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Costa Rica & Panama Primate Studies

PS11 Update - Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Under the Sea

Hot and sweaty from the tropical Casa Cayuco weather, we were grateful to feel the sea breeze in our hair as we zipped across the waves in Lloyd’s motor boat. When we arrived at Dave and Linda’s chocolate farm, we unloaded all our equipment and headed out into the jungle. There wasn’t much of a trail but that only made the hike more fun. Kate led the way, practicing her Spanish with our guide Sebastian. Even though Alex F. got stuck ankle deep in the mud and had to be pulled out, she was still giggling. As we trekked through the dense jungle, we started to hear the calls of the loudest monkeys we’ve met so far, Howler monkeys. We found four howlers, a baby included, and observed them for a while. AAfter we had gathered all our data, we hiked back to the boat. Before we left the chocolate farm though, we bought some of Linda’s yummy chocolate nibs. Grace and Rosie were so excited that they started snacking on them as soon as possible.

After a quick lunch, we cleaned off our super muddy boots and hopped back onto the boat. When we got out into the bay, Lloyd killed the motor and we started to scan the water, looking for Dolphins. At first we only saw the calm water, but then we saw fins breaking the surface in the distance. We zipped off to get a closer look and soon the dolphins were swimming and playing in the wakes made by our boat. I was afraid that the motor might scare them away but Alex N. said that dolphins like boats, and she was right. After our dolphin experience, we were even more excited to get in the water for some snorkeling and see more cool sea creatures. We strapped on our masks and flippers and hopped in near the mangroves. As we explored the coral, Jerry had a great time playing with the feather duster corals which pulled their feelers back into the reef when he poked them. We surfaced in what felt like ten minutes, but had actually been about forty. We climbed back onto the boat, salty and excited from our time in the ocean and zipped back home to Casa Cayuco. After some well needed showers, we drew pictures on the pier and then had lecture. We ate dinner and headed off to bed, tired from a full day of activities.

Lily Cigale