The sun was racing over the mountains of Panama as National Geographic Quest dropped anchor off Barro Colorado Island in the Gatun Lake. Soon after, the first group of guests began their exploration of the area.
Some went to Gamboa to visit the Rainforest Discovery Center while the others did a Zodiac cruise and or walk the various trails on Barro Colorado which is considered to be one of the most important research stations in the neotropics, and for sure the first of a kind.
There some have the chance to see American crocodile, green iguanas, howler monkey while others got to see anteater, chestnut-mandibled toucan, crested guan, etc.
Later in the afternoon and after we returned from the field, we enjoyed a bit of R&R on the sun deck, complete with salsa dancing and winning hors d'oeuvres including seabass ceviche.
The cherry of it all came went there was time for us to transit the last locks of Gatun in the Caribbean site.
