Coiba National Park
We arrived early this morning to the biggest marine park of Panama, Coiba Island National Park. Protected by law on November of 2004, Coiba gathers an area of 271,000 hectares, in which only 50,000 is land and the rest is marine area. It holds in its marine area the second biggest coral reef on the Eastern Pacific. Its flora and fauna were protected long before being declared a national park since it used to be a penal colony! Once declared a protected area, the penal colony was relocated and the inmates went to different prisons in Panama.
Right after breakfast, we took our snorkeling gear to get quick glimpse at this coral reef. We landed in a little islet known as “Granito de Oro,” or Little Grain of Gold. This little piece of paradise was similar to the comics: white sand, a couple of palm trees and loaded with hermit crabs. They were like the inspectors, constantly searching through our belongings, looking for anything interesting to eat. The water was cool and clear, ideal for snorkeling. If from the Zodiac we could see what was under the water, what great things we would see snorkeling? This was the common question; the best answer was “Just go for it!” Indeed, the view from the top was wonderful, but the view under the water was spectacular. White-tipped reef sharks, Moorish idols, barber fishes, jewel moray eel, green moray eel, parrot fish and hawks bill turtles were some of the marine life that painted us a lovely undersea portrait.
Back on board, we repositioned the Sea Voyager in another bay for kayak activities and Zodiac cruises. These activities through the mangrove were another marvelous experience. Some had the opportunity to see the endemic howler monkey of Coiba. So much to see! We had to sail to our next destination. Our farewell was a pod of Pantropical spotted dolphins escorting us through the sunset. Our last day in Panama had been an experience that we would hardly forget.
We arrived early this morning to the biggest marine park of Panama, Coiba Island National Park. Protected by law on November of 2004, Coiba gathers an area of 271,000 hectares, in which only 50,000 is land and the rest is marine area. It holds in its marine area the second biggest coral reef on the Eastern Pacific. Its flora and fauna were protected long before being declared a national park since it used to be a penal colony! Once declared a protected area, the penal colony was relocated and the inmates went to different prisons in Panama.
Right after breakfast, we took our snorkeling gear to get quick glimpse at this coral reef. We landed in a little islet known as “Granito de Oro,” or Little Grain of Gold. This little piece of paradise was similar to the comics: white sand, a couple of palm trees and loaded with hermit crabs. They were like the inspectors, constantly searching through our belongings, looking for anything interesting to eat. The water was cool and clear, ideal for snorkeling. If from the Zodiac we could see what was under the water, what great things we would see snorkeling? This was the common question; the best answer was “Just go for it!” Indeed, the view from the top was wonderful, but the view under the water was spectacular. White-tipped reef sharks, Moorish idols, barber fishes, jewel moray eel, green moray eel, parrot fish and hawks bill turtles were some of the marine life that painted us a lovely undersea portrait.
Back on board, we repositioned the Sea Voyager in another bay for kayak activities and Zodiac cruises. These activities through the mangrove were another marvelous experience. Some had the opportunity to see the endemic howler monkey of Coiba. So much to see! We had to sail to our next destination. Our farewell was a pod of Pantropical spotted dolphins escorting us through the sunset. Our last day in Panama had been an experience that we would hardly forget.
