The pristine state of Coiba’s forests and reefs is a direct result of its dark and poignant human history. From 1919 to 2004, the island served as Panama’s most notorious penal colony. The fear of sharks, crocodiles, and the impenetrable jungle created a state of extreme isolation that became the island’s ecological salvation.
Dubbed an “unintended wilderness” by National Geographic, Coiba was spared the development that transformed the mainland. This accidental conservation left behind one of the last great untouched rainforests in the Americas. Today, the overgrown ruins of the prison stand as a haunting reminder of the past, a powerful contrast to the vibrant life that now flourishes, making a visit to Coiba a profound reflection on the relationship between humanity and nature.
- Read the full story in National Geographic and Smithsonian Magazine.