San Blas Jungle Trip
January 2010
A jungle trip up the estuary is a MUST for any visitor to San Blas.  Absolutely fantastic.  While we're not avid bird watchers, this trip provided an excellent opportunity to view the diverse birds, turtles, iguanas, and yes.... CROCODILES!!

The trip must be made with a guide in a panga.  No dinghys allowed.  Which is great... helps preserve the area as well as the guide can provide a lot of info.  Check on the cost for the whole panga.... two couples is perfect for the trip.  We were advised to catch the first or second panga in the morning... as the wildlife is just waking up and has not yet been disturbed by all the visitors.  The first pangas leave around 7 a.m.  Also specify that you want the 'crocodile' trip, so you go all the way to the breeding farm.  It costs a few extra pesos, but is well worth it.  Finally.... let the panga driver know that you're a bird watcher (even if you're not) and that you want to go slow.  This isn't an area that you want to speed through.  You'll be back in time for lunch.  Enjoy!!  Oh, and take bug repellant, drinking water, sunscreen, hat, and a .... camera!!
Boarding the panga
Birds standing watch
Jungle 1
Birds 2
Birds 3
Be prepared to duck
Birds 4
Birds 5
Iguana
Sunning oneself
Birds 6
Movie Set
Crocodile 1
Air plants
Birds 7
Birds 8
Turtle
Smile
Big teeth
Breeding grounds 2
Sign
Hanging with a friend
Birds 10
Birds 11
Fisherman on the way home
We shared an early morning panga with Jodee and Russ from SV Smoke n Blues.  A beautiful calm morning as we head into the estuary.
The panga heads into the jungle areas and past an old movie set.  Quite picturesque.
We asked the panga driver to go slow, as we're bird watchers.  We're not... but were amazed at the variety of colors and varieties of birds on this trip.  As a bonus, the panga driver identified each of the birds for us, and gave us both the spanish and english names of each.
We originally just wanted to see the crocodiles, but the birds were really intriguing.  This is a benefit to being on one of the first pangas of the morning.
Around every bend were more birds just waiting to pose for us.  Absolutely amazing.
Aaah, reptiles in the wild.  This is what we originally came on the trip to see.  Lots of iguanas, turtles, and.... crocodiles.  don't recommend going for a swim
The crocodile farm at the end was quite interesting.  We don't recommend poking fingers and arms through the fence.


SV Victoria Rose
SV Victoria Rose
Tayana 37 # 384
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