PARQUE NACIONAL MARINO GOLFO DE CHIRIQUÍ

The Gulf of Chiriqui National Marine Park was created in 1994 to protect 14,740 hectares of marine meadows, coral reefs and mangroves, and all the ecosystems that result from them. It is part of a vast marine biological corridor, where humpback whales, orcas, sea turtles and large pelagic fish such as tuna and white tip sharks pass through. About 10% of the park is composed by a group of islands known as the Archipelago of Las Paridas. Virgin islands covered by tropical jungle for the most part. The largest island is Isla Parida (or Isla Grande) with an area of 1,200 hectares. It is the only one, along with Paridita, that is permanently inhabited, because they have abundant water sources. A few families live there, mainly from fishing. In the surroundings, there are more than 20 wild islands: Santa Catalina, Pulgoso, Gámez, Tintorera, Obispo, Obispone, Los Pargos, Ahogado, Icacos, Corral de Piedra, Bolaños, Berraco, Bolañitos, San José, Linarte, Saíno, Sainitos, Iglesia Mayor, Carey Macho and Carey Hembra. From Boca Chica, to the left of Isla Boca Brava, you can see Isla Linarte, which marks the border of the park. While the Pacific coast offers mostly large black sand beaches, the islands of the archipelago are surrounded by white sand beaches, lined with palm trees and unspoiled tropical vegetation. With its calm waters of emerald or turquoise color, the islands of the gulf have nothing to envy to those of San Blas or Bocas. Some of them reach several tens of meters in height and offer splendid views of the archipelago. You can even see the mountains to the north and its imposing volcano Barú.

In these protected islands, between tropical forests and mangroves, you can find a very rich wildlife. You can easily see caimans, green iguanas, armadillos, brightly colored frogs, or colonies of howler monkeys... The islands are also good places to observe falcons, pelicans, toucans, ibises, hummingbirds, etc. The coral reefs and the underwater meadows are the refuge of many species of fish which make the joy of the divers. Coral watching is famous in the areas of Santa Cruz (southwest of Parida) and Isla Gámez.

Between the islands, dolphins, sea turtles (Baula and Carey), manta rays and finally the majestic humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are easily seen between July and October. These ballenas jorobadas (in Spanish, Humpback Whales in English) make long migrations from Antarctica, nearly 10,000 km to reproduce and give birth in the warm waters of the Gulf of Chiriquí. The adult cetaceans measure about 15 meters and can weigh up to 50 tons! They are nicknamed the "acrobats of the sea" because they spend a lot of time on the surface of the water, showing off their pectoral fins and tails, and making impressive jumps! A spectacle not to be missed if you are on the coast at this time. Isla Parida has a bar-restaurant where you can enjoy freshly caught fish, with patacones and a cold beer, or coconut water, but in general the islands offer few amenities to welcome tourists. So, for a successful day, don't forget: sun protection (hat, glasses, high factor creams), water, mask and snorkel, and camera.