Monday, March 19 Afternoon: Skiff Tour of Agujita River

Lloyd decided to pass on this excursion, still tired from the morning hike. I was glad I went, as it was a pretty, restful tour up the river. 

The Agajuta River brings fresh water down from the hills of a national park.  The area, like much of Costa Rica, is protected, with restrictions on development.
We saw a few groups of kayakers who were moving quickly up the river, missing much of the ambiance.

A number of fishing boats were moored at the mouth of the river..

Our skiff, with both a guide, Erika,  and a driver, who was a wonderful spotter.

Erica was knowledgeable and passionate
about Costa Rica's efforts to preserve the ecosystems.

Common Black Hawk on her next

Male hawk close by

Juvenile hawk, seen on return trip. Staff photo

 The male accompanied us up the river for some time,

often posing for pictures.

There was a good variety of healthy trees and shrubs along the river. 

I liked the natural swing in the lower left of this photo.

Bromeliads draw moisture from the air and often grow
 with very shallow roots on other plants.
We saw them often in the rainforest.

The little plug in the crack in this tree marks the entrance to a bee hive.

A Boat-billed Heron - staff photo

Alligator? Crocodile? sunning himself 

Suspension bridge over the river

The skiff drivers and staff who helped us disembark/embark on land were very careful to keep themselves covered from the sun. They wore hats, face coverings, and long-sleeved shirts. They were local guys who seemed to know a lot but spoke little English.

The ship was well-equipped for dealing with the skiffs. A skiff would glide in over a steel bench, which would then be raised to deck height, allowing passengers to move fairly easily into and out of the skiff. Someone always helped you in and out of the skiff and someone else was there to help you onto the deck. They were very safety conscious.

Heather, chief mate