Puerto Limon, Costa Rica
Our first group shore excursion was a diverse and fascinating adventure into the natural world of Costa Rica. We started with a bus ride to the Sloth Sanctuary. Their mission is to care for injured or abandoned sloths, rehabilitate them, and then release them back to the wild where possible. If it is not possible, they are given a lifetime home at the sanctuary, where they entertain and impress visitors like us. We met at least a dozen of these gentle creatures, all with disabilities or who were abandoned by their mothers before they learned the skills to survive in the jungle.
Then we stopped at an organic banana farm where we learned about the cultivation of these delicious snack foods and sampled some locally grown coffees and chocolates.
Our third stop was to embark on a cruise in an open-air excursion boat on the Tortuguero Canals. We were lucky to see numerous sloths in the wild, as well as monkeys, birds, iguanas, and a crocodile. It was a leisurely voyage, ending with a refreshing snack of fresh pineapple and watermelon.
Our final activity was a short walk along a jungle path, where our deeply knowledgeable guide showed us the medicinal properties of some of the plants that the Indigenous people have used for centuries. It was a great way to spend the day.
Panama Canal
That ended the Caribbean portion of our Voyage and led us directly to the Panama Canal. We can’t quite remember how many times we have transited the canal, but we know it is at least six. So, not as exciting for us as it was on our first and second visits, but we still marvel at the engineering, technology, and coordination on display every hour of every day. A few of our guests who were here for the first time were in awe of the experience. A highlight of this day is always the Panama Rolls - soft and delicious apricot-filled pastries that make an appearance on canal transit days, while we are all out on the bow. We’ve had variations on the theme called Suez Rolls, or Singapore Rolls or Sydney Rolls, but these are the original and best.
Fuerte Amador, Panama
Our transit took all day. We arrived in the port of Fuerte Amador, Panama, after dark, prepared for an overnight visit. We docked just outside of Panama City, about a 9-mile cab ride away. This used to be a tender port, but the new cruise terminal has room for multiple ships. Unfortunately for those guests not on tours, there are no facilities at the terminal yet. For most people, it’s too long a walk to the lovely causeway connecting the port with Panama City. It is lined with restaurants, bars, and amusement facilities.
Our day in Fuerte Amador was filled with another venture into the natural world - this time of Panama. Our Cruise Specialists tour began early in the morning. Our small group of 13 were treated to an informative guided tour through Fuerte Amador and the neighboring Balboa port on our way to the Chagres National Park.
Chagres National Park
There we boarded a traditional dugout canoe for a tour of the lush Chagres River on our way to a native Embera village community, Parara Pura. It has about 120 residents, including many young children. The villagers make their livelihood through tourism. They used to be farmers, but when this land became a National Park, they were prohibited from most activities they relied on, like hunting and harvesting trees. The government stepped in to offer them training and financial assistance to start new careers in tourism.
We were invited to their village to learn about their culture. They told us about their family life and their skills at making various crafts, demonstrated several dances and songs, and served us delicious snacks of fried tilapia, plantains, and fresh fruit. Many of us were encouraged to do the “Embera rumba” with members of the tribe.
Most of us took the opportunity to support the community by purchasing some of the beautiful woven baskets, beaded jewelry or hand-carved wooden pieces. A few guests, including Steve, received hand painted “tattoos” that will last 4-8 days before washing off entirely.
On our ride home, our bus driver spotted a sloth crawling on the side of the highway and in danger of being run over by traffic. We stopped and fortunately our guide knew how to handle and rescue him. He returned him to a safe tree on the other side of the road. Our good deed for the day!
Special Events Continue
A few nights ago, we had a Caribbean Dream party at the Lido pool. The seas were a bit rough that night, so pool water was splashing all over the deck, faster than the deck hands could sweep it away. No one seemed to mind. Tonight was our first formal dress night, which called for an incredibly special event - the Volendam Ball. The World Stage was surprisingly packed with people enjoying the mostly disco-type music. We stayed for a few songs but opted for a quieter space.
Another day at sea tomorrow as we cross the Equator and head south to Ecuador.
Fondly,
Wendy and Steve
Continue Reading:
A Bon Voyage! | Costa Rica & Panama | Ecuador and Northern Peru | Wendy's Adventures in Peru | Steve's Adventure in Machu Picchu | Arica and San Antonio, Chile | Robinson Crusoe & Southern Chile | More Chile & Argentina | Antarctica | Falkland Islands | Montevideo & Punta del Este | Brazil | The Amazon | Salvation Islands | Arriving in Africa | Canary Islands & Morocco | Gibraltar and Barcelona | Spain & Portugal | France, Belgium and The Netherlands | Scotland and Norway | More Norway | Iceland | Greenland | Canada & New England | Voyage Summary
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