San Blas Islands
Today we continue exploring the territory of the Kuna people. Early this morning at 6:30 A.M. we went for a Zodiac ride to the Chargoon River and saw a mangrove raccoon right at the mouth of the river. As we moved inland birds were flying from all directions around us, among some of them were Aracari toucans, tanagers, kingfishers, puff-birds, saltators, flycatchers, herons, swallows, hawks, parrots and hummingbirds. Many of them were new to our bird-list of the trip.
After breakfast we moved the ship to Aguatupo where we had time to shop and learn more about this fascinating culture. The Kunas are the only group of indigenous people that have their own government inside a republic in Latin America. How they managed to survive keeping their traditions, language, folklore and customs over the centuries of western influence is admirable. Although most of Kunas speak some Spanish and enjoy the benefits of public education and social security as an independent state of the Republic of Panama. Today they are a strong group of about 75,000 people that live in the land of Kuna Ayala.
The archipelago of San Blas is probably one of the best places on the Caribbean for snorkeling and scuba diving for its calm and pristine waters. In the afternoon we sailed to another island named Dog where we snorkeled around an old ship-wreck and admired the white sand beaches and blue waters of this 400 islands paradise.
Today we continue exploring the territory of the Kuna people. Early this morning at 6:30 A.M. we went for a Zodiac ride to the Chargoon River and saw a mangrove raccoon right at the mouth of the river. As we moved inland birds were flying from all directions around us, among some of them were Aracari toucans, tanagers, kingfishers, puff-birds, saltators, flycatchers, herons, swallows, hawks, parrots and hummingbirds. Many of them were new to our bird-list of the trip.
After breakfast we moved the ship to Aguatupo where we had time to shop and learn more about this fascinating culture. The Kunas are the only group of indigenous people that have their own government inside a republic in Latin America. How they managed to survive keeping their traditions, language, folklore and customs over the centuries of western influence is admirable. Although most of Kunas speak some Spanish and enjoy the benefits of public education and social security as an independent state of the Republic of Panama. Today they are a strong group of about 75,000 people that live in the land of Kuna Ayala.
The archipelago of San Blas is probably one of the best places on the Caribbean for snorkeling and scuba diving for its calm and pristine waters. In the afternoon we sailed to another island named Dog where we snorkeled around an old ship-wreck and admired the white sand beaches and blue waters of this 400 islands paradise.
