After we arrived yesterday we did a little walk along a path near the town to see the green macaws that feed on the almond beech trees that are there.

First we head over to the park admin to pay for park entrance. Only the guide had to get out. Most of our group with the exception of Jaxon and I, went kayaking in the canals so because he and I were only two, joined another group from the UK (Explorers travel company) guided by Juan Carlos.

Reptiles are thermal receptors not cold blooded as most people believe.

1970…park began. Those that lived here in the park were allowed to stay… along the waterfront but no one can take up residence after (grandfathered). The area of the town is a sand bar with mouths of 2 rivers on either end so is an island

Black mandible toucan.

Bloodwood trees besides 1000 other species of trees …. Is the base that all things grow from in the forest

Manatees are totally protected. They are the sloths of the sea. No boats are allowed with motors in the section where there are because they float near the top of the water and so get run over by the motors

All fresh water in the river (is not brackish) because the country rose one meter in 30 seconds in 1991 during an earthquake so is higher than the Caribbean Sea

Orependula is very common

Baby caymans are protected in nursery from predators and the males.

22 jaguars in 22 kms… seen during turtle nesting season. Other times they live in forest. Years ago all the mahogany trees were cut down to extinction.

Spider monkeys tried to shake a sloth out of the tree but failed… very unusual cuz they are vegetarian.

Heard howlers but didn’t see. Wished I had gotten video of the sound they make but…..

Red headed manakin

Most of cocoa is affected by a fungus so probably world shortage of chocolate coming up and so price will probably climb.

Later we went for a walk in the National park but didn’t see much more than what we had previously except for a Central American Agouti…. an overgrown rodent.

At one point there was a board with instructions as to what to do if coming face to face with a jaguar.

Apparently there are 28 on the 22 kilometre island. We went to the ocean side where our guide told us about the turtles… the first of three types that come to lay their eggs are the Leatherbacks. I believe he said the turtles start to come around June with the last here until November. Usually they lay about a 1000 eggs each. Last year the jaguars ate 400 of them.

The guide also mentioned that you don’t swim in the ocean here. There is great undertow, a sudden drop off, sharks and barracudas.

Also out because of the big drop off and currents there is an area that sucks all the plastics in the ocean to spin around.

On the way back to the entrance there was a group of spider monkeys entertaining us.