This morning, we visited Caletas-Ario Mixed Wildlife Refuge, which is part of a buffer zone next to Corcovado National Park. Some guests decided to walk along the trails that flank a spectacularly pristine beach. Others preferred to enjoy their surroundings from the comfort of a beach chair under the shade of a giant mango tree. In the late afternoon, National Geographic Quest set sail to visit the perimeter of Caño Island. We enjoyed a beautiful sunset and spotted a mother humpback whale and her calf playing in the water. This area is one of the ten most important places in the world for whale-watching in both hemispheres.
1/19/2025
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National Geographic Quest
Coiba and Cocos Islands, Panama
Our ship anchored off Coiba Island, Panama, early in the morning. The sun had just risen, casting a golden light over the dense rainforest. After a wonderful breakfast, we disembarked at the ranger station. Dividing into groups, some of us set off on a guided walk through the jungle, spotting scarlet macaws and other colorful birds in the trees adjacent to the ocean. Others chose to kayak or paddleboard along the mangrove-lined shores, gliding over the calm, clear water. By midday, we returned to the ship and cruised by Zodiacs toward Cocos Island, an uninhabited islet nearby. The staff prepared our snorkeling gear, and soon we were in the water, surrounded by schools of vibrant fish. The reef was teeming with life—parrotfish, angelfish, and even a few white-tip reef sharks moved gracefully among the coral. Sunlight filtered through the surface, illuminating the underwater world in dazzling colors. After an unforgettable afternoon, we returned to the ship, exhilarated by the day’s adventures. As the sun set, we looked back at the islands, grateful for the opportunity to explore such pristine and biodiverse waters.
