Tortugas put ion hold
Trip Start
May 02, 2006
1
8
15
Trip End
Jul 27, 2006
Torteguerro,
Costa Rica
Thursday, June 1, 2006
We made it to Torteguerro and let me tell you it is pretty remote. We took a 4 hour taxi ride to a ferry that takes you Torteguerro up this canal. The boat and canal looks like something from out of the amazon. We arrived at the CCC (carribean conservation) and got debriefed of our expectations for the next couple of days.
We had the days to our selves but the nights consisted of this
We left the CCC at 9:00pm and walked to the beach. We then walked the beach from 9-2 am
Looking for sea turtles that were laying eggs. It was quite the experience. They don`t guarentee you see any turtles
First there are no flash lights allowed on the beach everything is pitch black and you have to maneuver over logs and debris. There was no moon light to light the way.
It is very hot and muggy and you can only wear dark clothing that covers your entire body to camoflauge and also to prevent misquittos from biting.
Now here is where it gets a little sticky. We are in the rainforest and there are snakes. Sometimes the snakes get on the beach hmmmm lets just say I was not too thrilled to not have a flashlight. Second in the last few years, Jaguars have taken a liken to the sea turtles and ambush them while they are laying their eggs. So we need to be mindful for sound in the forest. Third and this freaked us the most were there were poachers that followed the sea turtle conservationists employees. They would wait until they counted the eggs then flip the turtle and kill it for her shell or for the meat. Although sea turtles are endangered these monsters still take part in this illegal activity. We did not come upon the poachers but all the other regulars had encounters and I was not excited about meeting a poacher in the pitch black with a machette (sp) ( yes a very large knife).
All that being said. The first night Justin and I were fortunate enough to see a leatherback turtle and work her ( ccc terms). Leather backs are very uncommon to see outside of the volunteer work. Green turtles and Hawksbill turtles are other turtles that come to lay their eggs. It was an amazing experience. She was huge and we came upon her while she was covering her eggs. We took measurements tagged and then made sure she made it back into the water. ( We have no photos of this as they are also prohibbited on the beach).
However, our volunteer work had to come to an early end. Justin is still working on a project and he needed to have phone service, there were 2 phones in the village. (This project was suppose to be done the day before our wedding but it still going). After a quick decsion on both parts we caught a plane to San Jose for him to get his call. We are now headed to a hotel in the San Jose area that has phone and internet so he can continue to work.
We have both decided once to do more volunteer work with sea turtles as it was very rewarding however, I think we will choose a place that is not so remote next time after all this is our honey moon.
Comments
no snanks!
You're great for getting out there and doing that, but I'm so with ya on the: this is our honeymoon notion. Snakes, especially the kind I can't see, is about where I would have said see ya. Hope you are enjoying everything! I miss you! love, k