San Blas Islands

Our airplane was small, holding about 16 passengers and my seat was right behind the pilot, so I could lean over and take this photo of the controls.
Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002

We flew from Albrook airport near Panama City on the Pacific side of Panama, eastward along the coast, then up over the central hills shown here and to the Caribbean side.
Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002

The airstrip where we landed had no airport, and was nearly in the sea.The taxis waiting at the airstrip were all wooden canoes.
Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002

The dock at the airport and the outhouse next to it.
Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002

Our guide Jasmina, in traditional Kuna dress, standing on the bow of her canoe.
Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002

The lovely palm, shaded islands of the Kuna people.
Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002

An island hotel of bamboo, thatched-roof cabins.
Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002

The inside of our cabin, and the back door.
Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002

Greg relaxing in the hammock outside our back door.
Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002

View from the shoreline where we can see a palm tree that grew from a coconut that washed ashore.
Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002

Greg admiring the view from the shore.
Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002

The water is so clear, we can photograph the fish (with good camouflage) and shells beneath.
Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002

Two fishermen's canoes in a lagoon, with the Panama coast in the distance
Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002

A piece of sponge (purple) that was once alive, and the wave-beaten skeleton of some coral animals (they lived on the surface, nestled in the grooves of the skeleton).
Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002

Fishing Kuna-style, with a rope and hook, from a tiny dugout canoe carved from a single tree trunk
Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002

A brittlestar, a special kind of starfish with flexible arms that twine around corals
Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002

Many hermit crabs were living along the beach, where they reside inside a shell that must be abandoned for a bigger shell as they grow. They are scavengers
Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002

Anna observing a female Gecko.
Photo Credit: Jacalyn Willis, 2002