Relax Day Tours is the company that led our excursion today. They were easy to find -immediately outside the port exit holding a sign with the name of the company. We were led to a clean, air conditioned, 15 passenger van. We had 8 passengers plus our guide and driver. Our guide, Yorlene, (Nene) was friendly and full of information.
As we drove, our guide spotted a sloth up in one of the trees so we pulled over, and got out to play, “Spot the Sloth.” They are good hiders and don’t move very much, but our guide had a laser pointer and she would point to the animals so that we could all find them. (We also saw monkeys on this tour.)
Our next stop was for a fruit market for a fruit demonstration and complimentary coffee tasting. (The same brand of coffee was available at the port souvenir shops at a lower price.) They also had restroom facilities.
This fuzzy flower is full of seeds used as a spice and as a red body paint.
We saw organic oregano, coffee beans and coconuts which were not new to me, but the sugar cane press was something I had not seen before.
And check out this huge Banana flower!
The next stop was just outside a banana plantation.
Our guide had a banana flower and showed us how the petals peal back to show the bananas as they are starting to grow. As the bananas get larger, the petals fall off. Once the bananas get the proper size, the plantation owner breaks off the remaining portion of the flower so that no more bananas grow on that stalk.
Next, we went to the canals for an hour boat ride to enjoy nature and look for wildlife.
The driver had a keen eye for spotting wildlife. He would point them out to our guide who would help us find them.
Now it is time for you to play spot the wildlife. Look closely in the photos below to see if you can find the following: Amazon Kingfisher (bird)
Snowy Egrets
Great blue heron
Emerald Basilisk (These are nicknamed the Jesus lizard because they can run along the surface of the water)
After the boat tour, we made a brief stop at Playa Bonita to see the beach.
And a photo stop at a scenic overlook where we could take a picture of our ship in the distance.
On the way back to the ship we saw the “Coconut House.” One of the last remaining Jamaica-style homes. Coconut products are sold here.
There was plenty of time after the tour to wander through the vendor area at the port for those necessary souvenirs!
Next port: Mahogany Bay, Honduras – Post coming soon