This morning we are excited to explore a very nice representative sample of nature as we visit a botanical garden property with lots of picture opportunities as well as swimming on the tropical beach. Casa Orquideas is privately owned by a lovely expat couple who decided that life in the tropics should be something not to miss. Ron and Trudy are happy to share their passion and personal life experiences with travelers. The place has a wide collection of tropical plants with colorful flowers, tropical fresh fruit, and a medicinal herb garden, as well as many eye-catching birds like scarlet macaws flying over the blue skies, tanagers searching for berries, toucans calling insistently, and many more.
Later in the afternoon we had the opportunity to practice kayaking or take a Zodiac cruise in a mangrove ecosystem at Rio Tigre. The natural conditions of the habitat are perfect to observe birds like egrets, herons, sandpipers, pelicans, and many more. Mangroves offer a secluded place where many species use it as a nursery as well as where many come to feast on mollusks, shellfish, and fish. They have been affected by deforestation and overexploitation of the resources they hold. Some other wildlife enhanced our experience, like green iguanas at the top of the trees. At last, some of the clients on the Zodiac cruise enjoyed the visit of a two-toed sloth. This is a very well-camouflaged creature that feeds on a variety of foliage and wraps into a curled-up ball of fur.
