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Published: April 17th 2014
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Apart from arranging to go and walk the National Park's nature trail in the afternoon we have the rest of the day free so I decide to see if I can find the one geocache that's hidden at Tortuguera. I take my first proper look at the Caribbean Sea and set off along the shore. I stop to chat to a couple of other tourists who it turns out are regulars to this idyllic spot in Costa Rica. They say they were up last night trying to get a glimpse of the turtles that breed here, but it really isn't the right time of year to see them. As I walk further I see little print trails in the sand that head towards the sea and guess these are likely from the little turtles. It's interesting to see different flotsam and jetsam on the tide-line than I'm normally used to. There are loads of large husks and seed cases and very different ground vegetation too. The shore is lined with palms and there's a lone fisherman with rod in hand. The island here (or rather spit of land, as it's really adjoined, just inaccessible other than by boat) has about 800
or so regular inhabitants and there is both a primary school and a high school. I'm guessing the 'island' youth get pretty bored as I see a bunch of lads hanging about smoking pot. My geocache is about 800m further up the coast and I see a coast path that I remember our tour guide saying is where you HAVE to walk during turtle breeding season, the beach patrolled by wardens to keep you out of the turtle's way.
I walk some of the way along here having a nose at some of the other hotels and island homes. The sand is kind of grey and gritty turning to black as it gets wet. As I get closer to the cache I have to turn inland and walk along a jungly path accompanied by some more of the amazing leaf cutter ants. In fact it seems they know where the geocache is as they are heading in the same direction as me. It takes me only about five minutes searching to find the cache hidden behind a tree covered by some coconut husks - you have to have a different kind of geocaching nose here - no piles of
tell tale sticks! I'm first to find from our group as Markus and Franziska haven't been here yet to drop off their very appropriate turtle travel bug. I sign the log 'friedagaric (UK)' and add my little flyagaric logo. Boom, my second Costa Rican geocache - big grins!
I head back and have a wander through the one main 'street' on the island. I have a look inside one of the souvenir shops and do a 'Miranda browsing sweep' as I see how expensive it all is. I buy a few snacks for lunch then go back to my hotel to hang out on the veranda and write up some of my blog. It's great having a tablet to write it all on this time and being able download photos directly by just touching my camera to the back of the tablet is great. How it does this is a mystery or maybe just magic!
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