Birdwatchers and crocodile lovers adore Tárcoles River jungle safari boat rides. This Costa Rican river flows through the Central Pacific Region. It empties into the Pacific Ocean.
Many travel sites recognize this river to be the home of the highest concentration of crocodiles in the world. But, visitors may find a different scenario. They may only observe a handful during a safari tour.
Most guides are quick to point out crocodiles on land. The ones in the water are more difficult to detect. While the number of crocodiles may be less than anticipated, the thrill of capturing a few pictures is worth the journey. It’s important to remain alert.
Migratory birds are a totally different story. Birdwatchers will remain engaged. Cameras should remain turned on. Naturalists will focus on the diverse and abundant flying creatures. Common sightings include herons, egrets, sandpipers, vultures, scarlet macaws— plus a whole lot more.
For an added touch… consider booking a tour near dusk. This is a great tip if your tour starts near the Pacific Ocean. Who doesn’t love sunset pictures set against the backdrop of an ocean. Not only will you come home with pictures of wildlife, but you’ll also have delightful sunset scenes.
Be prepared. The river is polluted. Commercial foam and crud congregate in clumps along certain areas of the bank. Luckily, most of the shoreline is clean and doesn’t look like the adjacent picture.
The river has become the dumping place for the populated Central Valley. Somehow the vegetation and wildlife prosper despite this uncontrolled manmade issue.
Environmentalists may cringe at the thought of a jungle safaris doing business in this region. Despite the 
downside of noticeable pollution, safaris still remain a popular tourist attraction. It’s a wonderful place for photo opportunities.
Before You Go
Check out all of the safari boat tour options. Even in the dry season, bring rain gear. 
Mother Nature is unpredictable. Make sure your camera batteries and/or cell phone are charged. You don’t want to miss any photo opportunities on this trip.
THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 15, 2016. IT IS BEING REPOSTED ON THIS SITE BECAUSE THE EXAMINER.COM SITE SHUT DOWN IN JULY 2016. SOME PARTS OF THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE HAVE BEEN UPDATED AND THE ORIGINAL SLIDE SHOW HAS BEEN ELIMINATED.
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BIO
Sandra Bornstein is a freelance travel writer. She shares her travel experiences and recommendations on this blog and on other websites—One Travel: Going Places, Cheapoair.com Miles Away Travel Blog, We Said Go Travel, Mom It Forward, Boulder Jewish News, and Family Circle. Her travel tips also appear in a Denver metro magazine, Golden Living.
Sandra is the author of MAY THIS BE THE BEST YEAR OF YOUR LIFE. This memoir highlights Sandra’s living and teaching adventure in Bangalore, India. As a licensed Colorado teacher, Sandra has taught K-12 students in the United States and abroad. She has also taught college level courses.
The memoir was a finalist in the Travel category for the 2013 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the 2013 International Book Awards, the 2013 National Indie Book Excellence Awards, 2013 USA Best Book Awards, and a Honorable Mention award in the Multicultural Non-Fiction category for the 2013 Global ebook Awards.
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