An amazing day of cultural experiences was had by all as we explored the many facets of Playa Blanca in Gulfo Dulce today. Using Playa Blanca as our “hub,” we visited several families and their farms and businesses. We enjoyed panning for gold at an artisanal mine, long treks through the Danta Rainforest, a barbecue lunch at Playa Blanca with youth presenting local dances, and visits to a sugarcane mill, the Finca Kobo chocolate farm, and Mrs. Eida’s hearts of palm plantation. Everyone returned to National Geographic Quest well-fed and full of great stories from our day ashore.
1/19/2025
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National Geographic Quest
Coiba and Cocos Islands, Panama
Our ship anchored off Coiba Island, Panama, early in the morning. The sun had just risen, casting a golden light over the dense rainforest. After a wonderful breakfast, we disembarked at the ranger station. Dividing into groups, some of us set off on a guided walk through the jungle, spotting scarlet macaws and other colorful birds in the trees adjacent to the ocean. Others chose to kayak or paddleboard along the mangrove-lined shores, gliding over the calm, clear water. By midday, we returned to the ship and cruised by Zodiacs toward Cocos Island, an uninhabited islet nearby. The staff prepared our snorkeling gear, and soon we were in the water, surrounded by schools of vibrant fish. The reef was teeming with life—parrotfish, angelfish, and even a few white-tip reef sharks moved gracefully among the coral. Sunlight filtered through the surface, illuminating the underwater world in dazzling colors. After an unforgettable afternoon, we returned to the ship, exhilarated by the day’s adventures. As the sun set, we looked back at the islands, grateful for the opportunity to explore such pristine and biodiverse waters.
