Costa Rica!

 We made port in Colon, Costa Rica.

Today’s tour took us to the Veragua Rainforest.

Located less than one hour from the historic Caribbean town of Puerto Limón and with enchanting views of the endless mountains of the Talamanca Range, the Veragua Rainforest Eco-Adventure allows visitors to explore the natural wonders of Costa Rica’s breathtaking tropical rainforest.

This tour is really for adults, children will be bored.  If you want to learn about the rainforest you’re in the right place.  If you expect to see lots of animals, you might be disappointed.  We saw a sloth from the bus, but didn’t see any additional sloths or howler monkeys.

 As you might expect, it’s a walking tour.  The guide took us through the park, showing us all the different species of plants that grow in the area.  Some plants even grow on top of the trees, to get more sunlight.

There was a building devoted to snakes, another to frogs and toads, and a third devoted to butterflies.

This is ginger:

An orchid.

We actually saw a hummingbird.  See if you can spot him.

  

There’s an aerial tram that takes you down the mountain.

  

Once you reach the bottom, there are two paths.  One path leads to the river, the other leads to a waterfall. The waterfall is atop 175 stairs. At the beginning of the tour you are asked ‘stairs or no stairs”. I chose stairs, but couldn’t actually climb them.  Wound up waiting for the group by the tram.

The views from the park are amazing.

We were given lunch —nothing fancy — and had a chance to shop for souvenirs.  And then it was back to the ship.  On time. 

Did I mention that not only is the ship decorated for Christmas, but that we are also celebrating Hanukkah?  There’s a lovely menorah in the lobby, and every evening a Rabbi lights candles.

  

 

The evening’s entertainment?  Tonight the main stage entertainment was Attraction, a Hungarian troop that won Britain’s Got Talent and competed on America’s Got Talent.

 

Their act consists of music, dance and puppetry, all done with black lighting and other lighting effects.   Very enjoyable.
 

Another wonderful day.