Boca Grande, Coiba National Park, Panama
We woke up to a splendid sunny morning anchored outside the Southern end of Coiba Island. Some time around 7am we headed toward the mouth of the Boca Grande river. The group was divided into two: those who preferred to cruise up the river by Zodiac, and those that wanted to kayak.
The tide was low and the sand banks on the river entrance left a great number of shore birds exposed to our binoculars and cameras. Despite the shallow water, both kayaks and Zodiacs finally negotiated their way through, and we were able to enjoy the magnificent scenery of the red and tea mangrove trees that brimmed the calm river, followed by tall, lush, primary rainforest in the background. Our Zodiacs shuttled us back on board the Sea Voyager where a delicious breakfast was awaiting. Later in the morning we went back in the water for our last session of snorkeling.
The Sea Voyager lifted anchor after lunch and we found ourselves sailing toward the Gulf of Panama – one day closer to the Panama Canal. We had great looks of spotted dolphins, Pacific green turtles, and yellow-bellied sea snakes, from the bow of the ship, and after a presentation on the cultural and natural history of Panama, we were treated to a delightful sunset on the sky deck, and a lovely rainbow straight ahead in the horizon, just before the full moon began to rise above the clouds that covered the Southern Panamanian shore.
We woke up to a splendid sunny morning anchored outside the Southern end of Coiba Island. Some time around 7am we headed toward the mouth of the Boca Grande river. The group was divided into two: those who preferred to cruise up the river by Zodiac, and those that wanted to kayak.
The tide was low and the sand banks on the river entrance left a great number of shore birds exposed to our binoculars and cameras. Despite the shallow water, both kayaks and Zodiacs finally negotiated their way through, and we were able to enjoy the magnificent scenery of the red and tea mangrove trees that brimmed the calm river, followed by tall, lush, primary rainforest in the background. Our Zodiacs shuttled us back on board the Sea Voyager where a delicious breakfast was awaiting. Later in the morning we went back in the water for our last session of snorkeling.
The Sea Voyager lifted anchor after lunch and we found ourselves sailing toward the Gulf of Panama – one day closer to the Panama Canal. We had great looks of spotted dolphins, Pacific green turtles, and yellow-bellied sea snakes, from the bow of the ship, and after a presentation on the cultural and natural history of Panama, we were treated to a delightful sunset on the sky deck, and a lovely rainbow straight ahead in the horizon, just before the full moon began to rise above the clouds that covered the Southern Panamanian shore.
