The Traveling Widower

Tag: nature

  • Hot and Humid Part II – A Wondrous Day

    Close-up of a lizard perched on a branch, showcasing its textured skin and prominent eye against a natural background.

    March 26th, 2026

    This has definitely been the strangest trip I’ve been on since I started my new life of traveling. Maybe strange is the wrong word, but this definitely has been different in terms of the wide variety of activities I’ve participated in.

    Today (Thursday) was focused on a full day of activities in one particular area quite a ways west of the Golfito Bay, where multiple activities started from a single point – Playa Blanca. We had to sign up for two activities a few days ago, one in the morning, one in the afternoon, all of which required short bus rides from the beach. Most of the activities were focused on exploring some Costa Rican family run eco-related business, as well as a bit of Costa Rican culture. It was another wet landing (boo hiss), this time to a large public beach where we had reserved space for our lunch activities, and where the charter buses would pick us up. This time, I had appropriate water shoes. No more dancing through the rocks (ouch!)

    I chose a rain forest hike, at a privately owned eco-lodge and park for the morning adventure. A very good choice.  The lodge (https://www.dantalodge.com/) was absolutely beautiful, and had trails wandering off into the rain forest. Our hike crossed a few creeks, and meandered up a somewhat steep trail (with a rope handrail) which peaked at a three story observation tower. Along the way, we stopped to photograph anything of interest we spotted along the trail  – this included some birds and a lot of amphibians and lizards – small Basalisk “Jesus Christ” lizards (they walk on water) were found along streams, and there were some extremely small (and lightly poisonous) frogs in the leaf litter along the trail. 

    A bird with a striped brown and white plumage standing on rocks by a stream, surrounded by green foliage and fallen leaves.
    Close-up of a thick tree trunk covered in spiky texture, surrounded by green leaves and a large brown leaf resting nearby.
    A small brown and black frog camouflaged among fallen leaves and branches on the forest floor.
    A group of hikers crossing a wooden bridge in a dense, green rainforest.
    A panoramic view of a lush green jungle with a bright blue sky and fluffy white clouds, featuring a leafless tree in the foreground.
    A colorful woodpecker peeking from a textured tree trunk against a blurred green background.

    There was not really an abundance of wildlife, but it was just an enjoyable hike – it was hot and humid, but were in the shade most of the way, and we had a great naturalist describing everything as we strolled along at a reasonable pace.

    Once we made it back to the lodge, the owner provided a nice selection of fruits and juices, and the best empanada I’ve ever eaten. We also spotted some Toucans, and I found a large Basalisk, sunning itself in a fountain. A great photo-op.

    A bamboo structure with a metal roof, surrounded by lush greenery and tropical plants, featuring a pathway leading to the entrance. People can be seen inside the building, engaging in various activities.
    Interior view of a wooden structure surrounded by greenery, featuring bamboo columns, wooden furniture, and a spacious wooden floor.
    A lizard sitting on a wooden surface, displaying its textured skin and long tail, with shadows and natural background elements.

    And I finally managed to get a couple of half-way decent shots of a Toucan.

    A close-up of a toucan's colorful head and beak partially hidden behind a tree branch, surrounded by green foliage.
    A toucan perched on a tree branch surrounded by green leaves.

    After we were done re-hydrating and relaxing, we boarded our air-conditioned bus for the short ride back to the beach.

    The Nat Geo/Lindblad crew really does a great job of introducing the guests not only to local culture, but also to the country’s efforts to maintain the environment of their lands and ocean. Aside from a nice barbecue lunch, we were entertained by a local dance group, and then had another presentation by an organization that tracks and rehabs sea turtles – they brought along a recently captured one, to show us how they record information on the turtles, clean them up if necessary, and the re-release the guy. Which they did. A happy turtle.

    A woman dressed in traditional attire with a white blouse and a purple skirt is dancing outdoors. The setting includes canopies and other people in the background, creating a festive atmosphere.
    A group of dancers performing a traditional dance outdoors, wearing colorful folkloric costumes. The scene features bright blue, red, and gold outfits, with dancers showcasing vibrant movements under sunny trees.

    I chose a visit to a chocolate (cocoa) plantation for my afternoon outing. Another great choice – Finka Cobo (http://www.fincakobo.com/). It turned into a combination garden/flora walk and Squirrel Monkey photo-op. Woo hoo. We walked the garden with the owner and our own National Geographic naturalists, with the owner describing non-stop all the plants, the history of his property, the different fruit varieties….a veritable fountain of knowledge. Once we got to the cocoa plants, he gave a great demonstration of the process behind turning the cocoa beans into chocolate – even got to chew on a bean or two. I knew it was a complex process, but it was great to actually see what the producers had to go through. 

    Close-up of a tree trunk with greenish bark showing small white flowers and a blueish patch near the base.
    Close-up of delicate white and yellow flowers blooming on a textured tree trunk, with green lichen accents.

    Along the way, we had already spotted a bunch of squirrel monkeys bouncing through the trees – photographing them became the focus of the rest of our walk. These little buggers are difficult to photograph, as they move quickly through the thick foliage. But if you are persistent, you can get a couple of good shots. They are not exactly cute – the look like little devils!

    A squirrel monkey hanging upside down from a branch, surrounded by dense green foliage.
    A squirrel monkey perched on a tree branch surrounded by large green leaves.
    A squirrel monkey perched on a tree branch surrounded by green leaves.
    A squirrel monkey perched on a branch amidst lush green leaves in a forested environment.

    Eventually, we did need to stop taking pictures, and headed back to the main lodge where they set up some fruit with chocolate sauce and a wonderful chocolate cake. This turned into a day for gorging on different foods. Diet time when I get home. And they also had those cute little Long Nosed Bats on the ceiling – at least I think they are cute.

