Panama's Coiba Island National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, encompasses nearly 40 uninhabited islands and a large, protected swath of ocean, coral reefs, and mangroves in the Gulf of Chiriqui. Spectacular wildlife abounds above and below the

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Panama's Coiba Island National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, encompasses nearly 40 uninhabited islands and a large, protected swath of ocean, coral reefs, and mangroves in the Gulf of Chiriqui. Spectacular wildlife abounds above and below the water, making this area an hotspot for ecotourism. Panama's park service operates a handful of small cabins on the main island that can be reserved ahead of time. Visitors can also arrange daytrips and overnight nature tours with guides in Santa Catalina. Dive shops on the mainland make regular trips to Coiba's waters to explore the park's coral-laced, deep-sea pinnacles. The Park's waters offer some of the best diving anywhere along Central America's Pacific coast. Big animals encounters are the norm—divers can expect to see numerous species of sharks, rays, and sometimes even whales and dolphins.

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