Pacheca and Taboga Islands, Gulf of Panama
Early risers started a Zodiac cruise around Pacheca Island. The northernmost piece of land of the Pearl Islands (Las Perlas archipelago) is an important bird rookery. Several species of seabirds find a suitable nesting site away from some predators from the mainland. Brown pelicans, magnificent frigatebirds, Neotropical cormorants, blue footed boobies and brown boobies are seen in amazing quantities and some of them are working on their wonderful courtship display or taking care of their chicks. The cormorants and the boobies were plainly trying to sort out their way into the island through the difficult obstacles represented by frigatebirds. Deprived of the ability to swim, frigatebirds harass other seabirds making them regurgitate their catch.
A last opportunity to snorkel in the wealthy waters of the Eastern Pacific in the Bay of Panama was taken around the small island of Bartolomé.
For our sunset cocktails, we visited the picturesque island of Taboga. A small fishing village where Paul Gauguin lived, has kept its narrow streets and striking array of colors. Inhabited by the Spanish as early as 1519, Taboga is one of the first settlements of Europeans at the South Sea.
We cruised a short distance to the marina at Flamenco Island at the end of the causeway and of our trip. Large ships abounded in the waters readying themselves for their transit of the Panama Canal, providing a backdrop of twinkling lights as we prepared for departure.
Early risers started a Zodiac cruise around Pacheca Island. The northernmost piece of land of the Pearl Islands (Las Perlas archipelago) is an important bird rookery. Several species of seabirds find a suitable nesting site away from some predators from the mainland. Brown pelicans, magnificent frigatebirds, Neotropical cormorants, blue footed boobies and brown boobies are seen in amazing quantities and some of them are working on their wonderful courtship display or taking care of their chicks. The cormorants and the boobies were plainly trying to sort out their way into the island through the difficult obstacles represented by frigatebirds. Deprived of the ability to swim, frigatebirds harass other seabirds making them regurgitate their catch.
A last opportunity to snorkel in the wealthy waters of the Eastern Pacific in the Bay of Panama was taken around the small island of Bartolomé.
For our sunset cocktails, we visited the picturesque island of Taboga. A small fishing village where Paul Gauguin lived, has kept its narrow streets and striking array of colors. Inhabited by the Spanish as early as 1519, Taboga is one of the first settlements of Europeans at the South Sea.
We cruised a short distance to the marina at Flamenco Island at the end of the causeway and of our trip. Large ships abounded in the waters readying themselves for their transit of the Panama Canal, providing a backdrop of twinkling lights as we prepared for departure.
