We got slowed down our first several days due to lots of rain. We found that getting stuff through the extremely bureaucratic Costa Rican customs, no matter what you do, is very frustrating. June is the start of the rainy season in Costa Rica, and it REALLY RAINED where we were in southern Costa Rica. We skipped a few very desirable anchorages and moved north, finding a good anchorage. Snorkeling was so-so, as the water was very murky from the rain runoffs, though a pretty pleasant 85 degrees.
Song of the Sea is a lovely yacht and sails so well.
We very much enjoyed hiking in the Curu reservation near the Islas Tortugas, with their howler monkeys and white-faced monkeys that came to the main camp for their afternoon feeding of bananas. Wonderful to walk through the forst at to hear all the bird and animal sounds...reminded us of the 1960's Martin Denny music like the "Quiet Village". Somewhat disconcerting to have a macaw at the main camp that sounded exactly like a cat..."meow".
The crew is great. Mark, Teresa, Francois and Agnes were as always friendly and most helpful. Mark and Teresa joined the boat in Mallorca. Francois, the chef, is returning to his native Canada, where he will be starting an upscale catering business and perhaps a B&B; if you ever go that way, be sure and look him up. Agnes joined the crew in Antigua, and she holds a degree in Industrial Design. "Poinsetta", the potted plant, has been on board since Mallorca, and is doing well after several thousand miles. A great team.
We liked Costa Rica a lot. The people are VERY friendly and helpful. The countryside is lush and green, and they are trying to preserve most of it. Their previous big crop (bananas) got decimated by a disease and their current big crop (palm oil) is tough to sell. So they are focussing on tourism. As a small country, the politicians keep "losing" money, which is frustrating to the people there. So far, no big political upheavals as in other Latin countries, in part because they have no army to contend with. No railroads at all, as they got wiped out in the 1991 earthquake, and there is not enough money to rebuild them. LOTS of rain in the southern part during the rainy season.
And very special thanks to our hosts and dear friends Gaymond and Cindy for graciously having us in their "home afloat" for a few weeks. They have probably set some sort of record, being on their yacht for 50 of the 52 weeks since it was launched last year.
It was a wonderful trip.
TUE 27 MAY - Fly from SFO to San Jose (Costa Rica)
- Last row in plane on first leg to Houston;
wised up and asked for exit/bulkhead rows after that.
WED 28 MAY - Flew to Golfito in a 12-passenger Cessna
- I overpaid a lot for the taxi in Golfito
THU 29 MAY - Visit and hike in Esquinas rainforest - lots of mud
FRI 30 MAY - Stay Golfito - *MUCH RAIN*
SAT 31 MAY - To Puerto Jiminez
- Horseback riding.
SUN 1 JUN - Back to Golfito
MON 2 JUN - Stay Golfito
TUE 3 JUN - To Bahia Drake - 60 miles. Dolphins around boat
THU 5 JUN - To Isla del Cano, but very rainy there, so
on to Quepos - 50 miles
SAT 7 JUN - Leave Quepos - a VERY rolly anchorage - swells from SW...
even too much for Marylyn
- Go to Islas Tortugas, a calm anchorage with no rain.
- Kir Royales, followed by a great dinner, and then dessert
of plantain and "Cherry Garcia" ice cream
SUN 8 JUN - Stay Islas Tortugas
MON 9 JUN - Stay Islas Tortugas
TUE 10 JUN - Motor to Tambor in the morning (12 miles)
- Fly from Tambor to San Jose (Costa Rica)
- Stay in hotel
WED 11 JUN - Fly from San Jose (Costa Rica) to SFO