Tortuguero National Park is a rain forest portion of Costa that is only accessible by boat. There's a small village on one of the islands but there are no cars, motorcycles, or golf-carts. There are lots of bicycles, but that's about the only alternative mode of land transportation other than foot. You can hire a private boat to take you to the village, but that runs about $40 per person. However the place you catch the private launches was about 1 1/2 hours from our hotel. Why do that when you can drive 2 1/2 hours out into the real boondocks of Costa, have fun once again spending an hour going over rocky, potholed dirt roads and then catch a public ferry for only $3 per person. Boats leave for the village at 7:30, 10:30, and 4:30. The last boat back leaves the village at 3:00. So at 4:30 in the morning we left the hotel, got to the launch sight at 7:00 and arrived at the village around 9:15. This is what crazy people do for fun.
These pics show the public ferry's and the captain of the boat (sitting with his hands locked behind his head) and the first mate (driving the boat).
These pics show the public ferry's and the captain of the boat (sitting with his hands locked behind his head) and the first mate (driving the boat).
With it being the dry season, water levels are down some 4 feet from
where they will be during the wet season. It makes navigating the
canals a tricky proposition.
Arriving at the village we arranged for a guided paddle boat to explore the canals around the national park. The advantage of paddling through the canals is that you get to hear the sounds of the forests and you can get farther into the canal's than the motorized boats. The disadvantage is that the guide needs someone to help him paddle ... and that wasn't going to be Tina!
A German couple who was on the boat with us summarized it up pretty well. Costa is just like a zoo ... with no cages ... and all the animals living in their natural habitat.
These last 2 pics are of Caymans which differ from gators and crocs in that the eyes are on the top of the head, they only get to be about 4 feet long max, and they are less aggressive. If I run into something like this in the water, I'm not going to be checking out where it's eyes are located to know whether it's aggressive or not.
On a side note, Tina has been obsessed with seeing a croc since one of her tennis friends told her how many were down her. We have yet to see our first, but she hasn't given up hope yet. Every bridge we cross over she's peering down to the water to try to see her first one. The term OCD comes to mind on this! Thank you very much, Judy! :)
On a side note, Tina has been obsessed with seeing a croc since one of her tennis friends told her how many were down her. We have yet to see our first, but she hasn't given up hope yet. Every bridge we cross over she's peering down to the water to try to see her first one. The term OCD comes to mind on this! Thank you very much, Judy! :)
Back on dry land again we had lunch in the village and then took a walk out on the beach. The surf is too dangerous here for much swimming due to severe rip currents so we just walked and enjoyed the cool ocean breeze.
The ferry back got us onto the mainland at 5 and after a quick dinner is was a little after 8 PM when we got home. A long but very much worthwhile day. Until next time ...
Ser feliz. No te preocupes.
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