Isla Iguana

Just fifteen minutes from the shores of the Andromeda Ocean Estates lies Isla Iquana, a national park and wildlife refuge boasting extensive coral reefs and a colony of frigate birds. 

Isla Iguana blinding white-sand beaches and extensive coral reef, luring snorkelers and divers to laze with a wealth of marine life, including sea turtles, rays, dolphins and a myriad tropical fish.

This palm tree dotted island with white sandy beaches and crystal clear, shallow waters offers the laziest snorkling imaginable.

A short boat right off the coast is Isla Iguana, a virgin island frequented by nature lovers.  So named for the thousands of iguanas that reside there, it has white sand beaches and mangroves to explore.

Closer to the island, you will notice the presence of flocking birds --- thousand of them! --- hovering over the beach. Isla Iguana is the nesting place for several species of marine birds, such as the red throated frigate. 

These birds mate in December and January; so it is possible to watch the males in their nests, wings extended, calling the attention of females who soar above. It has been estimated that 5,000 of these birds nest in the park.

Isla Iguana Wild Life Refuge has one of the biggest areas of well-preserved coral reef in the Gulf of Panama (about 16 hectares). With its white fine sands and crystal clear water it harbors great variety of marine wildlife, including five species of turtles. Around the island there are several points for scuba diving and snorkeling.

The Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge's native vegetation is categorized as tropical dry forest, formed by shrubs with thorns, high grasses, cactuses, vines and coconut trees.

Used as a practice bombing range by US forces during World War II, the island still has several huge craters caused by that bombardment. In the nineties two 1,000 pounds bombs stuck in the reef had to be exploded as a security measure. Sadly, the massive blast killed a big portion of the coral reef. Experts recognize that there might be more unexploded ordnance in the bottom of the sea, so the advice is for scuba divers to refrain from touching any ammunition they may encounter, and to immediately warn the authorities.

Among the animals that can be seen in the island are hordes of hermit crabs, colorful bright red or yellow crabs, the black iguanas, green iguanas, boa constrictors, lizards, etc.

They are twin islands of 84 and 9.8 acres, covered in untouched tropical forests and surrounded by large stretches of sandy beaches. Sheltered in the Golf of San Miguel, the islands are protected from the high seas.

There is no infrastructure on the islands, no electricity and no cellphone coverage, but an abundance of large tropical rainforest trees; perfect for those who really want to be away from everything.