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Part 3: Costa Rica—Water-Walking Lizards and a Caribbean Bea
(by Patti Day-Miller - March 04, 2008)
After breakfast, we boarded smaller, uncovered boats for a flora and wildlife-spotting cruise into the waters of Cano Palma Wildlife Reserve, which included viewing the basillisk lizard (“walks-on- water” lizard; he’s nicknamed the Jesus Christ Lizard). We saw many lizards, iguanas, tropical birds, monkeys, and both a two-toed and three-toed sloth.
Next we visited the John H. Phipps Biological Station where the green turtles are researched and protected along a 23-mile stretch of beach where they deposit their eggs each year from June-November. We saw a video there that informed us of efforts to protect the turtle’s nesting habitat, eggs, and young hatchlings. Then we walked along the beautiful beach to Tortuguero village, taking photos along the way, and then had time for some shopping. I found some cute, little coconut shell turtle necklaces, and Dave found a necklace for his daughter.
We returned by boat to our lodge for lunch, and then 26 adventurous ones (of our tour of 44), including Dave and our grandson Tyler, went off to do the canopy zip-line. A little later, four of us went on another canal cruise (14 of our group enjoyed the pool and relaxing). I was happy I went on the cruise because, among many tropical birds and other wildlife, we saw our first capuchin monkeys. There were six that I saw crossing the canal by going branch to branch from the treetops! It was exciting to witness their trip that afternoon.
Our Calypso Party was scheduled for 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. We were treated to a small band who played with great gusto, and many of our group enjoyed dancing, including a female Ph.D. from Miami, who was clearly the best dancer in our group. Next came the limbo, and many again tried that with “Miami” receiving the most applause. Then most of us participated in a calypso line dance where, in the last segment, the dancer in the center of the circle passes a banana to the next center-circle dancer. It was great fun!
It rained most of the evening and all night long, and we were thankful for the huge umbrellas on our cabin’s front porch (and also racks of them at the dining room), when retiring that night and when going to breakfast the next morn. (And I must say that the wire on the floor of the walkway worked very well for steady footing.)
After breakfast, we boarded our large, covered boat, and within a few minutes the rain stopped, and the plastic windows were rolled up for better viewing, as we cruised 80-minutes back to our tour bus at Parismina, viewing wildlife along the way.
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