Ocean and River Touring

March 30, Thursday - Breakfast this morning included a show from the capuchin monkeys, cavorting on the netting that encloses the restaurant.  They were using the netting as a trampoline and having a ball.   A coati (smallish, raccoon animal with a sweet face) also wandered by looking for entrance and handouts.

Coati

Capuchin Monkeys

After breakfast, we all loaded into the bus for a 20-minute ride north along the coast to Kayak Jaco, a boat service owned by our lecturer of the previous evening.  It provides kayak tours, SUPs, snorkeling and outrigger canoe outings.  We were fitted with PFDs and given bamboo paddles, and then walked 300 yards to the beach where our 3 canoes waited for us.  Each canoe could seat 8 with a guide, and had two outriggers, one on each side.  We broke into 6-person crews and helped launch the boats into the surf and then quickly jump aboard.  Our crew included April, Sybill, Cheryl (three sisters living in PA, NY, and ME, respectively), Ken (husband of April and very strong), Betsy and me.  Erick and Reimer had their own sea kayak.

We paddled about 30 minutes south along the shore, switching paddling sides regularly.  We almost reached our resort beach but stopped one beach sooner.  We beached the canoes and explored the beach and adjacent tide pools.  There were tiny hermit crabs scurrying around, one pale orange and black “Halloween” crab and the guides plucked creatures from the tide pool for us to view and hold, including delicate sea stars and squishy sea cucumbers.  We also saw small fish in the pools, even some that hop/walk over the rocks as the pool  they are in heats up and/or evaporates.  We swam for a while - the water was too churned up for snorkeling.  The guides gave us fruit - watermelon and pineapple - as sustenance for the return trip.

Hermit Crab with perspective 

Fossilized remains

We re-launched the canoes and paddled back to base, enjoying the views and the fine day.  Ken fractured his canoe paddle, evidence of his strength.  Most of us bought souvenir shirts, which had an attractive design and are microfiber and long sleeved.  We rode back to the hotel for lunch.  

Between lunch and 3:00, we had quiet time.  We then took the bus further north to the Tarcole River, renowned for its birds and crocodiles, of which we saw many.  We were given a booklet that listed 58 birds to use a check list.  By the end of the ride, we had seen over 40 including some truly beautiful ones.  Among the prize species were the crested caracaras and the boat-billed herons which had huge round eyes.  We also saw all 4 ‘nicknamed’ crocs, ranging from 12 to 18 feet long.  A couple were swimming right next to the boat and many more crocs were lounging on or near the river banks.

Croc 'Michael Jackson'

Crested Caracara

Croc Tyson or Osama

We rode the boat to the mouth of the river where it meets the sea, just in time for a beautiful sunset marked by many pairs of scarlet macaws heading to their home nests.  Erick and Reimer celebrated a successful tour by buying each of us a beer or soda to enjoy during the sunset.

We returned to the hotel, had dinner with our crew mates and finished the night with a game of Quiddler with the sisters and Ken - Betsy won, I lost.