Central America’s largest marine park encircles rainforest-clad Isla Coiba and offers spectacular snorkelling, diving, and sport-fishing in warm waters. Renowned until recently as a remote penal colony, the isle has a new focus on ecotourism.

Coiba National Park encompasses 39 islands. Virgin rain forest smothers 85 per cent of the isle – a Noah’s Ark where crocodiles slosh about in the estuarine mud and howler and white-faced monkeys cavort in the trees. This howler monkey is a subspecies endemic to Caiba, as are 21 of its 147 bird species, including the brown-and-white Caiba spinetail.

On the east side of the main island, the reefs of Bahia Damas spread across 135 hectares, making them the largest reef system in Central America. Humpback whales, sperm whales, and even orcas slice through these waters. Giant manta rays and sharks are also common, as are marlin, sailfish, and tuna. Sport-fishing is permitted, and the Hannibal Bank is especially favourite.