Coiba Panama was separated from about 12,000 to 18.000 years ago, when sea levels rose. Plants and animals in the new island was isolated from the mainland, during which time most of the animals have diverged in the appearanceand behavior of their continental counterparts. Hence the island is home to many endemic subspecies.
Planning your visit? Read our guide on how to get to Coiba or join our private snorkeling tour in Coiba National Park, departing from Santa Catalina or El Bongo.
Altogether the park’s islands have more than 240 km of coastline which mostly preserved in its natural state.Paradoxically conservation of this archipelago is basically because from 1919-2004 Coiba Island was used as a penal colony by the Panamanian government.
More than 80% of its forests are untouched and is known for its hundreds of varieties of plants and animals.
It is one of the largest national parks in the world declared by UNESCO as “World Heritage” and is considered the world’s third largest marine park after the coral reef Australia and the Galapagos Islands, also is considered the home the second Eastern Pacific and Central America’s largest coral reef.
This forested tropical island is excellent for fishing and can be seen in abundance species such as the tiger shark, the whale shark, large manta rays, dolphins also humpback and killer whales, the latter using the waters of the park as route their annual migrations. It is also a nesting place about three species of sea turtles. Coiba National Park has more than 450 thousand species of plants, 36 species of mammals, 147 of birds, 39 species of amphibians and reptiles. This area is also home to the beautiful Scarlet Macaw, the crested eagle, howler monkey, capuchin monkey and white-tailed deer.
There are two viewpoints on Coiba Island, Cerro Gambute and Cerro de La Torre, plus the easy, level Monkey Trail and the Boca Grande estuary path.
The park has 31 sites authorized for sustainable scuba diving: Jicaron, Jicarita, Canales de Afuera Island, Contreras Islands, Rancheria, Gambute, Punta Cirilo and Playa Punta Hermosa. Granito de Oro, one of the most beautiful spots in the park, is also on the list, but it will stay closed so its reef can recover.
You can also enjoy its beautiful beaches and snorkeling, and it’s a popular spot for fishing and bird watching. Want to see it all from the water? Join our private snorkeling tour in Coiba National Park: the boat is only for your group, and you pick the stops. Not sure how to get there? Here’s how to get to Coiba, step by step.
Do not hesitage to give us a call. We are an expert team and we are happy to talk to you.
+507 6673-0256
info@pacificadvent.com
