On the surface, Portobelo appears to be another site for religious pilgrimage in the Americas, but the ambiance in this small town on the Panamanian Caribbean coast goes far beyond mere fervent Catholicism and is where African beliefs meet those of Europeans’ and blend into something unique. A brisk walk through the town brings you to castles sacked on numerous occasions by English privateers, and formerly important bastions for the Spanish Empire. There is an unforgettable museum made from coral detailing the slave history of Portobelo and the culture of the new settlers, including an imposing church where even the Virgin Mary is holding a pair of handcuffs. “Why?” you may ask. Well, you will have to visit to find out.
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.