Thursday, June 19, 2014
Crysta Parkinson @ Well Worn Suitcase
Picturesque and sleepy, the town of Cahuita was a pretty little community 17 km north of Puerto Viejo. We arrived early in the morning to see residents in matching shirts worked together to clean the streets in the wake of a World Cup game the night before, and drove through the burg to a shed at the edge of a long row of boats wedged into the trees.
There we were joined by our boat captain and fitted with fins, then walked a few hundred feet to our boat. Exploradores Outdoors offered great equipment in a good variety of sizes.
TIP: Little ones are more than welcome, but bring along your own fins and snorkel if they will require them. Bria was happy to join the swim without, but we did bring our own life jacket for her.
Cahuita National Park is a gorgeous little piece of paradise – a strip of 1,067 hectares that has been set aside to be protected space for the diverse plants, birds, fish, and animals of land and sea. More than 2,600 acres of national park land located on the south Caribbean Coast in the Limon Province of Costa Rica, Cahuita National Park is an amazing oasis.
We were blessed with a knowledgeable local guide who shared plentiful information about the conservation efforts, as well as a trainee guide who was well versed in the biology aspects of the park. It was a combination that left us filled with all kinds of great information.
More than 35 species of coral have been identified on the reef, along with 123 species of fish, and a variety of mollusks, crustaceans, and others. The park, which is three times the size of New York’s Central Park, also serves as a nesting ground for sea turtles.
The water was breathtaking. As we sped along over the waves, Ella (13) smiled and said, “I would be satisfied with just this.” It’s not every day you illicit that reaction from a teenager, but there was much more in store.
Our captain came to a spot he knew well and tied the boat up – now it was time to explore. The place he had chosen was near the reef and about six feet deep, great for seeing a wide range of coral and fish.
We were pleased to find that our guides catered well to the variety of experience levels in our party. Every member of our group was able to have a great time at their own comfort. We all got in the water and got up close and person to the world under the surface.
Bria loved riding around on our backs as we snorkeled, and she even checked out a few fish and corals for herself.
Once everyone was happy and tired, we cruised across the bay a bit to another spot, where those who still had the energy for another swim jumped in to check out a new area. The tranquility of the beautiful, calm water and a little forgiving cloud cover made it a great day to sit and enjoy the boat.
Next we rode to the end of the point, where our guide laid out a carefully prepared delicious snack of local goodies, including a skillfully sliced pineapple, peanuts, cookies, and ice cold water.
While he prepared the snacks, we changed into dry clothes (find a tree to duck behind) and explored the beach. I have never seen so many hermit crabs in one place! Bria wasn’t so sure about them, to be certain, but it was a pretty amazing sight to have all of those shells crawling around. The parade was quite the display of diversity in all sizes and colors.
After everyone had enjoyed their fill of snacks, we tucked our things into the boat, gave everyone a good dousing with bug spray, and set out on a hike through the jungle, manned with water and cameras.
TIP: The trek back to Cahuita is about 3 km, so you want to plan for that with comfortable walking shoes and, if needed, a carrier for your little one.
We walked along at a comfortable pace, enjoying the keen eye for wildlife of our guides. Thanks to their skill, we saw far more than we ever would have spotted on our own. A troop of white-faced monkeys was up close and personal over our heads early in the trek, which was great for keeping the children’s interest piqued. Several varieties of ants call the park their home – some incredibly large. We saw so many varieties, it was like our own viewing of the movie ANTZ right at our feet.
Along the trail we saw a handful of lizards, an incredibly interesting spider, and an amazingly vivid yellow viper coiled nearby. We also saw howler monkeys, though they are not nearly as interested in checking people out as the white-faced monkeys were. A sloth sat high in a tree, and butterflies floated around us peacefully. You couldn’t ask for a better opportunity to check out the beauty of Costa Rica than this tour provided.
Worn out and filled with interesting new facts and a ire for conservation, we emerged from the woods at the Cahuita Ranger Station. There were showers to rinse of the beach sand, toilets, and two vendors offering local treats.
