DAY "O" IN COSTA RICA

Friendly locals display their catch

The tropical rain bounced loudly off the rickety tin roofs of the makeshift dwellings that lined the appallingly potholed streets on the outskirts of Puerto Limon.

We were on our way to Tortuguero's impressive network of canals.


The rain eased as we navigated the meandering waterways, the mangroves thick along the banks with verdant tropical greenery cascading over the water.

The place was teeming with life - "the seen and the heard".

A true banana boat

Confiscated boats lay rotting in the watery undergrowth, taken from drug runners by the local Coast Guard, one in particular caught our attention, a banana laden tree growing vigorously in its aft. Bringing a whole new meaning to banana boat.

During the 20th Century the railway gave birth to Costa Rica’s banana industry and while the train system has languished, one restored open air train chugged us through the rain forest.

The howler monkeys above us a sight to behold, animated and noisy. And aptly named.

Puerto Limon has a congestion problem, the amount of container traffic is astonishing. Trailers clog the highway and the thought is to establish a “dry canal” from Pacific to Atlantic coasts, essentially a high speed train that will move commerce more efficiently and end the gridlock.

The rain returned and while warm, we were grateful for the dry break in the weather during our short visit to Costa Rica’s Atlantic coast and the incredible birds and animals of its rainforest.