Costa Rica > An encounter with a stingray

When I wake up, I can already hear many active birds outside. Several fellow travelers have also gotten up early to capture the wildlife at sunrise. I decide to stay in bed a little longer.

Costa Rica - A dragonfly

At the restaurant, I order a Costa Rican breakfast. After a short wait, I get toast, eggs, and rice with brown beans. They serve BBR (beans, beans, rice) here morning, noon, and evening. After breakfast, we drive to the center of Cahuita to go snorkeling. First, we try on the fins and masks, then head to the boats. We split into two groups: one experienced group who have done this before, and one beginner group. The speedboat sails toward the coral and anchors nearby. A few minutes later, everyone is in the water, swimming toward the coral. Most of the coral is dead. A past earthquake lifted the entire coral structure, killing the plants. It is also said that pesticides used on bananas wash into the sea via rivers, suffocating the coral. The coral no longer has its bright colors but still shows the intricate shapes. Dozens of colorful fish swim among the coral, making it a peaceful and beautiful experience.

Costa Rica - A green iguana mainly eats leaves

The current slowly guides us over the coral. As I float, a large flat fish, over a meter in diameter, swims beneath me. At first, I think it’s a flounder, but later I’m corrected—it’s a stingray, specifically a manta ray. The ray swims about a meter below me—a fantastic sight—until it disappears into deeper water. When I later recount the experience on the boat, it turns out it wasn’t entirely without risk. After an hour and a half of snorkeling, we sail to a small beach at the tip of Cahuita National Park. Pineapple and melon are waiting for us. Immediately, we spot several animals around us. In the trees above, a yellow Bocaracá, an 80 cm long snake, hangs silently. Meanwhile, our guide pulls a sea urchin and a sea cucumber from the water. Once everyone has changed, we walk through the national park in two groups. The guide explains about the nature, trees, and wildlife. A raccoon quickly seeks safety in the bushes, and above us, howler monkeys make themselves heard. It’s amazing how many animals can be seen in such a short distance. We see lizards, various spiders, large ants, white-headed capuchins, and a two-toed sloth. High in the trees, we spot a monitor lizard, though it’s too far for a good photo. The view of the sea and beach is spectacular. The walk covers about three kilometers along the coastline. At the end, we have to remove our shoes to wade through a small stream. After more than two hours, we reach the white sand beach, the endpoint of the walk. As a final treat, a large green iguana crosses the beach. The iguana looks fierce but poses for photos. We say goodbye to the guides and return to our lodge. In the afternoon, I take it easy. After lunch, I relax around the pool. In the evening, we dine at a restaurant in Cahuita. Afterwards, a small group of us head to a bar with live music. The band draws many locals as well. After a few beers, we walk back to the lodge around midnight.