Panama Canal & Barro Colorado Island

We began our adventure in Panama and Costa Rica last night. As we arrived onto our home away from home for a week, the National Geographic Sea Lion, we were summoned to begin our transit through the Canal, one of the modern wonders of the engineering world. The Panama Canal has been, since the beginning of last century, one of the most incredible feats of human history. Through the strength of a few and the death of thousands of others, ten years of construction accomplished this cement marvel.

We commenced by transiting the Gatun Locks, the one set of locks on the Caribbean side that consists of three chambers, which would raise us from sea level up 54 feet. The lights were at the perfect intensity, and the sun had set letting us rest from the powerful tropical sunrays. The workers were precise, throwing and receiving the lead ball that would connect us to the famous “mules,” the locomotives that would maintain our vessel in place within the Gatun Lock chambers.

This morning found us just off of the pier of Barro Colorado Island or BCI. This island was created from a hilltop, when Gatun Lake was formed by the flooding of the valleys that then existed. As the water from the Chagres River filled the lake, the greatest research station found in the Neotropics, was being shaped. BCI is run by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and, for over 80 years, it has accumulated information on tropical ecology. We were lucky this morning to be able to explore it in two ways: by foot or by Zodiac. Sightings of monkeys, birds, crocodiles and many more were our reward.

As we came back on board the National Geographic Sea Lion, the third Panama Canal pilot came on to guide us through probably the most famous stretch of the Canal: the Culebra or Gaillard Cut. As we cruised away from the BCI area, we moved towards Gamboa – the mid-point within the Canal – we started to see the rain moving towards us. Finally, after a very dry dry season, the first showers always feel good.

We were looking forward to the Centennial Bridge, the Culebra Cut, Pedro Miguel Locks, Miraflores Lake and Locks, onto the Pacific Ocean as we cruise under the Bridge of the Americas. Today we completed the “Path between the Seas” and could only hope to continue the rest of our voyage onto the deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean and the lush green paths of the rainforest.