On our first day in Panama and in anticipation of tomorrow’s transit through the Panama Canal, we visited Indigenous communities in the beautiful Guna Yala, also known as the San Blás Islands. This is one of the autonomous reservations shared by Guna Yala people in Panama and Colombia. We visited one of the many little islands, a gorgeous tiny island with a beautiful, white sand beach full of coconut palms. It was a perfect, sunny day for guests to snorkel in the clear turquoise water to see the pristine coral reef. Other guests walked with one of our naturalists to learn about coconut’s importance to these people. They bought local handcrafts, observed performances of traditional dances, and played with kayaks and paddleboards in the warm, gentle water.

Indeed, it was a perfect day in a wonderful place. What a great way to learn about incredible places and the people who share this wonderful world with us.