Quepos, Costa Rica

Once a bustling banana exporting port, Quepos' economy was crippled by the demise of the banana plantations in the mid-1950's as a result of Panama disease.In the 1980's bananas lost out to heartier African Palms and their high quality palm oil. As Quepos diminished in importance as a banana port, it renewed itself as an ecotourism and sport fishing destination.Today we headed to the Fincas Naturales Private Reserve. It is a 30 acre privat refuge and nature exhibits with 4500 feet of trails. Currently they are researching and developing nature exhibits to help reproduce local species in danger of extinction, including orchids, bromeliads, reptiles such as caimans and crocodiles and various burterflies.

Frist thing we found was a sloth.We found some turtles.This is Eliot, he is very aggresive and will never be released into the wild.A mixture of caimans and crocodiles.Difference between the caimans and the crocodiles is their nose. Crocodiles are more pointed. They have a unique designed Butterfly Botanical Gardens. We had the oppurtunity to view a variety of local butterfly species and their host-plants.An Owl butterfly.
When than found a local resturant with some good food.And free internet!Once back on the ship they had a zodiac going out on the beuatiful costline.

There were some amazing views!We were shown all this dirft in the Ocean has fish and other plants living in it.That evening on the ship was the deck BBQ. The food was local fish and the desserts were fun. It was a great time with line dancing under the stars.

This was my favorite day!