Boná and Otoque Islands to the Panama Canal
The Chief Mate on the bridge made a large gentle turn just as we were about to enter into the sheltered waters of Otoque, Boná and Estiva Islands. A few of us had seen a fluffy blow, twice now, but with the whitecaps and strong breeze couldn’t get a glimpse of the whale. After a fair wait, we continued our turn and got back on track, dropping anchor inshore a few minutes later.
Zodiacs were lowered and immediately filled with guests for a cruise along the steep and rocky shores of these islands located well within the Gulf of Panama. The gulf was discovered to contain rich fishing grounds by the first human inhabitants of the region, but sea birds have known this for millennia. Brown boobies stood over nests surrounded by cacti growth, their downy chicks perking up when a shadow with parental potential passed overhead. Blue-footed boobies perched on cliff sides; brown pelicans flew in seemingly coordinated flight patterns; frigatebirds displayed magnificent aerial maneuvers in thermals over neighborhoods of courting colleagues.
In the background, massive shipping vessels steamed hazily in the distance. Anonymous, massive and silent, they were a reminder of how close we lie from our afternoon’s destination.
By mid-afternoon, we were anchored with customs and immigration officials on board. Soon enough we were cleared and used this time waiting for our canal pilot to have a Question and Answer session with our Panamanian naturalist, Alvaro, on the Panama Canal and a variety of other topics. By late afternoon, we were cruising slowly towards Miraflores lock by way of under the Bridge of the Americas, and as the last light left the sky and the canal became lit up under a myriad of other colors, we passed into the first lock and left the Pacific Ocean behind.
The Chief Mate on the bridge made a large gentle turn just as we were about to enter into the sheltered waters of Otoque, Boná and Estiva Islands. A few of us had seen a fluffy blow, twice now, but with the whitecaps and strong breeze couldn’t get a glimpse of the whale. After a fair wait, we continued our turn and got back on track, dropping anchor inshore a few minutes later.
Zodiacs were lowered and immediately filled with guests for a cruise along the steep and rocky shores of these islands located well within the Gulf of Panama. The gulf was discovered to contain rich fishing grounds by the first human inhabitants of the region, but sea birds have known this for millennia. Brown boobies stood over nests surrounded by cacti growth, their downy chicks perking up when a shadow with parental potential passed overhead. Blue-footed boobies perched on cliff sides; brown pelicans flew in seemingly coordinated flight patterns; frigatebirds displayed magnificent aerial maneuvers in thermals over neighborhoods of courting colleagues.
In the background, massive shipping vessels steamed hazily in the distance. Anonymous, massive and silent, they were a reminder of how close we lie from our afternoon’s destination.
By mid-afternoon, we were anchored with customs and immigration officials on board. Soon enough we were cleared and used this time waiting for our canal pilot to have a Question and Answer session with our Panamanian naturalist, Alvaro, on the Panama Canal and a variety of other topics. By late afternoon, we were cruising slowly towards Miraflores lock by way of under the Bridge of the Americas, and as the last light left the sky and the canal became lit up under a myriad of other colors, we passed into the first lock and left the Pacific Ocean behind.
