboard National Geographic Sea Lion.