Isla Coiba: An unexpected gem
Aug 19th, 2010 by wwftravel
- © Lazlo Ilyes
Unquestionably, one of the major reasons why people are drawn to WWF’s Costa Rica & Panama expedition is to see and experience the Panama Canal. But if you were to ask any of them at random at the end of their journey about the highlights of their trip, they almost invariably will mention Granito de Oro on Coiba National Park.
Snorkeling at Granito de Oro is a not-to-be-missed experience. This sliver of white sand in the middle of a sea of aqua is just irresistible. The variety of color and forms found in the reef around the island attests to the beauty and uniqueness of this national park.
Coiba, one of Panama’s most important national parks and now one of the five UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country, is the pride and glory of the Panamanian park system. It not only protects the most extensive tropical forest of any island in the region, but it also boasts some of the best examples of coral
reefs found anywhere between Baja California and Peru.
Coiba is special because it is the one place where virtually everyone’s interests can be accommodated, by offering birding walks, rain forest hikes, sea kayaking and, of course, snorkeling and Zodiac cruising. The naturalists are always delighted to see the expressions of wonder and discovery on the guests’ faces when they come out of the water full of questions about the abundant marine wildlife.
Journey to Coiba National Park on WWF’s Costa Rica & Panama voyage aboard the Sea Lion, February 12-19, 2011.
