Las Perlas Islands, Panama
After cruising for many hours, we arrived at the Pearl Islands Archipelago. Sixty-four kilometers southeast of Panama lay the 90 islands and 130 islets that compose the archipelago. It was actually the abundance of pearls that brought the islands to the Old World’s attention. Vasco Nuñez de Balboa, after “discovering” the Pacific Ocean, in 1513, learned from his guide that the islands were rich with pearls. Four years after Balboa’s expedition the Pearl Islands were raided by a Spanish man called Morales. Within two years of his arrival, all of the indigenous people of the area were dead and black slaves were brought in to collect the pearls. From the oysters of the islands come some of the most famous pearls of the world. For example, the 31-carat “Peregrina” pearl, which was worn by a Spanish king, an English queen, a French Emperor, and is today the property of Elizabeth Taylor, comes from the Islands.
After our New Year’s celebration, we were awoken up before 7:00 a.m. to go cruising around the Pacheca and Pachequita islands. Frigate birds, brown boobies, brown pelicans, and neotropical cormorants were in this morning’s menu, along with blue-footed boobies, yellow-crowned night herons, iguanas, and a dead boa on the beach. We delighted in the simple joy of sitting on a Zodiac while bird-watching.
Once back on board for an abundant breakfast, we went to one of the beaches of Pedro Gonzalez island for some more swimming, beach combing, and for those who were brave enough, some snorkeling. The waters were cooler than they had been in the previous beaches, but most of us welcomed the freshness. Some bolder guests went on a bush-whacking bird-watching excursion.
After lunch, while the naturalist guides posted guard at the bow and some took a well-deserved nap, we saw some dolphins riding the bow and some sea turtles floating on the surface of calm waters.
After cruising for many hours, we arrived at the Pearl Islands Archipelago. Sixty-four kilometers southeast of Panama lay the 90 islands and 130 islets that compose the archipelago. It was actually the abundance of pearls that brought the islands to the Old World’s attention. Vasco Nuñez de Balboa, after “discovering” the Pacific Ocean, in 1513, learned from his guide that the islands were rich with pearls. Four years after Balboa’s expedition the Pearl Islands were raided by a Spanish man called Morales. Within two years of his arrival, all of the indigenous people of the area were dead and black slaves were brought in to collect the pearls. From the oysters of the islands come some of the most famous pearls of the world. For example, the 31-carat “Peregrina” pearl, which was worn by a Spanish king, an English queen, a French Emperor, and is today the property of Elizabeth Taylor, comes from the Islands.
After our New Year’s celebration, we were awoken up before 7:00 a.m. to go cruising around the Pacheca and Pachequita islands. Frigate birds, brown boobies, brown pelicans, and neotropical cormorants were in this morning’s menu, along with blue-footed boobies, yellow-crowned night herons, iguanas, and a dead boa on the beach. We delighted in the simple joy of sitting on a Zodiac while bird-watching.
Once back on board for an abundant breakfast, we went to one of the beaches of Pedro Gonzalez island for some more swimming, beach combing, and for those who were brave enough, some snorkeling. The waters were cooler than they had been in the previous beaches, but most of us welcomed the freshness. Some bolder guests went on a bush-whacking bird-watching excursion.
After lunch, while the naturalist guides posted guard at the bow and some took a well-deserved nap, we saw some dolphins riding the bow and some sea turtles floating on the surface of calm waters.
