Coiba, National park and World Heritage Site in Veraguas Province, Panama
Coiba is a national park and World Heritage Site in Chiriquí Province, consisting of about 38 islands and surrounding waters with primary rainforests and a large coral reef system. The area spans hundreds of square kilometers and offers a mix of land and sea habitats rarely found together.
The island served as a penal colony in the 20th century, keeping it away from the outside world and allowing its forests and waters to remain largely untouched. This long period of isolation helped the ecosystem stay in its original state.
The name Coiba comes from indigenous language and means "land of spirits". Today, people visit and work here to experience and protect the untouched landscape.
Visitors need a permit from environmental authorities and can reach the island by boat from the nearby coast. The best time to visit is during warmer months when the sea is calm enough for boat travel.
The area is home to a special monkey species found nowhere else, living in the treetops of the rainforest. These animals are often hard for visitors to spot, but their calls echo through the jungle and make their presence clear.
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