THE WILDLIFE

A destination waiting to be discovered by the world at large, the Gulf of Chiriqui offers unspoiled coastal and marine environments that rival the best on the Pacific coasts of Central America and Mexico. The heart of the Gulf is the archipelago of the Paridas Islands: Parida, Paridita, Tintorera, Gámez, Bolaños, and 30 other islands and islets, where waters teem with life. Turtles, dolphins, whales, hammerhead sharks and giant rays all exisit in healthy numbers, and the area has one of the largest coral reefs in the Pacific. The Islands host birds like the red-lored parrot, pale-vented pigeon, and brown-throated parakeet, as well as reptiles like the green iguana, the black and green poison dart frog, and we can’t forget the impressive leatherback sea turtle, which lays its eggs on the island’s beaches. The Gulf encompasses Isla Coiba’s National Park, and is linked by ocean currents to the Galapagos, Galapagos seals can be seen on the coasts of Isla Montuosa! The most fascinating natural phenomenon in the area are the Humback Whales who gather from both the Northern and Southern hemispheres to meet, mate and give birth in the warm protected bays of the Archipelagos.

The Gulf of Chiriqui’s diverse fishery is remarkable because of its unique bathymetry, dominated by undersea structure and currents. The banks and pinnacles around the various island groups, like the fishing grounds at the famed Hannibal Bank and near Isla Montuosa, are fed by the nutrient rich waters of the Humboldt Current. This strong underwater current flows north, along the west side of South America, up into the Gulf of Chiriqui. This drives the cold, nutrient-rich water from the ocean floor bringing it to the surface. These nutrients support abundant microscopic life, which in turn supports a chain of ever-larger baitfish bringing the larger predatory pelagics here to hunt. It is common to come across huge schools of boiling Yellowfin Tuna in “Tuna Frenzies” or to see Black Marlin exploding on the surface while feeding at these offshore banks. Fishing in the Gulf of Chiriqui is most definitely unique as the scenic inshore fishery presents seemingly endless opportunities as well.

- Sport Fish Panama, Fishing lodge