Tortuguero

Another 5am start for the trip by coach from San Jose, over cloud covered forests then through vast banana plantations to Cano Blanco, where we boarded a large speedboat and raced down the Rio (see extras) to our lodge across the river from Tortuguero.

Named for the turtles that come in large numbers to lay their eggs on the beach, it was initially a small settlement of turtle hunters and lumberers until an American environmentalist campaigned to persuade the local youth of the importance of conservation.

It is now the centre of the local National Park and tourist industry, but still a small and colourful village, full of murals such as this.

We visited in the afternoon to learn about the turtle project and walk along the beach (also in extras) and village.

On our return to the lodge a troupe of white-faced monkeys were playing and eating in the trees by the jetty.

It's a very relaxing and beautiful area