Tamarindo, Costa Rica
We are having a drink at the Tamarindo Diria and using their very fast Wifi to finish this and upload some photos. That seems to be a running theme this trip - searching for fast Wifi!
We left Puerto Viejo early in the morning and drove 10ish hours to Tamarindo. We rented an Airbnb about 10 minutes from the town center; it's a quiet “suburb”. We like a late night party, but I heard this place can go every night and let’s face it, I’m not 30 anymore - and I’m glad for it!
It’s evident why people come here for their week long vacation. It’s got amazing beaches, surfing, restaurants, nightlife and great shopping. It really is a happening place and a short drive from the Liberia airport.
We drove along the coast north of here to check out a few beaches. Our Airbnb host recommended Playa Danta, a favourite with the locals, but we really liked Playa Grande. It’s a gorgeous beach and being able to watch the local surfers was worth the hot sun and little shade for a couple of hours.
Although I had to do a little shopping on the strip, I’d rather be outside with nature in all her glory. And we did just that a couple of nights ago. I booked an Airbnb experience to watch the turtles come ashore and give birth. I was a bit skeptical of the whole thing because I didn’t want to be participating in something that was in any way interfering or manipulating with the turtles all for the mighty dollar. Humans have done enough damage to animals and I don’t want to be part of it. After doing a little research, I thought it was pretty legitimate.
We met our guide around 5:30 p.m. and after driving for about 40 minutes we arrived to a privately owned property shortly after dark. After a 10 minute walk through a heavily treed and brush area we arrived on the beach just in time to watch a female Green turtle making her way back to the ocean. She wasn’t quite ready to hatch her eggs. Although it was beautiful to watch, I started to feel like an intruder and I wondered if we were making her uncomfortable. Our guide had put in strict safety restrictions with the turtle’s safety a priority so I wanted to feel like she was okay. She was just carrying on ignoring us stupid humans. This is the reason I hate zoos, but I’ve had it argued they are necessary for educational purposes. This was also the argument of the guide. Let’s be honest though, he’s making money with the tour, along with the owner of the land. Biologists and researchers come each year to study these creatures.
But if education is the reason, then I have to say I learned a lot that night. As I watched that mama turtle head back to the ocean and be enveloped by her home, it made me realize how much we, humans and animals, need a safe space. Sometimes, I just need water too! Mama wasn't ready to have her babies so she headed back to the water to bide her time until the next contractions. She will eventually come ashore, dig her three foot hole to lay her 200 or so eggs, and then make her way back to her home; the sea.
Later, we witnessed another Green turtle lay her eggs. It truly was awe-inspiring to watch. I am blessed.
