Coiba Marine National Park, Panama
There is no better way to bid farewell to Panama than a visit to Coiba Marine National Park. Coiba, the fourth largest marine park in the world, harbors the largest coral reef on the Pacific coast of Central America. This pristine and uninhabited island is about the size of Barbados and twice the size of Grand Cayman. Once a penal colony where the prisoners ran loose and the guards locked themselves in at night, Coiba is now best known for its fish and coral diversity.
Snorkeling was the highlight of the day. We visited a speck of an island named Granito de Oro, “Grain of Gold,” located near the east coast of Coiba Island. Though we had an overcast morning, the visibility was not affected. The waters of the park yielded a colorful and active array of fish, including wrasse, eels, angelfish, parrotfish and even the benign white-tipped reef shark.
While the Sea Voyager repositioned to the ranger station on Coiba Island, some guests opted for the sea kayaks as their mode of transportation. Upon reaching the station, we were greeted by the grateful staff of the Sea Voyager and a barbecue on the island! Afternoon nature walks, swimming on the beach and snorkeling by the pier brought an end to our sojourn through the Isthmus of Panama. Tomorrow we reach Costa Rica’s Golfo Dulce area.
There is no better way to bid farewell to Panama than a visit to Coiba Marine National Park. Coiba, the fourth largest marine park in the world, harbors the largest coral reef on the Pacific coast of Central America. This pristine and uninhabited island is about the size of Barbados and twice the size of Grand Cayman. Once a penal colony where the prisoners ran loose and the guards locked themselves in at night, Coiba is now best known for its fish and coral diversity.
Snorkeling was the highlight of the day. We visited a speck of an island named Granito de Oro, “Grain of Gold,” located near the east coast of Coiba Island. Though we had an overcast morning, the visibility was not affected. The waters of the park yielded a colorful and active array of fish, including wrasse, eels, angelfish, parrotfish and even the benign white-tipped reef shark.
While the Sea Voyager repositioned to the ranger station on Coiba Island, some guests opted for the sea kayaks as their mode of transportation. Upon reaching the station, we were greeted by the grateful staff of the Sea Voyager and a barbecue on the island! Afternoon nature walks, swimming on the beach and snorkeling by the pier brought an end to our sojourn through the Isthmus of Panama. Tomorrow we reach Costa Rica’s Golfo Dulce area.
