Crocodile Dundee, snakes and pirates

Transfer day was again eventful.  We left Granada at 8am for a four-hour drive to San Carlos.  The journey ended up taking five, due to an accident, diversion, cattle being herded by horses along the road and school children who had not learned the Green Cross Code.

On arrival at San Carlos, we boarded a boat with our new guide Manuel, for El Castillo (only accessible by the river – Rio San Juan) for the 90 minute journey when Manuel soon gained favor when he dished out plastic bags and eventually a huge plastic sheet that we all had to huddle under as a massive storm engulfed us. The town is dominated by a castle made famous for repelling pirates, including a young Horatio Nelson.  It has one main path and no cars or roads.  There is apparently one motor bike, which the locals hate.

How rubbish is collected in El Castillo

Our first evening was spent caiman spotting from a canoe.  HJ had low expectations until our intrepid guide, with flash light on his head, jumped in the water, thrashed around and returned to the canoe with a four foot female in his arms

He proceeded to perform the same trick with male and female green iguana and a number of frogs including the famous red-eyed tree frog.

Our second day was split. The morning was spent trekking in the Indo Maiz Reserve, where howler monkeys took umbrage to our guide’s impersonation of them and pelted us with almonds.  HJ then excelled herself by not only spotting a snake (poisonous and over 5 feet long), but staying around to take photos. 

Although the rain forest trail was only 2km, it took three hours as we had to squelch through shin-deep mud. Fortunately the hotel provided wellies which we were able to wash in the river before returning.

The afternoon was a more sedate amble up to the castle (properly known as La Fortaleza de la Limpia Pura e Immaculada Concepcion) with its small museum and stunning views of the river and town.

Our next stop will be Leon, our final in Nicaragua.