Day 8 - PUNTARENAS, COSTA RICA

 Date: 1/13/2024     Day 8             Port: PUNTARENAS, COSTA RICA

Description: Puntarenas, which means "Sandy Point" in Spanish, is the capital and main city in the province Puntarenas, Costa Rica, at the Pacific coast. The oddly-shaped province has its largest section in the South, far from the capital. A mountainous country, Costa Rica ranges from sea level to peaks as high as 13,000 feet and a succession of white, sandy beaches follow one another along the Pacific Coast. The country was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1502.

Planned Excursion (Ed): HORSEBACK RIDING ADVENTURE 

4.5 Hours -- Moderate Activity --  #PNT-004:Free

Ride a horse along a gentle trail through a beautiful rural landscape.  Take in the sweeping views from El Faro, the area’s highest and most scenic point.  Follow the trail through a virgin forest and on to a mango plantation.  Hear enlightening commentary along the way.

Planned Excursion (Cathy): SABANA ADVENTURE SAFARI

7.5 Hours -- Moderate Activity --  #PNT-014:Free

Ride through a savanna in an adventure park full of wildlife indigenous to Africa.  Watch for animals such as zebras and ostriches from the open-air safari vehicle.  Hand-feed carrots to the giraffes if they approach.  Drive deep into the surrounding jungle and relax at two magnificent waterfalls.

Daily Notes:  We both had a nice day.  Cathy was ticketed to go on the horseback riding excursion.  She instead went with our friend Pat Rawson on the Sabana Adventure Safari.  Pat's husband Joe was going to go with me on the horseback ride using Cathy's ticket.   He was not feeling up to going out and stayed back.  It was best that he did. Later today he went down to Medical at 6 PM.  He tested positive for Covid.  He and Pat are now confined to their cabin for 5 days.  We'll learn more about their experience with the Ship's Medical services later.  Initial report was very positive.

The horseback ride was a lovely ride through the rain forest near a major river.  Not what was billed above.  I still enjoyed the ride very much.  

For Cathy and Pat it was a long bus ride to and from the Adventure Safari.  Cathy didn't like it much in that the animals, especially the giraffes, poking the heads into the vehicle they were riding to be feed.  

Today's Photos

Videos (I am getting better at editing, cutting and splicing video clips)

Horseback Riding part 1

Horseback Riding part 2 (look for the incidents)

Horseback Riding part 3