Isla de Coiba and Granito Del Oro, Panama
We slipped away from Costa Rica during the night taking along our incredible memories of exotic flora, large mandibled birds and sunset cocktails on the beach. Our next stop was an incredible little speck of sand, rock and trees with a scattering of very busy hermit crabs. Our small paradise was called “Granito Del Oro” which means that we must be in Panama. This literally translates into “Little Grain of Gold.” It is found tucked into a protected cove of Isla de Coiba, Panama’s largest island.
As the lovely warm water surrounded us, we were greeted by a kaleidoscope of colors - numerous schools of butterfly fish, triggerfish, angelfish and puffers. Two pairs of Moorish idols, a fish that most of us have only seen in a fish aquarium, were playing tag around us! A large aggregation of spotfin grunts allowed me to film them with our ship’s underwater digital camera as they gracefully flowed around me. They got so close that I had to back away to film them.
For lunch, we dined on the most exquisite lunch of teriyaki salmon, different groups headed out once again to take advantage of the pristine conditions. Some headed back to the sea for more fish encounters while others hiked along a lush rainforest trail in search of wildlife and were rewarded with sightings of lance-tailed manakins.
After another incredible meal, we were surprised with a bonfire on the beach. Incredibly, marshmallows magically appeared and the waxing moon peaked out from the low clouds. We were serenaded by various talented crew and staff and sadly retreated to the ship, but not until we ended the night on the beach with a little limbo dance.
We slipped away from Costa Rica during the night taking along our incredible memories of exotic flora, large mandibled birds and sunset cocktails on the beach. Our next stop was an incredible little speck of sand, rock and trees with a scattering of very busy hermit crabs. Our small paradise was called “Granito Del Oro” which means that we must be in Panama. This literally translates into “Little Grain of Gold.” It is found tucked into a protected cove of Isla de Coiba, Panama’s largest island.
As the lovely warm water surrounded us, we were greeted by a kaleidoscope of colors - numerous schools of butterfly fish, triggerfish, angelfish and puffers. Two pairs of Moorish idols, a fish that most of us have only seen in a fish aquarium, were playing tag around us! A large aggregation of spotfin grunts allowed me to film them with our ship’s underwater digital camera as they gracefully flowed around me. They got so close that I had to back away to film them.
For lunch, we dined on the most exquisite lunch of teriyaki salmon, different groups headed out once again to take advantage of the pristine conditions. Some headed back to the sea for more fish encounters while others hiked along a lush rainforest trail in search of wildlife and were rewarded with sightings of lance-tailed manakins.
After another incredible meal, we were surprised with a bonfire on the beach. Incredibly, marshmallows magically appeared and the waxing moon peaked out from the low clouds. We were serenaded by various talented crew and staff and sadly retreated to the ship, but not until we ended the night on the beach with a little limbo dance.
