Wednesday, March 21 and Thursday, March 22, 2018 Rough Seas Ahead

We had hoped to visit the main island of Coibo National Park on Wednesday afternoon. The island was a Panamanian penal colony until 2004, and was recognized as a Unesco World Heritage site in 2005. The island is mostly covered with unspoiled rainforest, and we though we might get another chance to see some animals. There are 38 islands in the park.

However, at lunch, we were informed that we would be sailing for 23 hours around a large peninsula, where the waters were known to be rough. They thought that we might do a skiff tour around this island in late afternoon in order to see some birds, but that was cancelled due to the waves. 

By dinner time, we were advised to put anything on the windowsill or desk on the floor, so that they wouldn't land on our heads! It was quite a noisy night, with lots of movement but we managed to sleep though most of it. 

Coiba National Park is the green area in the sea to the left of the Cerro Hoya peninsula.

Thursday we were supposed to see more of Coiba Island and do some more snorkelling. We had left it far behind. Friday was to be cruising among  diverse islands and islets in the Gulf of Panama, with possible skiff tours as well. That didn't happen either. 

I was lucky to see some dolphins (no photos) and some mobula rays. 

These mobula rays fling themselves high out of the water in order to attract a mate.
There were hundreds of them! - staff photo

I found a video that shows these remarkable creatures belly-flopping into the water.
 

                                     

By Thursday afternoon we had arrived at Taboga Island, also known as the "Island of Flowers", a volcanic island in the Gulf of Panama. It is a tourist destination for residents of Panama City, which is about 20 km away. Panama City, Panama.

Some of the group chose to brave the wind and waves
to visit the beach at Taboga Island.

                                   
We could see quite a number of ships waiting to enter the Panama Canal. Some apparently have to wait several days if they arrive before their scheduled appointment.  We could see the skyscrapers of Panama City in the distance.