Kuna Yala, Panama
After a wonderful experience in the Panama Canal, we headed for our first indigenous encounter on our Central American Odyssey tour, Kuna Yala, located on the eastern Caribbean coast of Panama. We arrived and dropped anchor at 5:00am close to the Rio Chargoon after an adventurous night at sea! Many of us seized the opportunity to take a pre-breakfast tour up the Chagroon River, and carefully navigating the Zodiacs we were able to spot many, many birds. Woodpeckers, toucans, orioles, herons, orange-chinned parakeets, black hawks and brown jays, were seen and they satisfied our nature appetite before breakfast. Later in the morning we departed for the beautiful aqua waters of the Hollandases Cays where we would remain for the day.
Kuna Yala “Land of the Kuna’s” is a spectacular area of 365 dotted island extending over 150 miles of coastline and exclusively inhabited by the Kuna Indian. These proud people still live much the way their ancestors did when they arrived from South America in the 15th century. The Kuna’s are well known for their Molas - their artistic expression on cloth, which has made them famous among visitors to Panama.
Our visit to the small island covered in palms trees, surrounded in crystal clear water and pristine coral reef was just the prefect stop. Snorkeling, Scuba diving and shopping for Molas was the order of the day. Many found a chair or a hammock to take in the beauty that inhabits this special place. At sunset we made our way to the Sea Voyager for a relaxing evening. This evening we were greatly surprised to see three or four Caribbean Reef sharks prowling the surface behind the stern and they gave us a great show and a good way to end this day.
After a wonderful experience in the Panama Canal, we headed for our first indigenous encounter on our Central American Odyssey tour, Kuna Yala, located on the eastern Caribbean coast of Panama. We arrived and dropped anchor at 5:00am close to the Rio Chargoon after an adventurous night at sea! Many of us seized the opportunity to take a pre-breakfast tour up the Chagroon River, and carefully navigating the Zodiacs we were able to spot many, many birds. Woodpeckers, toucans, orioles, herons, orange-chinned parakeets, black hawks and brown jays, were seen and they satisfied our nature appetite before breakfast. Later in the morning we departed for the beautiful aqua waters of the Hollandases Cays where we would remain for the day.
Kuna Yala “Land of the Kuna’s” is a spectacular area of 365 dotted island extending over 150 miles of coastline and exclusively inhabited by the Kuna Indian. These proud people still live much the way their ancestors did when they arrived from South America in the 15th century. The Kuna’s are well known for their Molas - their artistic expression on cloth, which has made them famous among visitors to Panama.
Our visit to the small island covered in palms trees, surrounded in crystal clear water and pristine coral reef was just the prefect stop. Snorkeling, Scuba diving and shopping for Molas was the order of the day. Many found a chair or a hammock to take in the beauty that inhabits this special place. At sunset we made our way to the Sea Voyager for a relaxing evening. This evening we were greatly surprised to see three or four Caribbean Reef sharks prowling the surface behind the stern and they gave us a great show and a good way to end this day.
