A Tour of Shelter Bay, Panama
February 4, 2024 Sunday
This afternoon we were treated to a walk through the jungle. Our tour guide, “Jungleman Carl” was very informative about the history of the area, as well as its flora and fauna.
Shelter Bay Marina is located in what was once the French headquarters of the original canal builders. A lighthouse erected during that time still acts as a beacon to sailors entering Shelter Bay.
When the US took over the canal-building operations, this area became Fort Sherman.
There are many buildings now in ruin that are reminders of the fort’s history including the old theater (now a sail loft), a church, and a bunker located in the jungle behind the marina. Many of these were built during World War II when the US feared German occupation of the Canal and the surrounding areas.
The old theatre, inside the church, and the bunker
The jungle itself was alive with all kinds of verdant growth and animal life. We walked beneath tall canopies of palm trees and bamboo and were introduced to the large and graceful Panama tree. Our guide pointed out a very large seed pod that palm trees drop in order to propagate. Watch out for that!!
We listened to the calls of howler monkeys (appropriately named), as well as the squawks of innumerable toucans. The lines of leaf-cutter ants were long and fascinating to watch. We were also warned to be careful when grabbing a limb for balance as sometimes a camouflaged vine snake might be surprised by a sudden grasp (not to mention the unhappy surprise of the one who grabbed it!)
Palms, pods, bamboo and a Panama Tree
