The sun rose this morning as National Geographic Sea Lion finished its overnight 190 nautical mile journey for the first exploration of the day, Bona Island – a rocky tree covered outcrop jutting from the Pacific Ocean and home to thousands of birds. During the morning expedition landing craft cruises along the rocky shoreline we saw, brown boobies, blue-footed boobies, brown pelicans and numerous magnificent frigatebirds. The rocky outcropping of an island is such a rich rookery due to a strong upwelling of nutrient filled waters in the area of Bona Island.
After the morning’s exploration, the ship re-positioned to Isla Taboga, home to the oldest church in the western hemisphere, founded in 1524. Colorful houses line the hillside over a sand beach on the small Island where guests chose to swim in the clear waters of the Pacific.
After our brief but fabulous stop at Isla Taboga, the National Geographic Sea Lion tied up near the mouth of the Panama Canal and waited for the Canal Pilot to join the ship.
Following a delicious sunset dinner on the top deck of the ship, the Canal pilot guided us through the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel locks.
