Iguana Island is composed by intrusive basaltic rocks a product of submarine volcanic eruptions.
   

Indigenous garbage sites and pottery were found on the island, proving that indigenous people frequented the island prior to the arrival of Spanish conquerors.
 

The white sands of Iguana Island are the product of coral erosion by animals that feed on coral (bio-erodes) or coral fragments that accumulate and roll up and down the beach because of wave action. The principal bio-erodes are the Parrot Fishes, Puffer Fishes, and Trigger Fishes.
   

More than 62 species of birds have been identified on the island and surrounding waters. The Frigate bird (Fregata magnificens) is the most common resident species. Their colony at Iguana Island includes more than 5,000 individuals.

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaengliae) visit the surrounding waters from June to October, and September is the month of more activity. In these waters they mate, give birth and teach their young to dive. Scientists believe they travel from the South Pole. Photo: Ada Luz Anguizola.


In this area, fisheries depend on coral reefs, mangrove and upwelling of cold deep waters, rich in nutrients a phenomenon that occurs during the dry season, from mid December to mid April.
 

Commercial and sport fisheries have decreased significantly product of over fishing, habitat destruction and prohibited fishing systems, like gill nets, trolling nets and long-lines, and the low acceptance of catch and release methods by sport fishermen.


Fishing sustainability can be achieved by exploitation of new pelagic resources, like Tuna and Dolphin fish, maintaining the number of local fishermen and small fishing boats, protection of nursery areas like coral reefs and mangroves, and a moratorium of traditional fishing resources to allow them to increase their populations.

There are two beautiful white sandy beaches at Iguana Island: Playa El Cirial is 252m (806') long, and La Playita del Faro is 37m (118') long.

Over 347 species of fish are identified in these waters, of the 726 species recorded for the Punta Mala area by Robertson, Ross, D. & Gerald R. Allen. Version 1.0. CD: Fishes of the Tropical Eastern Pacific. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.

  Coral is a colonial organism composed by thousands of diminutive polyps, divided in three parts: animal (the polyp), plant (symbiotic algae) and mineral (the external skeleton).
   

Coral reefs are the nursery of commercial species, attract pelagic species and tourists of all ages, protect the island from erosion produced by waves and currents, and are a source of medicines and several products of daily use in our homes.
   
  Iguana Island is surrounded by more that 40 hectares (98 acres) of marginal reefs (adjacent to the coast and exposed during low tides), patch reefs (smaller coral areas) and coral banks (patches on submerged rocks in the open ocean). This is the island with the most coral reefs in the Gulf of Panama.
 
  Iguana Islands coral reefs are 3,800 years old, have a maximum thickness of calcium carbonate (coral skeleton) accumulation of 6.1m (20'), a live coral cover over 72%, and single massive colonies over 800 years old.
 
  Iguana Island is a 53 hectares (130 acres) island surrounded by more than 40 Ha (99 acres) of coral reefs, mangroves, sandy beaches, dunes and rocky reefs that dominate the continental coast next to it.
 
  There are 14 species of scleractinean corals (that form reefs) and 2 species of non forming reefs.
 
  There are over 200 species of marine invertebrates at Iguana Island.
 
  There are more than six species of terrestrial reptiles at Iguana Island. The most common is the black iguana (Ctenosaura similis). Photo: Claudio Carrasco.
 
  Three species of sea turtles graze and mate at Iguana Island. None of them nests at the island; they prefer the continental beaches for nesting.
   
  Seven species of marine mammals visit these waters. Photo courtesy: Hotel Manolo, Las Tablas.
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