Read day 3 here.

Breakfast is served at 7:00 so I’m up and about by 6:00. As we are eating breakfast a hummingbird comes flitting through the dining room much to the delight of everyone. After breakfast we will all meet down at the hotel dock for a nature boat ride.

When I get back to my room I get my camera and start hunting for my binoculars…I can’t find them anywhere! I go back in my mind to the last time I saw them and I remember…I was repacking and sat them on the dresser to be put in as one of my last items and they never made it back into my suitcase – no binoculars for the whole program.

The boat that we are on is open and has plenty of seats for everybody. It also has a very narrow aisle so good balance is a must. The weather is really warm and the sun is shining brightly – I’m glad I remembered my sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses. Over the next couple of hours as we ride through the many canals in and around Tortuguero we see so many birds, insects, amphibians and animals. In one of the small shaded canals Pedro spots a mama caiman with about a dozen babies just lying in the shallow water.

We also get to see several emerald basilisks sunning themselves on large branches.

There are also so many birds – anhingas, jacanas, common black hawk, several species of herons, ringed kingfisher and even a turkey vulture.

We also spot howler monkeys, spider monkeys, as well as a capuchin with a baby on her back. It’s amazing that we have seen so many different species in such a short time. Let’s not forget a three toed sloth just hanging quietly in a tree. This is when I really start to miss my binoculars because the sloth really blends in.

We head back to the dock and we have enough time to freshen up before lunch. After lunch we have a couple of hours of free time so some of us head to the turtle shaped pool. I felt much better after cooling off in the pool. The grounds are extensive and several of my fellow travelers take walks around the property. Another boat ride is scheduled for 3:00pm so it’s everybody out of the pool.

During the afternoon boat safari we see even more birds and animals that we hadn’t seen earlier. There was a young green iguana, several species of herons, several trogons, an Aracari toucan (binoculars I miss you!) and another basilisk lizard. This time we startle the lizard and we see it run across the top of the water – this explains why it’s nicknamed the “Jesús Cristo lizard”. Again it’s really sunny and hot so a hat and sunscreen are a must.

Our lecture this evening is being given by one of the locals, Eddie Rankin. He is part of one of the 15 original families that settled Tortuguero. He gives the local perspective on life and eco tourism and its effects on Tortuguero.

After dinner it’s back to the room so that I can repack. Tomorrow we head to the rainforest of the Sarapiqui region. After a long day of fresh air and sunshine I’m ready for a good night’s sleep.

Day 5 >