Blogs from Tortuguero National Park, Limón, Costa Rica, Central America Caribbean

After breakfast in the Monkey Dining Room, we once again boarded a boat to explore the waterways of the Tortuguero National Park. Because of the diverse wildlife in Costa Rica, that tends to be the primary focus of any excursion. As we made our way along the waterway we watched for birds, monkeys, lizards, iguanas, and other animals that may be within sight. Toucans were high on the list of birds to see and we found three perched in a tree for our viewing. Other birds found on the trip were Tiger Herons, Green Herons, Egrets, Sungrebes and Anhingas. Larger animals included Howler Monkeys, Spider Monkeys and White-faced Monkeys. Iguanas and lizards were also along the river. We returned to the hotel for lunch and found a little White-faced Monkey playing in the tree right outside ... read more

Today we are heading out for an early morning canoe tour and day hike. The gloomy weather outside guaranteed that there was going to be a 100% chance of rain that day. So, I prepared my camera with my own plastic rain cover and used the dry bag provided by Tortuguero Tours as extra protection. Renata’s phone was still not working. Jessica, from Tortuguero Tours suggested that we try to place the phone in rice to help remove the humidity. So after the canoe tour, Renata and I are heading to the local store to buy some rice. At the Tortuguero Tours office we were treated to some fresh fruits and coffee while Jessica went to get our National park entrance tickets. We were also given binoculars to help us locate animals in the distance. On ... read more

Wow! What a rainforest day! Rain was falling in the night the few times I woke. Getting ready for breakfast, I couldn’t tell if it was actually raining or if the trees were dripping loudly on the tin roof. The latter. Today’s excursion was in a small open boat to look for animals and birds. Right by the hotel were a couple of Howler Monkeys sleeping high in a tree; they looked like bundles of fur, in Ollie’s words. We moved at speed down the river past the town, and then slowed to look around. I liked how a wide, long mat of graceful grasses bobbed even in the quiet wake of the boat as we looked up at the immensely tall trees. The mass of trees and bushes and grasses is known as a “gallery ... read more

We woke up to rain on January 1st and after breakfast (Crazy Lobster closed - hangovers!), we walked very leisurely with Ruthie to Black Beach, so called because of the very black sand. This is where nephew Ian's ashes were scattered just over a year ago. We then had an even more leisurely lunch (for this read really slow service from few staff and a little hung over).In the afternoon Roger treated us to a coffee roasting demonstration, black smoke billowing everywhere but the smell was gorgeous. It has been great to meet up with everyone in Puerto Viego and Roger and Lisa are generous and welcoming hosts. January 2nd was a travel day starting with 5am pickup. After a car, bus and boat ride on a river we arrived in Tortuguerra national park which will ... read more

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 ... read more