We are fortunate to be one of the only vessels that overnights in the Panama Canal. This gives us a chance to explore the canal and see some of the fascinating wildlife and experience what it’s truly like to be in the canal. Our ship divided into three groups this morning. One group visited Borro Colorado Island where the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute is located to learn about some of the incredible research that is underway in the canal zone. Another group enjoyed a Zodiac cruise around the island, while a third group, my group, visited the Canal Discovery Center to look for wildlife.
10/30/2024
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National Geographic Quest
Cayos Holandeses, Guna Yala
National Geographic Quest dropped anchor early in the morning in front of an Edenic island. This island, surrounded with white sand and lots of coconut trees, is part of the 365 islands that form the Guna Yala Archipelago. Our guests were eager to land and enjoy the beauty of it. We disembarked right after breakfast. A group of Guna gave us a lovely welcome to the island. Today we enjoyed the crystal-clear waters by using kayaks and standup paddle boards. A lovely reef also invited us to snorkel and discover the underwater world. A group of our guests enjoyed a guided walk with one of our naturalists and learned about the important use of the coconut in Guna culture. Several Guna families displayed colorful molas. They shared with us the mesmerizing art of making the molas. From a young age, the Guna girls learn how to make this lovely art. We spent the whole day in this small paradise. We could have stayed forever in this peaceful place, but our journey had to continue. The Guna community gave us a wonderful sendoff by performing several of their traditional dances and music. It was a great way to end our day.
