Coiba Island National Park, Panama
This morning the Sea Voyager awakened off Coiba Island, which is the largest island in the Central American Pacific. Coiba was at one point in history a penitentiary. For decades the worst criminals in Panama were sent to pay their debt to society doing hard labor here. They were in many ways subsistence farmers. They grew much of what they consumed for themselves. They also raised cattle that to this day roam free on this piece of paradise. An interesting fact of the prison’s history is that the prisoners did not spend their time under locked doors; as a matter of fact, it was the guards that locked themselves in at night.
Our day commenced with an early morning outing to the island for wildlife observation. Lindblad has been the first company to visit this island since the prison closed. Our expeditioners were given an opportunity to view many different species of birds like the endemic crimson backed tanager and green emerald. Yellow faced grassquit, black vultures and red legged honeycreepers were just some of the other birds we encountered. We even spotted white faced cappuchin monkeys from the Zodiac as we returned to the ship. What a way to start Christmas Day.
Endemism is high here and it resulted from the past glaciation epoch referred to as the Glaciation of Wisconsin. During thousands of years sea level dropped enough to connect this island to mainland and as the last ice age came to an end sea level rose and trapped many species that adapted and evolved into new species.
Our next activity was to visit Granito de Oro, a true Gilligan’s Isle that hosted us for the rest of the morning. Some were able to relax and unwind on this palm studded white sand beach, while others kept busy snorkeling in the pristine waters of this truly wonderful island. Snorkelers were able to spot Damsel Fish, Sargeant Majors, Surgeon Fish and White-tipped Reef Shark just to name a few. Some adventurers signed up for a power kayak trip back to Coiba which is approximately a nautical mile from Granito de Oro.
Lunch was served on Coiba Island and as usual the crew managed to set up a delicious lunch for all of us. Hamburgers, pork ribs and brownies for dessert were on the menu. After lunch we walked around the island for a while looking for wildlife and we were not disappointed. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night in the tropical paradise of Coiba Island.
This morning the Sea Voyager awakened off Coiba Island, which is the largest island in the Central American Pacific. Coiba was at one point in history a penitentiary. For decades the worst criminals in Panama were sent to pay their debt to society doing hard labor here. They were in many ways subsistence farmers. They grew much of what they consumed for themselves. They also raised cattle that to this day roam free on this piece of paradise. An interesting fact of the prison’s history is that the prisoners did not spend their time under locked doors; as a matter of fact, it was the guards that locked themselves in at night.
Our day commenced with an early morning outing to the island for wildlife observation. Lindblad has been the first company to visit this island since the prison closed. Our expeditioners were given an opportunity to view many different species of birds like the endemic crimson backed tanager and green emerald. Yellow faced grassquit, black vultures and red legged honeycreepers were just some of the other birds we encountered. We even spotted white faced cappuchin monkeys from the Zodiac as we returned to the ship. What a way to start Christmas Day.
Endemism is high here and it resulted from the past glaciation epoch referred to as the Glaciation of Wisconsin. During thousands of years sea level dropped enough to connect this island to mainland and as the last ice age came to an end sea level rose and trapped many species that adapted and evolved into new species.
Our next activity was to visit Granito de Oro, a true Gilligan’s Isle that hosted us for the rest of the morning. Some were able to relax and unwind on this palm studded white sand beach, while others kept busy snorkeling in the pristine waters of this truly wonderful island. Snorkelers were able to spot Damsel Fish, Sargeant Majors, Surgeon Fish and White-tipped Reef Shark just to name a few. Some adventurers signed up for a power kayak trip back to Coiba which is approximately a nautical mile from Granito de Oro.
Lunch was served on Coiba Island and as usual the crew managed to set up a delicious lunch for all of us. Hamburgers, pork ribs and brownies for dessert were on the menu. After lunch we walked around the island for a while looking for wildlife and we were not disappointed. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night in the tropical paradise of Coiba Island.
