Panama Canal & Barro Colorado Island
Yesterday’s evening our adventure began right after we arrived on board the Sea Voyager. Our faithful vessel was anchored at Cristobal, the port of the Caribbean city of Colon at the northern end of the Panama Canal. The Canal’s pilot arrived at the scheduled time and in just a few minutes we headed into one of the best known wonders of the modern world. Into the first of three chambers within the Gatun Locks we settled, to ascend the 85 feet that separates us from Gatun Lake. Beautifully lit and well marked, the Canal is a dream for anyone that has the luck to see it. We went through in no time, and went to bed with great expectations for our next day.
The early morning of our first full day found us just off of the Smithsonian’s tropical research institute in Panama: Barro Colorado Island. BCI, as it’s known in the scientific world, is one of the most productive research stations in the Neotropics. Run by the Smithsonian Institute, BCI became a preserve shortly after the Canal was completed, and has generated some of the most amazing and better known rainforest’s facts. We were lucky enough to be allowed to walk through its trails and rediscover the forest’s wonders. White-throated capuchins and mantled howler monkeys, collared peccaries, white tailed deer, a tayra, a few red-tailed squirrels, and many more species of animals, not to mention the giant ceiba tree, gave us the first glimpse of what is in store for us this week.
After mid-day, our third pilot arrived, and we headed through the Culebra Cut towards the southern side of the Canal. Going through the two sets of locks on this side - the Pedro Miguel with one chamber and the Miraflores with two chambers – we concluded our transit as we descended the respective eighty and some feet into the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean. Channels, locks, dredges, cement walls, two million dollar “mules”, giant cranes, cargo ships, car carriers, tug boats, row boats, gorgeous bridges, line handlers, and canal pilots were the ultimate contrast to our inside-the-forest experience this morning. Exactly this contrast is what makes this Panama and Costa Rica trip so special!
Yesterday’s evening our adventure began right after we arrived on board the Sea Voyager. Our faithful vessel was anchored at Cristobal, the port of the Caribbean city of Colon at the northern end of the Panama Canal. The Canal’s pilot arrived at the scheduled time and in just a few minutes we headed into one of the best known wonders of the modern world. Into the first of three chambers within the Gatun Locks we settled, to ascend the 85 feet that separates us from Gatun Lake. Beautifully lit and well marked, the Canal is a dream for anyone that has the luck to see it. We went through in no time, and went to bed with great expectations for our next day.
The early morning of our first full day found us just off of the Smithsonian’s tropical research institute in Panama: Barro Colorado Island. BCI, as it’s known in the scientific world, is one of the most productive research stations in the Neotropics. Run by the Smithsonian Institute, BCI became a preserve shortly after the Canal was completed, and has generated some of the most amazing and better known rainforest’s facts. We were lucky enough to be allowed to walk through its trails and rediscover the forest’s wonders. White-throated capuchins and mantled howler monkeys, collared peccaries, white tailed deer, a tayra, a few red-tailed squirrels, and many more species of animals, not to mention the giant ceiba tree, gave us the first glimpse of what is in store for us this week.
After mid-day, our third pilot arrived, and we headed through the Culebra Cut towards the southern side of the Canal. Going through the two sets of locks on this side - the Pedro Miguel with one chamber and the Miraflores with two chambers – we concluded our transit as we descended the respective eighty and some feet into the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean. Channels, locks, dredges, cement walls, two million dollar “mules”, giant cranes, cargo ships, car carriers, tug boats, row boats, gorgeous bridges, line handlers, and canal pilots were the ultimate contrast to our inside-the-forest experience this morning. Exactly this contrast is what makes this Panama and Costa Rica trip so special!
