Half Day Tour
monkey tour
adventure
This route begins southeast in the mangrove systems near Popa Island with a guided visit to the Urraca Monkey Rescue Center. Built directly over the water on wooden platforms, the sanctuary rescues and rehabilitates displaced primates. You will observe Capuchins, Howlers, Geoffroy's Tamarins, and Squirrel Monkeys, and learn about their specific care. A unique feature of the facility is its custom-built transit tunnels, which allow the monkeys to navigate naturally to an adjacent forested island to forage.
Following the sanctuary, the boat navigates east to the outer reef edge of the Bastimentos National Marine Park to anchor at Cayos Zapatilla. These two uninhabited islands offer a striking contrast to the mangroves, featuring a dense rainforest interior and a wide, sloped sandy perimeter. We anchor here for ground exploration, giving you time to walk the full circumference of the shoreline or swim in the calmer waters of the leeward side.
On the return leg to Isla Colön, we route through the narrow channel at Crawl Cay. This natural bottleneck funnels tidal flow, supporting dense formations of heavy hard corals, large barrel sponges, and vibrant sea fans. We anchor in 5 to 15 feet of water for a final snorkeling session, providing clear visibility of the reef structure and resident marine life like parrotfish, wrasse, and nurse sharks before heading back.
Urraca Monkey Island is an off-grid sanctuary built directly over the water, dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation Of local primates. Your visit directly funds their food, veterinary care, and enclosure enrichment, while supporting the vital message that these wild. social animals belong in nature— never as pets.
highlights
MONKEYS
BEACH
SNORKEL
Monkey Rescue Center
the experience
The Urraca Monkey Rescue Center is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and long-term care of displaced primates. Built directly over the water on wooden platforms in the mangroves near Popa Island, the facility provides a critical safe haven for species such as Capuchins, Howlers, Geoffroy's Tamarins, and Squirrel Monkeys that have been orphaned, injured, or displaced.
During the guided visit, you learn about the specific daily care required to rehabilitate these animals. A key feature of the sanctuary is its custom-built transit tunnels. These structures connect the over-water platforms to an adjacent forested island, allowing the monkeys to forage naturally and practice essential survival skills in a secure, semi-wild environment.
Operating this rescue mission requires significant resources, and the sanctuary relies directly on visitor support to keep its doors open. Participating in this tour provides the necessary funding for daily feeding, specialized veterinary care, and continuous facility maintenance, ensuring the center can sustain its conservation efforts and protect the region's vulnerable primate population.
The Pangea Experience
YOUR HALF DAY
Exploring the mangrove ecosystems and outer reef islands requires careful navigation. Our local crew handles the routes, allowing you to experience the primate sanctuary and marine park while observing wildlife responsibly.
What's Included
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Customized boat transport (assigned by group size)
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Entrance to Urraca Monkey Rescue Center
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Entrance to Cayos Zapatilla
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Tropical fruit & Caribbean snacks
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Assorted drinks
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Snorkel wear & safety equipment
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Certified captain & crew
itinerary
DEPARTURE FROM PANGEA HUB
Our crew will welcome you aboard at the Pangea Hub. We begin our half-day expedition by cruising southeast toward the mangrove systems near Popa Island.
URRACA MONKEY RESCUE CENTER
Arrive at the over-water primate sanctuary to observe rehabilitated species like Capuchins, Howlers, and Tamarins. Learn about the facility's daily care and conservation efforts for displaced monkeys.
CAYOS ZAPATILLA & SNACKS
Navigate to the outer reef edge of the Bastimentos National Marine Park to anchor at Cayos Zapatilla. Spend time walking the sandy shoreline or swimming in the leeward waters while enjoying a spread of fresh tropical fruit and Caribbean snacks.
SNORKELING AT CRAWL CAY & RETURN
On the return leg, we stop at the narrow channel of Crawl Cay. We anchor for a snorkeling session to observe dense coral formations, large barrel sponges, and resident marine life.
