Coiba National Park

Our first day in Panama started with a wonderful sunrise and a colorful rainbow. After cruising all night long, we arrived at Coiba National Park one of the most pristine national parks in Panama. This park was established in 1990 consists of over 270,000 hectares of marine and land ecosystems. A great amount of endemism can be found here such as Coiba Ssinetail, Coiba howler monkeys and Coiba agouties. Due to all this richness, the park has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Amazingly, the status of conservation on the island was due to a penal colony, established in 1919, which kept Panamanian colonizers away from this piece of paradise.

At 6:30 a.m., one of the Zodiacs disembarked an adventurous group of “birding lovers” at the Coiba National Park Ranger Station. During the early morning, species such as crimson-backed tanagers, yellow-faced grassquit, rufous -tailed hummingbirds among many others where easily spotted. After repositioning our vessel, we anchored in front of Granito de Oro, which is one of the smallest islets of the parks. The islet protects a rocky reef formation that is home to colorful and vivid fish. Moorish idols, damsel fish, trigger fish, parrot fish and colorful corals were the main attraction for snorkelers, and the calm and clear water gave us a chance to swim and kayak around the islet. After this priceless morning, we returned to the Sea Voyager and repositioned to the Park Ranger Station where a delicious BBQ lunch awaited.

Our day has been filled with lifetime memories in Coiba Island, and now it is time to cruise towards the small islands of Otoque and Bona where the gift of Mother Nature will be hopefully shared with all of us one more time.

Hasta mañana!