Coiba Island, Panama
Our last day in Panama found us in the country’s own Alcatraz, Coiba Island. It was once a prison for the most wanted criminals, which is the reason why the island has remained as pristine as it is today. Draping green forests, vines, and emergent trees covered the land. Early this morning, we disembarked at the ranger’s station where many activities awaited us: bird watching, kayaking, walking, swimming, and Zodiac cruises along the island’s edge were part of the menu. Our willingness to do anything and everything paid off, as woodpeckers, tanagers, honeycreepers, grassquits, bananaquits, and even barred Antshrikes came to peek at us with our weird looking cameras and binoculars (from a bird’s perspectives) and tripods. Kayaking among the mangrove trees in turtle territory was an adventure on its own.
Back on board for lunch, we repositioned our ship a couple of miles south to a small caricaturesque islet called Granito de Oro where the underwater realm greeted us as it hadn’t for many a days. Surgeonfish, triggerfish, wrasses, parrotfish, cornetfish, barberfish, and many, many others decided to come out to welcome us. The beach was white with coral sand, as we decided to patrol the area for strange shaped coral, shells, and even ghost and hermit crabs. As the sun set on the horizon, we hoped for a green flash and waved good bye to the first and great country of our adventure, Panama, and welcomed our second host: Costa Rica.
Our last day in Panama found us in the country’s own Alcatraz, Coiba Island. It was once a prison for the most wanted criminals, which is the reason why the island has remained as pristine as it is today. Draping green forests, vines, and emergent trees covered the land. Early this morning, we disembarked at the ranger’s station where many activities awaited us: bird watching, kayaking, walking, swimming, and Zodiac cruises along the island’s edge were part of the menu. Our willingness to do anything and everything paid off, as woodpeckers, tanagers, honeycreepers, grassquits, bananaquits, and even barred Antshrikes came to peek at us with our weird looking cameras and binoculars (from a bird’s perspectives) and tripods. Kayaking among the mangrove trees in turtle territory was an adventure on its own.
Back on board for lunch, we repositioned our ship a couple of miles south to a small caricaturesque islet called Granito de Oro where the underwater realm greeted us as it hadn’t for many a days. Surgeonfish, triggerfish, wrasses, parrotfish, cornetfish, barberfish, and many, many others decided to come out to welcome us. The beach was white with coral sand, as we decided to patrol the area for strange shaped coral, shells, and even ghost and hermit crabs. As the sun set on the horizon, we hoped for a green flash and waved good bye to the first and great country of our adventure, Panama, and welcomed our second host: Costa Rica.
