This morning National Geographic Quest was anchored in front of Barro Colorado Island, the first tropical research station in the neotropics. While the sun rose, the exuberance of the Gatun Lake was overshadowed by the call of the Central American howler monkey in the distance.
After breakfast our guests began their exploration of this beautiful destination. Some went on a panga ride towards Gambo. This town is at the base of the canal and the entrance of the Soberania National Park where research is performed by the Smithsonian Institute. Other guests went to explore the trail used by the researchers on the BCI, while others experienced this location via Zodiac cruise.
Later in the afternoon after the pilot arrived, we repositioned to continue our journey towards the Caribbean side by going through the Gatun Locks. It was beautiful to have this opportunity at the end of the day and experience the transit into the night while our guests enjoyed delicious oysters and cocktails on the sun deck.
