Costa Rican Beach Walks With Salty Crocodiles

by TAMMY SORLEY (Canada)

A leap into the unknown Canada

There I stood, with my traveler's soul grinning . Not knowing what to expect tickled my inner Indiana Jones spirit. I drank in the glowing Costa Rican sunrise, as it drenched the south pacific shores of Tamarindo Beach. With my feet happily sinking into the tiger-stripped sands, I relished at the surfers sliding through the silver waves, and gleefully noted the haunting growl of the Howler monkeys echoing through the jungle. This array of jungle treats was definitely what I had been dreaming of for months. In my eagerness to explore this quaint little surf town, I haphazardly missed important cautionary signs, almost became nose to nose with a jaggety- toothed crocodile and went on an unexpected 4 hour jungle river boat excursion. Apparently, sometimes a leap into the unknown teaches you to read the signs before you leap. Day one of my adventure had loosely included a sunset meet-up with friends at the neighboring Playa Grande beach. I had expected to indulge in a solo beach trollop, a taste of fresh local cuisine and a sun soaked tanning session. I packed a towel, water, a can of sunset cheersing beer and about 30 dollars of local cash. I panned to the right and found my feet moving toward Playa Grande beach. I discovered that the two beaches were separated by a shallow 30 foot mouthed estuary. The brackish ocean water lazily horned left and faded into the jungle. The river shores where lined with a row of tiny brightly colored boats, which all advertised $1 on cardboard signs. They were taking beach walkers across the 30 meter river mouth to the Playa Grande beach. “I can easily swim across that!” I thought to cockily to myself. “I don’t mind getting a little wet…I am an adventurer…RIGHT?! “ My terrible decision was foolishly fueled by my blinding cheapskate nature. As I stupidly wadded into the slowly moving water, I was immediately accosted by a symphony of high pitched , alarming Spanish words. The yelling was accompanied by a frantic hand dance that seemed to translate the message of “GET OUT of the water!!!” I jolted out of the water with delirious panic. Now, safely on the sandy ground, the local people frantically pointed at a small sign sticking out of the sand about 20 meters away saying “Do not Swim. Crocodiles”. While watching the surfers, I had unfortunately missed this important cautionary sign. I found myself angry and embarrassed. I had just adverted becoming a ‘croc snack’ and being a local news story. I shared nervous laughter, with the locals as I made my way to the line up of colorful boats to cross the river. You would suspect that this would be the point in my story that would fade off with my hand grasping a lovely fruity drink with an umbrella in it, but no….. In my hast, escaping my audience, I boarded the closest boat. Apparently, again, I had missed that this boat’s sign had apparently advertised “ 4 hour jungle tour for 20 dollars”. The captain welcomed me with a warm “OLA” and looked confused taking my 1 dollar. As the boat engines began rumbling, I calmly giggled to myself, as I gazed across the 30 feet of water, about my narrow escape from a crocodile encounter! Suddenly, the boat trajectory did not go directly across the river. The boat took a sharp right. “Oh Crap! Was on the wrong boat?” my mind screamed, as I now noticed the sign on the boat. As the boat zoomed deeply into the rugged jungle, I calmed my mind and decided to enjoy this strange turn of events. That is why I travel; for a deep down satisfaction in my wanderlust ‘jibbly bits’…. RIGHT? Happily, this unexpected riverboat tour was full of Costa Rican jungle splendor and loaded with local flora and fauna (safely from the boat). I, now, realized that I love a perfect amount of safe adventure and that before I do leap… I will always read the local signs. Especially the tiny important cautionary signs, as evidently you will live to tell about your cautionary adventurous traveler’s tale. ###I have pictures for story too