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Monday, September 20, 2010

Iguana Island National Park

 

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Iguana Island National Park  

About 200 nautical miles east off the coasts of the Azuero Peninsula, we find Iguana Island. Panama Historically passing from being a fishers refuge to today’s natural reserve, this inhabited island is truly something special. The Iguana Island’s natural reserve that we know today includes amongst its natural beauties the largest coral reef in the gulf of Panama,which is immensely important to this zone’s ecology; it’s also the home of countless turtles, iguanas specifically the black iguana (Ctenosaura similis) and about 5000 frigate birds you can find flying over the island. Many of these migratory birds rest and have their meals in these dry woods, a very scarce type of ecosystem in the country.


Because of this island’s status of natural reserve, the island has certain restrictions. The amount of visitors on the island is limited and there is a fee to enter. All local visitors must pay $1.50 per visit, all children and elder adults (retired and pensioned) enter free and foreigners must fee is $3.50.

Since it’s a protected area, rules are very strict about killing or feeding animals and not littering at all. When you approach this island, you’ll probably enjoy watching the hump-back whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and even orcas (Orcinus orca)in its waters near its beaches. Like you may have noticed, the natural qualities of this island are perfect for different activities like bird-watching, or practicing diving, scuba diving and snorkeling in its beautiful blue waters that are filled with wild-life.

Location

How to get there?

You can grab a 35 minute flight from Panama City to Chitre in the Herrera province. Then you take a two hour drive from Pedasi to the province of Los Santos, then you must get to the mouth of the Pedasi river and take a boat to Iguana Island SIf you drive along the Pan-American Highway it will take you at least five hours from Panama City to Pedasi.

Weather

The sea very calm during the winter. In dry season is when it get tough for tourists, therefore it is visited less. Which means logically, that summer time is when your most likely to find the island without visitors and at peace, The annual average temperature is 16° C and its annual rain average is 1,388 mm.

Suggestions

We recommend taking sunscreen, bug repellent, light clothing, a hat and a bathing suit.

Activities

  • Birdwatching
  • Botanical & Wild Life Observation
  • Camping
  • Eco-tourism
  • Expeditions
  • Expeditions
  • Fishing
  • Marine Life Observation
  • Scuba Diving
  • Snorkeling


Posted via email from visitpanama's Blog For Official Information About Panama's Ministry of Tourism

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