Barro Colorado Island, Panama Canal, and Taboga Island
Our first full day of expedition found the Sea Voyager anchored in the waters of Gatun Lake while an amazing sunrise reflected on the lake waters. After going ashore, the trails of Barro Colorado Island welcomed us showing the importance of this Monument dedicated to scientific research since 1923 when it became a biological reserve. The local guides of the Smithsonian Institute talked to us about the projects that are taking place in the island. It was a good introduction to the coming days, since different forms of wildlife appeared to remind us that the tropics play an important roll in the world.
Then we came back to the ship, and we started moving through Gatun Lake. The transit down to the Pacific went on as soon as all the passengers were back on board, and if it was not enough of good luck, we went across the locks without any other ships so people got the best views of the process.
Since we went across Pedro Miguel and Miraflores Locks on a non stop transit, there was time for an unexpected surprise. Erasmo, our hotel manager, invited us to his family’s house at Taboga Island, a fishermen’s town on the Pacific. Founded by Vasco Nuñez de Balboa in 1513, the island was also home to other famous people such as the French impressionist artist Paul Gauguin and the Spanish Conquistador Francisco Pizarro who planned the trip down to the land of the Inca Empire. After walking around and getting a close up to Panama’s culture, we ended up at Erasmo’s place and enjoyed some Costa Rican cocktails and a delicious ceviche, a traditional sea bass marinated on a lemon juice with cilantro, onions and red pepper. Then we returned to the ship and had a delicious Panamanian dinner.
Our first full day of expedition found the Sea Voyager anchored in the waters of Gatun Lake while an amazing sunrise reflected on the lake waters. After going ashore, the trails of Barro Colorado Island welcomed us showing the importance of this Monument dedicated to scientific research since 1923 when it became a biological reserve. The local guides of the Smithsonian Institute talked to us about the projects that are taking place in the island. It was a good introduction to the coming days, since different forms of wildlife appeared to remind us that the tropics play an important roll in the world.
Then we came back to the ship, and we started moving through Gatun Lake. The transit down to the Pacific went on as soon as all the passengers were back on board, and if it was not enough of good luck, we went across the locks without any other ships so people got the best views of the process.
Since we went across Pedro Miguel and Miraflores Locks on a non stop transit, there was time for an unexpected surprise. Erasmo, our hotel manager, invited us to his family’s house at Taboga Island, a fishermen’s town on the Pacific. Founded by Vasco Nuñez de Balboa in 1513, the island was also home to other famous people such as the French impressionist artist Paul Gauguin and the Spanish Conquistador Francisco Pizarro who planned the trip down to the land of the Inca Empire. After walking around and getting a close up to Panama’s culture, we ended up at Erasmo’s place and enjoyed some Costa Rican cocktails and a delicious ceviche, a traditional sea bass marinated on a lemon juice with cilantro, onions and red pepper. Then we returned to the ship and had a delicious Panamanian dinner.
