Coiba Island National Park
After sailing through the night, the Sea Voyager anchored when the sun was giving its first rays. A nice little islet known as “Granito de Oro” could be seen from the ship. Being the newest national park of Panama, Coiba Island gathers an extension of 271,000 hectares in which only 52,000 hectares is mainland and all the rest is marine.
For many years it was known to be Panama’s most feared penal colony. Today, the prison camps have been shut down and its prisoners relocated in different jails in Panama. Thanks to this, the island’s area has been kept pristine and its water holds the second biggest coral reef of the Eastern Pacific. Due to the importance of this coral reef, several private organizations are joining in an effort to create a marine corridor that will connect Coiba Island with other islands of the Pacific such as Cocos Island, Malpelo Island and Galápagos Island.
Eager to see what this park had to offer us, right after breakfast, we took our snorkeling gear and went ashore. Greeted by the local hermit crabs, we waited no more and went to snorkel. Morrish idols, green morays, white tipped sharks, guinea fowl puffers fish, giant damselfish, reef cornet fish, lots of corals and barracudas were some of the sighting of the morning.
Back on board, we repositioned the Sea Voyager in front of the ranger station were the galley had set up a delicious barbecue. We could have stayed in this hidden paradise for ever, but we need to continue our journey. But we all conclude that the conservation of all these wonders depends on each of us.
After sailing through the night, the Sea Voyager anchored when the sun was giving its first rays. A nice little islet known as “Granito de Oro” could be seen from the ship. Being the newest national park of Panama, Coiba Island gathers an extension of 271,000 hectares in which only 52,000 hectares is mainland and all the rest is marine.
For many years it was known to be Panama’s most feared penal colony. Today, the prison camps have been shut down and its prisoners relocated in different jails in Panama. Thanks to this, the island’s area has been kept pristine and its water holds the second biggest coral reef of the Eastern Pacific. Due to the importance of this coral reef, several private organizations are joining in an effort to create a marine corridor that will connect Coiba Island with other islands of the Pacific such as Cocos Island, Malpelo Island and Galápagos Island.
Eager to see what this park had to offer us, right after breakfast, we took our snorkeling gear and went ashore. Greeted by the local hermit crabs, we waited no more and went to snorkel. Morrish idols, green morays, white tipped sharks, guinea fowl puffers fish, giant damselfish, reef cornet fish, lots of corals and barracudas were some of the sighting of the morning.
Back on board, we repositioned the Sea Voyager in front of the ranger station were the galley had set up a delicious barbecue. We could have stayed in this hidden paradise for ever, but we need to continue our journey. But we all conclude that the conservation of all these wonders depends on each of us.
