Boca Grande and Granito de Oro Islet, Coiba National Park
The sun gave off its first rays when the anchor was dropped. After sailing 190 nautical miles, we had arrived to Coiba National Park. We had heard a lot about this park and the question was: “what are we going to see in this place?” The answer was about to be given.
Since 1919, Coiba was set aside as a penal colony. A number of work camps were created on the eastern side of the island, and land was cleared for pasture and the planting of food crops adjacent to the camps. In 1991 the park was created with an extension of 270,000 hectares in which 50,000 hectares are land and the rest are oceanic. Today most of the penal camps have been shut down and the inmates have been relocated in other prisons of the country. So many years unoccupied have left it as one of the most pristine place to visit. It is home to more than 69 species of fish and many other animals.
Right after breakfast, we got ready to explore the southeastern corner of this island, the mouth of Boca Grande River. Some went by kayak while others went on the Zodiacs. This area is covered by mangroves and semi-deciduous forest. Black iguanas were on shore and didn’t mind our presence, while the green iguanas ran at the sight of us. The endemic species of howler monkey saluted us with their typical howls. Bat falcons, mangrove hawks, a pair of scarlet macaws and spotted eagle rays, sting rays and jacks were some of the sightings of the morning. We didn’t notice, but the morning passed and we needed to reposition the Sea Voyager. Granito de Oro Islet was waiting for us.
What an afternoon! The snorkeling was more than great. Surgeon fishes, moorish idols, white-tipped reef sharks, jewel moray eels, bicolor parrot fish, and a lot of different fishes showed up to give evidence that it’s one of the biggest coral reefs in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
It was hard to say goodbye to this paradise, but we had to continue to our next destination, “The Eden of Costa Rica!”
The sun gave off its first rays when the anchor was dropped. After sailing 190 nautical miles, we had arrived to Coiba National Park. We had heard a lot about this park and the question was: “what are we going to see in this place?” The answer was about to be given.
Since 1919, Coiba was set aside as a penal colony. A number of work camps were created on the eastern side of the island, and land was cleared for pasture and the planting of food crops adjacent to the camps. In 1991 the park was created with an extension of 270,000 hectares in which 50,000 hectares are land and the rest are oceanic. Today most of the penal camps have been shut down and the inmates have been relocated in other prisons of the country. So many years unoccupied have left it as one of the most pristine place to visit. It is home to more than 69 species of fish and many other animals.
Right after breakfast, we got ready to explore the southeastern corner of this island, the mouth of Boca Grande River. Some went by kayak while others went on the Zodiacs. This area is covered by mangroves and semi-deciduous forest. Black iguanas were on shore and didn’t mind our presence, while the green iguanas ran at the sight of us. The endemic species of howler monkey saluted us with their typical howls. Bat falcons, mangrove hawks, a pair of scarlet macaws and spotted eagle rays, sting rays and jacks were some of the sightings of the morning. We didn’t notice, but the morning passed and we needed to reposition the Sea Voyager. Granito de Oro Islet was waiting for us.
What an afternoon! The snorkeling was more than great. Surgeon fishes, moorish idols, white-tipped reef sharks, jewel moray eels, bicolor parrot fish, and a lot of different fishes showed up to give evidence that it’s one of the biggest coral reefs in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
It was hard to say goodbye to this paradise, but we had to continue to our next destination, “The Eden of Costa Rica!”
