Tortuguero, Costa Rica

Our final destination in Costa Rica (and Central America)was the Caribbean village of Tortuguero, right in the middle of one of Costa Rica´s most famous reserves. It was reached by 4 bus rides (enlivened by the commentary of Costa Rica´s first world cup game and the ensuing roar from the passing houses when Costa Rica scored, with one father and son running out onto their lawn and then back into their house waving their arms. Oddly enough there were only women on our bus at that time.). Then a river taxi. The river taxi was an adventure in itself through very narrow channels at first and then into a widening river with encroaching jungle all the way. The return journey on the same boat was notable for the sighting of a 3.5m crocodile on the river bank. And scraping over some of the sand banks of the low river - the rainy season hasn´t yet swollen the waterways.
All of the jungle around Tortuguero is accessible by water channels and so a 6am canoe trip was our quiet way of getting to see things including lots of birds, monkeys as usual, blue jeans frogs and otters. A lovely way to look at wild life.
Including this Caiman (one of many) photographed by Ciaran.
Tortuguero itself is a wonderfully laid back Caribbean town with no vehicles and only sand footpaths for its 1000 permanent inhabitants. A wonderful way to finish with Central America (we are trying to ignore having to be in San Jose for our plane trip).