Las Perlas Islands, Panama
Our destination today, is the archipelago of islands called Las Perlas. These islands have played a significant part in the history of Panama. The most famous products from these islands were pearls harvested by the Spanish (hence the name Las Perlas). Today the only pearls that remain are the islands themselves.
This area of the Gulf of Panama is subject to an upwelling of cool nutrient rich waters. These nutrients are the base for an ever-amazing food chain, consisting of fish, marine mammals, and seabirds.
We went ashore after lunch at Isla Pedro Gonzalez and spent the early afternoon going for a brisk swim, beach combing, building sand castles, watching the many nesting Pelicans, or cleaning up random debris that had been washed ashore.
Later in the afternoon we had a Zodiac cruises to Isla Pacheca and Pachecita. Blue-footed and brown Boobies, pelicans, Magnificent frigate birds, and oyster catchers were just a few of the species we encountered.
Our destination today, is the archipelago of islands called Las Perlas. These islands have played a significant part in the history of Panama. The most famous products from these islands were pearls harvested by the Spanish (hence the name Las Perlas). Today the only pearls that remain are the islands themselves.
This area of the Gulf of Panama is subject to an upwelling of cool nutrient rich waters. These nutrients are the base for an ever-amazing food chain, consisting of fish, marine mammals, and seabirds.
We went ashore after lunch at Isla Pedro Gonzalez and spent the early afternoon going for a brisk swim, beach combing, building sand castles, watching the many nesting Pelicans, or cleaning up random debris that had been washed ashore.
Later in the afternoon we had a Zodiac cruises to Isla Pacheca and Pachecita. Blue-footed and brown Boobies, pelicans, Magnificent frigate birds, and oyster catchers were just a few of the species we encountered.
