Costa Rica Day 3
Costa Rica
Day 3 - December 6, 2002 - Tortuguero and Mawamba Lodge, Tortuguero National Park
We got up at 5:15 and by 5:50 we were by the boats in the lagoon. All of us were ready to go to Tortuguero National Park. We were split up into two groups, one with 9 and another with 8. We went to “ticket window” by boat and Jorge got out and made the payment. He got back in our boat and we were off to see the little canals of the Tortuguero.
It is fresh water and these were dug out at the turn of the century to carry the logs that were being cut from the forest. Now, it is mostly secondary growth. The hardwoods are almost all gone just like the Mata Atlantica in Brasil.
Most of the birds and animals were way up the trees but we were able to see white faced monkey close, several types of egrets, howler monkeys in their groups, macaws and toucans flying and some iguanas. While on the boat we got a torrential rainfall and fortunately, they had some heavy ponchos for us to wear.
I was able to take some pictures of the area with my telephoto lens on the Canon A1 camera. The light was very limited and the camera was signaling me that it was not enough. Many trees were down in the forest. Most have very shallow root system so in the heavy rains and winds they topple over and block the canals.
We got back at 8:30, and went directly to breakfast. They were serving omelets, pancakes, sausages, toast, Gallo Pico and coffee, with Mora and Star Fruit juice available.
As we finished breakfast, Jorge told us to dress appropriately to walk in the jungle. Everyone was to put on heavy boots and wear long pants. Jorge and I were the only one that did not as we could not put the boots on. My only pair of long pants were a light tan pair.
We went back to the boats, who took us to the entrance of the Tortuguero and we walked into the jungle. In place the path was a mud bog and had little streams that had to be crossed. It was difficult at times. We also had hard rains so we all walked with the heavy ponchos.
As soon as a little sun came out we had to take those off as it was so humid. We saw lots of flora, heard howler monkeys but with the exception of walking through mud and water, this was not so spectacular. We came out on the beach and walked back to the town of Tortuguero where the boats picked us up.
On the way back to the Lodge Jorge spotted an osprey and we got close enough to see it and take photos. Very similar in size and shape to a hawk. When we got back we had to wash my shoes and then came back to the room to clean up. Cropseys and Pettigrews had decided to take their clothes to be cleaned so we put in some things with them and took them to the front desk.
I showered again, and went to sit by the pool waiting for lunch. We again sat with our group, had a nice lunch, good food, and then we had an hour and half to relax before the next boat expedition into the National Park.
As we were ready to leave, the heard some very different bird sounds. We walked out the door and at the top of a large tree was a beautiful Chestnut Mandible Toucan. It kept calling for its mate across the compound. Even with my digital, I was able to get a good picture. It has a black body, red and yellow neck, and a bill that is yellow, red and black. What a yeller!
We got to the two boats and the women decided to go with Jorge and the guys went on the other boat. Our boat drivers was Jamaican and he could tell all the animals from their sounds. We saw scarlet macaws flying across the water, a set of green macaws, howler monkeys in the trees, whole families, with babies, and many iguanas.
We followed the Colorado River up toward Nicaragua and then turned into the Palm Canal. We then saw an Owl Butterfly on one of the branches. The water was clear with the tannin coloration. On the way back the two drivers opened the engines up and we were flying across the water over 35 MPH. I thought we’d go airborne.
We got back about 5:15 and the clothes we had sent to be washed were ready. They did a great job of taking the mud out of my tan slacks. Gennie and I met Sue, Dave and Craig in the game room and the guys taught me how to play cribbage.
We went to dinner at 7:00 PM and met people for drinks. We sat in our usual places and the group got lively. After dinner we just talked to people and got to know them. We then had a group picture taken and it was a little dark. So we did it from both ends of the table.
Jorge went to get the evaluations and we filled them out on him and the Lodge. Pretty positive. We went to our rooms about 9 to get packed and ready for a 5:15 wake-up call.
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