Private Island Marine Safari
Location:
Gulf of Chiriquí
Panama
Wildlife:
Big Blue Five
Trip Type:
Archipelagic Reserve
Activity Level:
Medium
Come for whales. Stay for wonder. Leave with purpose
Discover Marine Safari 2026 highlights
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Front-row access to one of the Eastern Tropical Pacific’s most vital marine wildlife corridors
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Humpback whale encounters during peak migration and calving season
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Expert-led expeditions, conservation talks, and live hydrophone listening sessions
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Hands-on citizen science with opportunities to contribute to active marine research
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Access to Coiba National Park, a UNESCO-protected marine sanctuary
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Exceptional biodiversity including whale sharks, manta rays, dolphins, sea turtles, and seabirds
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Fully personalized itineraries shaped by wildlife movement and guest interests
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Best-in-class guides, vessels, and equipment for immersive exploration
Be Part of a Major Marine Conservation Success Story
Personalized Experiences
Each Marine Safari is unique and tailor-made, complete with personalized itineraries and the chance to support vital conservation efforts. We work with you to build a customized plan that will thrill your entire party, from private boat tours in the extraordinary Gulf of Chiriquí and bucket-list scuba diving in famous Coiba National Park, to magnificent frigatebird-watching, island-hopping picnics and beach family scavenger hunts.
Big Blue Five
These nutrient-rich waters are vital feeding and nursery grounds for marine megafauna. Here’s what you might spot:
Whale Sharks
In higher concentration in the first half of the year, the best time year-round to see whale sharks is during the full moon. Its brightness is thought to attract krill and plankton clouds closer to the surface, and these giant plankton feeders follow the food nearer to the surface.
Sharks
A number of shark species thrive in our waters. Some are here year round, such as reef sharks, and others are more seasonal, such as hammerheads, which can usually be seen from late March to late August. The best place to see them is just a 30-minute boat ride from Islas Secas, where there are two dramatic underwater pinnacles around which the hammerheads congregate, creating an extraordinary scuba diving experience.
Turtles
One beloved constant in our waters are our sea turtles. Islas Secas is home to hawksbill and green turtles, both of which are endangered. Our fully-certified PADI center offers specialist PADI Turtle Conservation Diver courses.
Rays
From June to October, guests can easily spot hundreds of long-tailed stingrays congregating around the north of the Contreras Islands, a 30-minute boat ride from Islas Secas. Other rays you might spot year round include eagle rays, stingrays, mobula rays and manta rays.
Humpback Whales
Islas Secas is home to the only known area shared by both southern and northern hemisphere humpback whales, with the smaller and elusive northern population visiting between December and April, while our southern whales arrive in large numbers to breed and raise their calves from July through October.
