Farallon Islands and Panama Canal Transit
We woke up this morning in the waters of Panama at a more leisurely pace. After breakfast, Zodiacs were sent out to excellent birding sights called the Farallon islands where guests needn’t even use their binoculars to view the wildlife up close. The skilled Zodiac drivers took us right up to the rocky edge of these small islands covered in birdlife, where we spotted blue-footed boobies and brown boobies. Magnificent frigatebirds were busy flying overhead in loops and circles, and some were even showing off their splendid red throat pouches. Among the trees growing from the craggy shoreline, our naturalists helped us spot juvenile frigates perched in their nests, their fluffy white feathers distinguishing them from their elders. Massive brown pelicans were present as well, swooping down into the crystal clear aqua water to catch a mid-morning snack.
We arrived back at the Sea Voyager more than satisfied with our birding endeavor. At the stern of the ship, the fantail was open for a midday swim in the slightly cooler water of Panama, allowing several guests to take advantage of this last opportunity to swim in the ocean. The afternoon was spent at sea, approaching Panama City and the famed canal. A documentary on the history of this major engineering feat was viewed in the lounge, aptly named “A Man, A Plan, A Canal, Panama.”
Cocktail hour found us fast approaching the canal, and to celebrate this landmark, we drank Continental Divides, a bi-colored concoction with piña colada and strawberry. Ceviche was served at this hour on the sundeck, allowing us to fully appreciate the beautiful orange and pink sunset which became a glorious backdrop for the many and varied ships transiting these spectacular and productive waters.
We dined in the lounge as well to allow us a constant view of this spectacle. The sun now set, the clear and bright waxing moon lingered in the sky over our buffet of traditional Panamanian foods. The industrial lights dotting the canal’s entrance made for a breathtaking photo opportunity. Marveling at the efficiency and brilliance of this decades old system, we watched as the mules, or mechanical cars, slowly lined the Sea Voyager up behind our lock mate, a larger vessel christened the Oriental Salvia.
What a climactic near-end to our voyage, watching the waters of the locks swiftly bring our ship tens of feet up from sea level in mere minutes. After passing through these first two locks, we capped off our busy day with leisurely reverence of our wondrous location.
We woke up this morning in the waters of Panama at a more leisurely pace. After breakfast, Zodiacs were sent out to excellent birding sights called the Farallon islands where guests needn’t even use their binoculars to view the wildlife up close. The skilled Zodiac drivers took us right up to the rocky edge of these small islands covered in birdlife, where we spotted blue-footed boobies and brown boobies. Magnificent frigatebirds were busy flying overhead in loops and circles, and some were even showing off their splendid red throat pouches. Among the trees growing from the craggy shoreline, our naturalists helped us spot juvenile frigates perched in their nests, their fluffy white feathers distinguishing them from their elders. Massive brown pelicans were present as well, swooping down into the crystal clear aqua water to catch a mid-morning snack.
We arrived back at the Sea Voyager more than satisfied with our birding endeavor. At the stern of the ship, the fantail was open for a midday swim in the slightly cooler water of Panama, allowing several guests to take advantage of this last opportunity to swim in the ocean. The afternoon was spent at sea, approaching Panama City and the famed canal. A documentary on the history of this major engineering feat was viewed in the lounge, aptly named “A Man, A Plan, A Canal, Panama.”
Cocktail hour found us fast approaching the canal, and to celebrate this landmark, we drank Continental Divides, a bi-colored concoction with piña colada and strawberry. Ceviche was served at this hour on the sundeck, allowing us to fully appreciate the beautiful orange and pink sunset which became a glorious backdrop for the many and varied ships transiting these spectacular and productive waters.
We dined in the lounge as well to allow us a constant view of this spectacle. The sun now set, the clear and bright waxing moon lingered in the sky over our buffet of traditional Panamanian foods. The industrial lights dotting the canal’s entrance made for a breathtaking photo opportunity. Marveling at the efficiency and brilliance of this decades old system, we watched as the mules, or mechanical cars, slowly lined the Sea Voyager up behind our lock mate, a larger vessel christened the Oriental Salvia.
What a climactic near-end to our voyage, watching the waters of the locks swiftly bring our ship tens of feet up from sea level in mere minutes. After passing through these first two locks, we capped off our busy day with leisurely reverence of our wondrous location.
