Isla Tortuga 6/28/10

Monday we went to an island off the Nicoya Peninsula called 'Isla Tortuga' (or 'Turtle Island').






I saw some amazing island veiws, experienced a big catamaran (complete with bar, and fruit snacks served on deck), ...


























































(Tortuga beach on the left in photo below >)




... went snorkeling (saw some cool fish), pet a sleeping peccary, met a parrot, met some great people from San Jose, got to know the folks in our group a little better, basked in the sun, and swam in the blue-green salt waters in the rain.






The deck hands on the boat that brought us there also served us lunch (which was delicious!) on the island under tarp and tent. Next to the 'peligroso!' (danger!) un-culled coconut grove (they could fall on your head) - where we were serenaded while we ate by a two-person wooden xylophone, and drum.

Then, on the return trip, we averted the afternoon storms that we could see ahead on the coast, and rolling through the distant mountains. Here are some pictures to give you an idea...

...ah, what a great day.