Passing where the Caribbean Sea and the Canals meet



'Blood tree'
Named this as it's sap resembles blood



Showing the many types of fauna



Gray Necked Wood Rail



Female Anhinga

Drying out after the rain



Male Anhinga

The Birds of Tortuguero Canals
Little Blue Heron



Great Grey Heron



Snowy Egret

The canal boats that took us to Pachira Lodge
Imagine how close the water line was, once it was completely full
 of passangers and their luggage
 



Two hours by motor boat, I wonder what we'll see?

 

"Can you see them?"
Looking for Spider monkeys on an overcast day.

No luck



Our guide did find the seed of a cocoa plant



This is where your favorite chocolate bar begins

On the road to Tortuguero
Limon Province
North Eastern Costa Rica

Over the mountains and through the woods to 'Pachira Lodge' we go...



Stopped at the side of the road for a quick drink
Young coconut water
Not my favorite




Had a quick look at a 'Herculas Beetle'

Our guide said that if you were to place Hercules on your wrist instead of a bamboo branch,
 he could fracture it, if provoked.
Hercules can carry 100 times his own weight
Cool

The nuts are then harvested, roasted, & washed.
 The nuts that fall to the bottom of the 'washing machine' are kept.
 The nuts that float are not considered quality product, and are crushed and used as fertilizer



This whole process is done by hand. Marcus (striped shirt) has worked in this processing plant for 21 years.
He hand sorts out the darkest macedamia nuts
He works 10 hour days and makes $150.00 a week
This is considered a good wage



Finished product
Amazing!