    A bat hanging upside down on a textured wall.

    And there were lots of beautiful flowers in the garden – a bit of everything.

    A close-up of a vibrant pink orchid flower with a darker purple lip, surrounded by green leaves and natural foliage.
    A vibrant red and yellow heliconia flower hanging among green leaves in a tropical setting.

    We eventually got back in our nice, air conditioned bus, to return to the beach and get wet shoes again to board a Zodiac back to the ship. A long but great day.

    Peace

  • Hot and Humid in Costa Rica

    A smiling male photographer stands in a lush green jungle, wearing a t-shirt and carrying a backpack. He holds a camera in his hand and is surrounded by tropical foliage.
    Not me, my Avitar, AI generated

    March 25th, 2026

    It’s hard to believe that the trip is almost over – time really does fly sometimes. And I am so looking forward to waiting in line for hours at the Houston airport next Sunday.

    On Tuesday night, we sailed over the border from Panama to Costa Rica, and were given instructions by the trip lead to change the clocks on our phones and computers to stay on Panama time, rather than setting back an hour. Since the ship goes back and forth between time zones each trip they stick with the Panamanian zone to avoid messing up the crew shift schedules. We docked in Golfito in the morning, and let passengers wander into the (very) little town. Nothing was open. Of course, it was only 8AM on Costa Rica time.

    The town of Golfito is in the Golfo Dulce (Gulf of Golfito/Golfito Bay), the deepest gulf in the world. If you are interested in geographic trivia, now you know. The plan for the day was to do either kayaking or Panga rides along the Mangrove trees at the edge of the rainforest. I chose the lazy route – a Panga ride. I was hoping for a lot of wildlife, and carrying a heavy expensive camera in an open kayak did not seem like a particularly smart idea. The second outing for the day was a visit to private rainforest property, which was great for bird watching and photography. Woo Hoo.

    One interesting feature of this part of Costa Rica is that this gulf sort of blocks the wind, so you get a lot of rain, and the humidity and heat can be unbearable. Not Woo Hoo. You can tell immediately when you wake up that it is going to be humid – all the windows are fogged up.

    Two round portholes on a ship, one displaying a warm sunset glow and the other showing a foggy exterior view.

    For some reason, this area is a haven for the ultra wealthy. Jeff Bezos had his yacht here the other week. When we pulled in today, Mark Zuckerberg’s super-yacht was docked across the way. And then this huge, weird looking ship with a helipad midship, pulled in. This also belonged to Zuck. It carried all his toys – like a helicopter, a small sailing yacht, and a small submarine. There were probably a few cars as well. I guess if you have it, you flaunt it. 

    The first outing on Wednesday was nice and relaxing – it was hot and humid, but the panga’s have tops over the seated area,  and it was pretty nice when we were moving around at high speed. We cruised along the mangrove shores for an hour, hoping to replicate the experience we had with the Monkey Islands in the Panama Canal. Not even close unfortunately. We did see a few birds and a snake, but that was about it. It was still a nice ride – the jungle is beautiful, and it was really nice being out on the water. And I did get some very nice shots of a white egret and three-colored heron.

    Lush green tropical forest with palm trees among dense foliage.
    A white heron perched on a branch above calm green water, surrounded by lush greenery.
    A blue-gray heron standing on a branch among lush green leaves, near still water.
    A white bird standing on a branch over calm green water, poised as if about to catch fish, surrounded by lush green foliage.

    The next outing required sailing across the bay, which we did over lunch. By then, it was getting really hot and humid. Miserable is the word that comes to my mind. The landing was on a rocky beach, and it was a wet landing meaning you have to get your feet wet walking from the boat in the surf to dry land. I brought the wrong water shoes, and had to do a step-ouch-step dance up to the sand. The place we landed in had a bunch of Macaws overhead in the trees, but I was too busy changing shoes to get the camera out, so I missed the photo op. When we were all set, a bunch of us were assigned to one of the local guides, and off we went on our hike through the gardens. 

    It’s kind of hard trying to describe this place – it is a huge (500 acres) family owned property, which borders a national park. It’s a jumble of hiking and walking trails, with chicken coops, ponds (with a resident Cayman), native plants, and areas where pineapples, coffee, cocoa and other fruits are grown. The jungle surrounds everything’s, so you don’t feel like it’s a plantation – the family maintains it as sort of a eco-tourism business. And there are all kinds of birds flying and screeching. It was an interesting experience – not too great for photography, so lugging my heavy camera and lens around was an effort. But I did get a few good photos….but not of the Macaws or Toucans. Darn.

    A colorful bird perched on a branch, featuring a green head, red chest, and black tail, surrounded by lush tropical foliage.
    A vibrant heliconia plant with bright red and yellow flowers, surrounded by lush green foliage.
    A group of chickens in a makeshift coop made of corrugated metal, surrounded by lush greenery and trees.
    A toucan perched on a mossy tree branch surrounded by lush green foliage.
    A close-up view of a crocodile's head partially submerged in water, with textured skin and a visible eye, surrounded by lush greenery.
    A brightly colored bird perched on a branch, featuring green, red, and gray plumage against a blurred green background.
    Two red macaws flying against a clear blue sky.

    I captured one short video worth sharing, something I’ve seen in documentaries, but never live – leaf-cutter ants. Very strange, and they are all over the place.

    After our hikes were over, we sat around re-hydrating for a while, watching the Macaws fly overhead (but never quite in range of my camera). Most of us were ready for A/C and a shower – I was pretty much drained at that point, so I did my ouch-dance across the rocks, and boarded a Zodiac back to the ship. 

    Two more days to go. And one last photo – high humidity usually leads to nice sunsets. Here’s one.

    Mark Zuckerbergs private yacht

    Peace.