Barro Colorado Island, Gatun Lake

Today, sun rise found us in front of Barro Colorado Island Nature Monument, the oldest tropical research station in the world and one of the most important protected areas in the western hemisphere.

After breakfast, we were visited by a team of Naturalists from Barro Colorado Island (B.C.I) who boarded the Sea Voyager to welcome us to B.C.I and deliver a comprehensive understanding of the type of work that is taking place. They explained B.C.I.’s importance to the ecology of the rain forest and its beneficial applications for human kind.

Barro Colorado is the largest island in the Canal of Panama, holding a tremendous diversity of flora and fauna; making it a wonderful place to study tropical biology. The island is administrated by the Smithsonian Institute. It was first studied by the American Academy of Science in 1923, then by way of congress passed over to the Smithsonian Institute in 1946. This is an island that is rarely visited by the general public, due to its sensitivity and the ongoing research. It is a privilege to visit such a natural monument to tropical biology.

Our inimitable experience (including a tropical downpour) at B.C.I consisted of hikes on two trails and Zodiac rides in and out of the several coves and bays of the island. Most of us had the fortune to observe howlers, white-faced and spider monkeys, agoutis, variegated squirrels and long noise bats as well as created guans, spotted antbirds, keel-billed and chestnut-mandible toucans, the beautiful bat falcon and snail kites.

By 2:40 pm, we lifted anchor and continued on our second leg of transit to the Panama Canal. Our voyaging brought us to Gaillard’s cut where the continental division is located, and then into the proximity of the Centennial Bridge. While passing under the bridge we saw in the distance Pedro Miguel, the first set of locks, on our way to the Pacific. We enjoyed a beautiful sunset before reaching the Miraflores Locks.

The day ended with a great sense of fulfillment after the unique experience of crossing the Panama Canal.