Our guide paid our park entrance fee (included in the tour, but $7 if you go to check it out on your own), and we walked a short distance to meet our driver. We were all very pleased with the experience, and would definitely recommend Exploradores Outdoors.
There we were joined by our boat captain and fitted with fins, then walked a few hundred feet to our boat. Exploradores Outdoors offered great equipment in a good variety of sizes.
TIP: Little ones are more than welcome, but bring along your own fins and snorkel if they will require them. Bria was happy to join the swim without, but we did bring our own life jacket for her.
Cahuita National Park is a gorgeous little piece of paradise – a strip of 1,067 hectares that has been set aside to be protected space for the diverse plants, birds, fish, and animals of land and sea. More than 2,600 acres of national park land located on the south Caribbean Coast in the Limon Province of Costa Rica, Cahuita National Park is an amazing oasis.
We were blessed with a knowledgeable local guide who shared plentiful information about the conservation efforts, as well as a trainee guide who was well versed in the biology aspects of the park. It was a combination that left us filled with all kinds of great information.
More than 35 species of coral have been identified on the reef, along with 123 species of fish, and a variety of mollusks, crustaceans, and others. The park, which is three times the size of New York’s Central Park, also serves as a nesting ground for sea turtles.
The water was breathtaking. As we sped along over the waves, Ella (13) smiled and said, “I would be satisfied with just this.” It’s not every day you illicit that reaction from a teenager, but there was much more in store.
Our captain came to a spot he knew well and tied the boat up – now it was time to explore. The place he had chosen was near the reef and about six feet deep, great for seeing a wide range of coral and fish.
We were pleased to find that our guides catered well to the variety of experience levels in our party. Every member of our group was able to have a great time at their own comfort. We all got in the water and got up close and person to the world under the surface.
Bria loved riding around on our backs as we snorkeled, and she even checked out a few fish and corals for herself.
Once everyone was happy and tired, we cruised across the bay a bit to another spot, where those who still had the energy for another swim jumped in to check out a new area. The tranquility of the beautiful, calm water and a little forgiving cloud cover made it a great day to sit and enjoy the boat.
Next we rode to the end of the point, where our guide laid out a carefully prepared delicious snack of local goodies, including a skillfully sliced pineapple, peanuts, cookies, and ice cold water.
While he prepared the snacks, we changed into dry clothes (find a tree to duck behind) and explored the beach. I have never seen so many hermit crabs in one place! Bria wasn’t so sure about them, to be certain, but it was a pretty amazing sight to have all of those shells crawling around. The parade was quite the display of diversity in all sizes and colors.
After everyone had enjoyed their fill of snacks, we tucked our things into the boat, gave everyone a good dousing with bug spray, and set out on a hike through the jungle, manned with water and cameras.
TIP: The trek back to Cahuita is about 3 km, so you want to plan for that with comfortable walking shoes and, if needed, a carrier for your little one.
We walked along at a comfortable pace, enjoying the keen eye for wildlife of our guides. Thanks to their skill, we saw far more than we ever would have spotted on our own. A troop of white-faced monkeys was up close and personal over our heads early in the trek, which was great for keeping the children’s interest piqued. Several varieties of ants call the park their home – some incredibly large. We saw so many varieties, it was like our own viewing of the movie ANTZ right at our feet.
Along the trail we saw a handful of lizards, an incredibly interesting spider, and an amazingly vivid yellow viper coiled nearby. We also saw howler monkeys, though they are not nearly as interested in checking people out as the white-faced monkeys were. A sloth sat high in a tree, and butterflies floated around us peacefully. You couldn’t ask for a better opportunity to check out the beauty of Costa Rica than this tour provided.
Worn out and filled with interesting new facts and a ire for conservation, we emerged from the woods at the Cahuita Ranger Station. There were showers to rinse of the beach sand, toilets, and two vendors offering local treats.
Our guide paid our park entrance fee (included in the tour, but $7 if you go to check it out on your own), and we walked a short distance to meet our driver. We were all very pleased with the experience, and would definitely recommend Exploradores Outdoors.
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