We say goodbye to the Hotel San Bada and Manuel Antonio Park. Today is a final full day in Costa Rica. We pack up our bags, enjoy a buffet breakfast listening to the howler monkeys and birds and soaking in the colors of the beautiful flowers that surround us.
Goodbye Pacific Ocean; not sure when I'll get to swim again in the Pacific but this view is burned into my memory bank.
After breakfast, we all climb into the van; we have about an hour and half ride to our final Costa Rican adventure-a crocodile river boat cruise. We leave Quepos for Tarcoles, traffic is a little heavy, we're on the coast highway, which is just two lanes, that runs along Pacific Coast to the Gulf of Nicoya.
This area of the country has large Palm plantations and we pass a few palm oil processing plants. We stop at Plaza Herradura for a quick bit to eat (empanadas and ice cream!) then off we go.
We'll be cruising on the River Tarcoles that is basically the border between the Alajuela and San Jose Provinces. The Tarcoles forms when the Rio Grande and the Rio Virilla meet.
For the next hour or so we'll be looking for crocodiles and watching all the birds that live and over winter here.
It's so lush here. I feel like we're in some adventure movie. Que the dangerous waterfall!
We spot a Jesus Lizard sunning on a log, unfortunately he doesn't walk on water for us but he's still cool to look at.
There are a few other boats on the water way, the locals use water taxis to get around, much quicker than the roads.
If you are a birder, you need to visit Costa Rica. Many of our birds over winter here and it's great to see they've made the journey.
Snowy egrets
Great blue heron
But wait, is that a log...no it's a HUGE crocodile. The locals call him "Mike Tyson".
He's enormous and very old. He's still got his teeth!
After spending time with "Mike", across the river we see a flock of Wood Storks.
Then we spot another crocodile
And another.
On our way to the mouth of the Tarcoles, where it dumps into the Pacific Ocean at the Gulf of Nicoya we spot an Osprey. Gorgeous bird.
And a flock of pelicans.
Wow, that was some boat ride. What a great way to finish off our adventure in Costa Rica.
Time to head back to San Jose, but first Eric, our driver, spots a couple of macaws in a tree so we spot for a photo op.
While everyone is looking up Edgar looks down and sees a box turtle crossing the road.
Ok, fun and games are over and we hit rush hour traffic to San Jose. Once in our room we take a quick shower and head downstairs to the farewell dinner that the
Crowne Plaza Corobici has prepared for us.
What an adventure we had. We met some great people and saw some incredible wildlife and beautiful landscapes.
We'll be heading our separate ways in the morning so we toast to our shared adventure and memories. We all feel blessed for our time in this magical country.
And that's a wrap. Adios San Jose and Costa Rica.
Back to winter in Vermont. (or is it...)
More photos from our December 12 Jungle Cruise:
CLICK HERE
