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Wildlife· Swan Cay· Other Caribbean

Bird Island (Isla Pájaros / Swan Cay)

9° 27.2′ N · 82° 18.0′ W

A sheer rock islet off Isla Colón's north coast whitewashed by seabirds — the only place in Panama to see red-billed tropicbirds, wheeling in at sunset by the thousand.

Belize Barrier Reef

Practical

Position from GeoNames (Swan Cay, 09°27'12"N, 082°17'57"W). Exposed to the open Caribbean: visit by dinghy or tour panga from Boca del Drago only in calm conditions; there is no shelter for a yacht at the cay. Nesting site for red-billed tropicbirds and boobies (Scuttlebutt; Visit Panama). Coral reef around the rock is good for snorkeling on calm days (Tourism Panama). Do not land — keep a respectful distance from nests.

Best for

Seabird spectacle at sunset

Season

Calmest seas Sept–Oct

Nearby