Barro Colorado Island, Gatun Lake & Locks
Morning has broken over Gatun Lake and Barro Colorado Island! The distant calls of parrots, great tinamus and toucans festively accompanied the impressive sun rising through blue-grey horizon outlines. There is no time like the morning, and better if you are about to explore the magic realms of the rain forest in a remote site of Central America. An early boat approached the National Geographic Sea Lion while many of our guests were waking up and getting ready for breakfast. Dr. Anthony Coates, the former Deputy Director of Barro Colorado Island and actual Senior Researcher Emeritus of the Smithsonian Institute, kindly accepted our invitation to come on board and join us for an invigorating meal as well as very pleasant conversations at the dining area. After his brief presentation in the lounge, our guests quickly prepared for one very special day at the Smithsonian Research Center in BCI.
Too many decisions, someone said! Our guests couldn’t really make up their mind about the fabulous options offered to enjoy this morning at BCI. Perhaps a Zodiac cruise or maybe a short walk on the island? At the end, everyone picked their preferred activity and soon afterwards we were all having a great time while exploring this fascinating forest.
I must say that Zodiac cruises are always rewarding, especially if someone doesn’t have an interesting in steps and hill climbing. Those on Zodiacs found this mode of transportation quite convenient and were able to discover the rain forest hand in hand with a Barro Colorado naturalist guide on board each boat. It is certainly much easier to spot wildlife if you have the good fortune to count on an experienced naturalist by you side! Crocodiles, turtles, yellow rumped caciques and more were observed from the agile Zodiacs that circled the island quite slowly.
In the meantime on firm land, our avid explorers went over steep staircases and trails that cover many miles of this well studied terrain. Our Barro Colorado Guide talked about scientific projects, natural history as well as whatever other critter that came across our path. She was an absolutely magnificent guide and covered all different areas with great confidence and a real wealth of knowledge. During our walk we had the opportunity to see a beautiful bird, not too uncommon to the region but fascinating anyways: the slaty-tailed trogon; a relative of the resplendent quetzal. Soon after this enchanting bird appeared, we had another encounter with wildlife. This time, the howler monkeys gave us a warm welcome to their land, and our guests enjoyed every minute of their improvised “show”. Some other guests on different walks also had the chance to observe primates. In fact, for some other guests on the short walk, the number of species of monkeys was outstanding. In addition to the howlers, white-throated capuchins and the spider monkeys, they also saw the elusive and very difficult to find Geoffroy’s tamarin monkey (Saguinus geoffroyi). Quite a sensational morning, I must say!
It was noon already and time to return to National Geographic Sea Lion for a delicious lunch. A warm cappuccino, cookies and laughter brought happy memories and special moments to this incredible place, BCI. For most of us, it was a surprise to realize the ship was moving already and on the way to Gatun Locks. We were advised by the Panama Canal Authority (PCA) about an early afternoon transit. Everyone seemed very pleased for the fact of having a day transit that obviously permits to take totally different pictures than the day before, during the night. This is then the ideal situation with one night, cool transit, followed by a not so cool in temperature but plentiful by day transit. By the end of the afternoon, National Geographic Sea Lion was already in Caribbean waters, while our satisfied guests could not stop talking about the experienced they just had crossing the Central American Isthmus from ocean to ocean. Goodbye dear expedition companions. We wish you calm waters and good wind for your next journey!
