Coiba Island, Panama
After sailing 130 nautical miles, we arrived at the largest island of the Republic of Panama: Coiba. Located in the southeastern part of the Golfo de Chiriqui, this ex-penitentiary island is one of the most important national parks in Panama. Created on December 17th, 1991, it has protected the coastal, land and marine ecosystems of the island.
We anchored close to the paradisiacal islet of Granito de Oro, “Little Grain of Gold.” Since sunrise, many were ready to participate in the different hikes to explore this pristine forest that covers part of the main island. The hikers departed first toward the “Mono Aullador” (or howler monkey) trail. Once there, they started in search of all the surprises the forest has to offer. In the meantime, back on the ship, another group was getting ready to visit the ranger station in search of all the birds they could find to add to their bird list.
Black vultures greeted us as we arrived at the station. A red brocket deer was wandering close by when we saw the endemic species of agouti, which didn’t at all mind our presence. The birding activity started: red-legged honeycreeper, crimson-backed tanager, yellow-faced grassquit, garden emerald, streaked saltator, northern oriole and a great, majestic king vulture were some of the species that decided to share the morning with us.
We then returned to the Sea Voyager for breakfast. After recharging energies with a delicious breakfast, we grabbed our snorkeling gear and hurried off to the beach. Some decided to rest on the beach watching the hermit crabs crawling all over the island of Granito de Oro. Others went kayaking around the island. But almost everybody had to snorkel because every time someone came out, they would share all the things they had seen under the sea, and obviously, nobody wanted to miss it. Hawksbill sea turtle, jeweled morays, green morays, Moorish idols, bicolor parrotfish, tiger snake eels, and many others species of fish were present to enable us to see their conduct and habitat.
What a morning we had! The water was warm and clear and we would have spent all day but more adventure was awaiting us. We had to sail the rest of the day in order to arrive to Otoque and Bona Islands, our next destination in Panama.
Back aboard, we shared all the things we had seen, while pantropical spotted dolphins escorted the Sea Voyager on our way to our next destination. What good things were we going to see? That was the question among guests while the sun gave us the last of its rays and the night began to show its beauty with the first stars.
After sailing 130 nautical miles, we arrived at the largest island of the Republic of Panama: Coiba. Located in the southeastern part of the Golfo de Chiriqui, this ex-penitentiary island is one of the most important national parks in Panama. Created on December 17th, 1991, it has protected the coastal, land and marine ecosystems of the island.
We anchored close to the paradisiacal islet of Granito de Oro, “Little Grain of Gold.” Since sunrise, many were ready to participate in the different hikes to explore this pristine forest that covers part of the main island. The hikers departed first toward the “Mono Aullador” (or howler monkey) trail. Once there, they started in search of all the surprises the forest has to offer. In the meantime, back on the ship, another group was getting ready to visit the ranger station in search of all the birds they could find to add to their bird list.
Black vultures greeted us as we arrived at the station. A red brocket deer was wandering close by when we saw the endemic species of agouti, which didn’t at all mind our presence. The birding activity started: red-legged honeycreeper, crimson-backed tanager, yellow-faced grassquit, garden emerald, streaked saltator, northern oriole and a great, majestic king vulture were some of the species that decided to share the morning with us.
We then returned to the Sea Voyager for breakfast. After recharging energies with a delicious breakfast, we grabbed our snorkeling gear and hurried off to the beach. Some decided to rest on the beach watching the hermit crabs crawling all over the island of Granito de Oro. Others went kayaking around the island. But almost everybody had to snorkel because every time someone came out, they would share all the things they had seen under the sea, and obviously, nobody wanted to miss it. Hawksbill sea turtle, jeweled morays, green morays, Moorish idols, bicolor parrotfish, tiger snake eels, and many others species of fish were present to enable us to see their conduct and habitat.
What a morning we had! The water was warm and clear and we would have spent all day but more adventure was awaiting us. We had to sail the rest of the day in order to arrive to Otoque and Bona Islands, our next destination in Panama.
Back aboard, we shared all the things we had seen, while pantropical spotted dolphins escorted the Sea Voyager on our way to our next destination. What good things were we going to see? That was the question among guests while the sun gave us the last of its rays and the night began to show its beauty with the first stars.
