After cruising during the night from the Bay of Panama, National Geographic Quest dropped its anchor in front of Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge. Isla Iguana is a small island off the eastern coast of the Azuero Peninsula. Declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1981, Isla Iguana protects marine birds, tropical fish, and a large coral reef.
This 136-acre (55-hectare) reserve is surrounded by the oldest coral reef in the Gulf of Panama. The island itself attracts a variety of avian species, and is especially famous for its frigate colony, which includes some 5,000 birds.
We disembarked right after breakfast to explore this reserve. Our guests had the opportunity to walk around the premises and had a lovely encounter with the wildlife of this white sandy hidden paradise.
