Escape to nature's paradise in Panama
(Tampa Bay Online) There are relatively few sounds to interrupt the stillness of the early morning air. But our noisy approach in the small skiff powered by an 80 horsepower outboard motor, has put a few jungle residents into a mild frenzy. As we drop anchor in the Panama Canal's Gatun Lake, the howler monkeys show their disdain for our raucous arrival.
We (my uncle George and I, along with our guide Enrique) set out from ecologically friendly Gamboa Rainforest Resort a dozen or so miles to our south and cruise to what we hope is a favorite and productive area where we can catch and release the famed peacock bass.
The lake is so vast, some 423 square miles we're told, that I won't remember the exact spot where Enrique maneuvered the boat—and I came to regret my lapse in judgment because the action is so fast and furious we were exhausted after only two hours of non-stop angling.
I knew the lake would yield a good catch, but we weren't prepared for the onslaught of feeding peacock bass that couldn't seem to resist any type of bait offering—natural or artificial. Every fishermen dreams of days like this because it makes for lasting memories and provides impetus for those moments when you're eager to share these stories with other anglers.
We were scheduled to fish Gatun Lake for two half days, spending the other part of a long four-day weekend exploring the rainforest surrounding this hidden gem of a resort, and the famed Miraflores Locks of the historical Panama Canal. Only less than two hours flight from Miami International Airport, Gamboa was the ideal weekend getaway and a fisherman's nirvana. There was much to absorb in this Central American enclave.
The rainforest
It's morning and the sun is just beginning to penetrate the vast green nowhere of the Gamboa rainforest, spread out below us in a limitless mass of dense grass, vines, trees and bush. It is as ancient as the ground it covers; home to rivers, birds, beasts and wondrous insects—but a place where no man had left his mark.
We are suspended above nature's handiwork in a four-person aerial tram that will glide effortlessly one mile from the bottom of the rainforest floor, up through the spectacular canopy of foliage and wildlife, to the base of a lookout tower. The tower, more than 98 feet tall, affords a dramatic panoramic view of the countryside, the Chargres River and the Panama Canal, one of the world's eight manmade wonders.
The tram travels slowly, silently above the forest, pausing occasionally to allow the guide to point out various flora and fauna that inhabit Gamboa. Howler monkeys, distinguished by their throaty roar, are all around, but difficult to see in the thick vegetation, as is the silent sloth. Easier to spy are the cayman (alligator) lounging on the riverbank, agouti (a rabbit-like creature), tree frogs, and the nests of termites and ants. As is nature's way, the ants, which build their nests in the shape of an upside down arrowhead to let the rain slide off, are the natural enemies of the termites and protect the trees against their insidious invasion. The rare black panther also is here, but generally avoids man's prying eyes.
The lookout tower utilizes ramps instead of stairs, making it an easier climb for the less fit. The view from its platform is breathtaking. Just beyond the edge of the jungle are the tannic-colored Chargres River and the Panama Canal, a living testament to man's ingenuity and resilience. The Gamboa Rainforest Resort is situated in the center of the Panamanian Isthmus and is dedicated to the preservation of nature and the history of Panama, while showcasing one of the country's greatest treasures—the canal. The canal is undergoing an expansion, and when completed, will allow double the ship traffic now taking the shortcut between the two oceans.
The Panama Canal
Tours to the canal's most famous locks at Miraflores occur every day, and afford the most comprehensive look at how daunting a task its construction was. French engineers were the first to try and build the waterway in 1880, but disease, mismanagement and chaotic climate conditions brought financial ruin. The Americans came in 1904, buying the rights to the canal from the French for $40 million. Ten years later, and almost $400 million more, signaled the completion of the project. The determination and will of the some 75,000 men and women who worked to complete the 50-mile-long canal constitutes an invaluable legacy to mankind as a whole.
At the Miraflores Visitors Center, the history of the project is outlined in great detail, and guests can experience an interactive ocean-to-ocean transit through one of the locks made possible by a navigation simulator. It takes approximately 20 minutes to clear the locks, but on average, a ship requires about eight to 10 hours to go from ocean to ocean.
The center also features a theater with a classic film on the Panama effort, three observation terraces from where you can watch a ship being guided through the lock, and four exhibition halls with various memorabilia. Gamboa Resort offers wildlife safaris on the Panama Canal, as well as excursions that include the freshwater sport fishing in Gatun Lake, the lake that was created when the canal was being developed. Damming the Chargres River formed the lake. It was, at one time, the world's largest freshwater lake, and is the main water supply for most of the country. It is also a haven for a multitude of diverse wildlife, including peacock bass.
Most of the visitors who come to Gamboa Rainforest Resort come because of its natural setting-it's in the heart of Soberania National Park and was created to showcase the Panamanian environment. In addition to the aerial tram tour, the resort encourages bird watching expeditions and maintains ecological exhibits on property that include a serpentarium, butterfly house, orchid and botanical gardens, freshwater and reptile exhibit, and a model Embera Indian Village. There are more than 950 species of birds in Panama, and more than 250 have been identified at the resort itself. The resort's in-house naturalists, most with university degrees, lead the nature tours.
The most impressive element about Gamboa Rainforest Resort is how it blends in with the environment. The American Society of Travel Agents presented the resort with its Environmental Award in 2003, recognizing its dedication to preserving the natural surroundings. Despite its unique setting—the forest areas were once used as the survival training camp for NASA's Apollo 11 crew—it manages to provide guests with a resort experience. There are 145 rooms, three restaurants, three bars, library, sitting room and full-service spa. The Historic Villas, built in the 1920s to house canal executives, have been preserved and updated with modern conveniences such as air conditioning. Panama City is a mere 20 minutes away, and tours include a visit to the Old City as well as this vibrant capital with its surprising high-rise buildings, wide boulevards and French Plaza.
All these elements—the resort, rainforest and canal—blend perfectly to form an ideal vacation. See for yourself!
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Original Source: Tampa Bay Online
Date Retrieved: June 4, 2009.
