Puntarenas/Costa Rica

3.2.2024 Puntarenas

I hadn't booked a tour and joined other passengers who had done the same. Immediately after leaving the ship, I saw a tour guide offering trips to various destinations. The asking price was also okay, so we agreed on a trip near the Parque Nacional Carara including a boat trip on the Tarcoles River, which is inhabited by crocodiles.

After about an hour of driving, we reached our destination and boarded the boat with another group. First there was a small crocodile to admire. And birds.

Next came the highlight of the trip: Our brave boat captain fed what was probably the largest crocodile in the area by hand from the reed bank. Seeing the almost five meter long monster up close was fascinating. It was christened "Donald Trump" because of the fact that it pleases the twenty female crocodiles in its territory three times a year.

The boatman had managed to get back into the boat without losing any limbs, and so we chugged on. Frigate birds, pelicans, ibises, herons, vultures, many more and in between there are always crocodiles. It was fabulous.

Finally we returned to the shore and began our journey home. Lunch break in a huge souvenir shop with a restaurant.

Our driver took a detour via the small town of Esparza, which is one of the oldest towns in Costa Rica and also has a colonial-style church. There was a happy fiesta going on in front of the church.

We arrived at the harbor on time and I was able to look at the stalls on the beach and buy a few things in a small shop. I was taken along the pier to the ship in an electric train.

After a small dinner, I attended the concert "The Elton John Experience" by singer and pianist Daniel Sugimoto.