The Jungle Cruise

December 30, 2009 Today we took a jungle cruise with our slip neighbors Anton and Rita. Anton had done some exploring with his dinghy and found a great lagoon way up in the mangrove swamp. So we got up early to have the rising high tide that was expected at 8:00 a.m. carry us up the river into the lagoon. Did I mention that the marina where we’re staying borders a mangrove swamp where there are lots of “cocodrilos” (aka crocodiles) and surprisingly few mosquitoes. Some of our neighbors have seen them swimming by the boats but we haven’t. Instead we wanted to go hunting them.

We left as the sun was coming up. Here we are on central time so the sun does not rise until about 7:15 a.m. It is very strange in Nuevo Vallarta where the marina is. It is in a different state from Puerto Vallarta which is only five miles down the road but we have a one hour time change between the two states of Nayarit and Jalisco. So every time we want to do something we have to make sure what time zone we are operating on.

Anton took the lead and guided us up into this great lagoon where we saw all kinds of iguanas and birds – but to the kids’ disappointment - no crocodiles.

What we saw...

Anton and Rita lead the way up into the lagoon

Arriving in the lagoon as the sun is rising over the mountanins

One of the more interesting birds that we saw

Kelly and Ryan looking for crocodiles

Some of the birds that we spooked

Waiting for something to happen

Kelly and Ryan's new play house in the middle of the lagoon.  When the tide goes out this lagoon is literally empty and the mud is pretty thick.

Going back through the mangrove trees to get back to our boat.