This morning, we awoke in the calm waters of Gatun Lake, where we spent the first night of our journey through the Panama Canal. Most ships transit the canal in a matter of hours, while we were fortunate to have had the opportunity to stay the night and spend the first part of today exploring Barro Colorado Island, known as the Canal Zone Biological Area. This former hilltop became an island when the Panama Canal was being built, and Gatun Lake was created by flooding the nearby Chagres River. It was officially declared a Nature Monument in 1923, and since then has been a place of research and preservation managed by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
To explore the island, we divided into 3 main groups; those that wanted to do a long hike (2.3 miles), those that wanted a medium hike (2 miles), and those that were interested in exploring the island via our expedition landing crafts. Once the hikers landed ashore, they were met by local naturalists that guided them around the island. These knowledgeable guides gave us a small glimpse into the important work that continues to be created from this small but very important biological jewel.
The real treat for many of us was trying to spot some of the incredible wildlife that calls this island home. Sightings were varied among the groups and included species such as howler monkeys, anteater, crested guan, leafcutter ants, green and black poison dart frog, blue cotinga, crocodiles and a snail kite, among others.
Back onboard, we had a really nice lunch, followed by the continuation of our transit through the remaining two locks that separated us and the Pacific Ocean. Gabriel, our naturalist, provided enjoyable commentary and was a wealth of information regarding the Panama Canal.
