Isla Bastimentos, Part III

Red Frog Beach

Today, like my other days here, I hopped off to the beach in the morning where I stayed until late in the afternoon (about 4pm I suppose).

I decided yesterday that I was going to hike to the beach in the other direction (west this time I think).  I was enjoying "my spot" so much that I failed to set out on my adventure at a reasonable time.  Since the sun sets early (in Panama, around 6.30 I think), 4pm really was too late to start an adventure.  I was not interested in struggling through the jungle at night without light.

The trail.

I still managed to see the next beach over, Wizard Beach, but I was only able to stay a few minutes.  The beach was very nice and I wish I could have spent more time there, but of course there's nothing I can do about that now.

This hike west was a bit harder than the hike east I went on yesterday.  My flip flops really weren't cut out for the short steep inclines, but I managed.

Along the way, I saw a number of red frogs.  The jungle is
rather dark, even at 4pm, so I had a bit of trouble
photographing them.

When I was very near Wizard Beach (the hike from the hostel to Wizard Beach is something like 45 minutes) I heard a sound and thought someone was going to meet me on the trail.  I was nervous until a cow stepped forward and surprised me.  I didn't know there were any cows on the island.

In fact, there was a whole heard of cows that had come to the ocean to drink.  I snapped a number of photographs, but the cows were skittish and retreated if I stepped forward.

I walked past the cows to arrive at Wizard Beach around 5 pm, too late to do anything other than sit on my towel a few minutes and watch the waves. When I arrived, there were a couple of small groups of people, but they soon left via water taxi and I had the beach to myself for a few minutes before I had to leave.

Tomorrow, the 31st, I fly back to San Jose and then take the bus to Montezuma.  Originally I was going to go to Quepos and visit Manuel Antonio National Park, but I decided that was too difficult.  And besides, I want to see monkeys and Montezuma has monkeys.  The only difference is that at Manuel Antonio I have to pay $10 entrance fee and in Montezuma I don't!

I love this picture!  It's such a juxtaposition with the cow at the
beach and the tiny islands in the background complete with
palm trees!

Heard of Cows

Wizard Beach on Isla Bastimentos