Boat tour with a crocodile

by Ruwen

A boat tour with crocodiles? Are you crazy?

That´s what people replied when I told them about my tours on a creek in the province Veraguas/Panama.

It was my first week in Panama and I stood in the hotel Jardin de Papos, run by two German couples, which is directly located on the beach of a small river. I was talking a lot to a guy named Mick, about the flora and fauna.

When he found out I was really interested in reptiles he offered me to take his boat on the river to watch the caimans up close.

I decided to give it a try, and after a long fight with the mud on the riverbanks I finally put the barge in the water.

It was the first time I used a pole so I hardly gained distance and decided to stand still in the water and see what happens. After a few minutes the first creatures came to have a look at this strange boat in their district. I was so excited (or scared?) when the young caimans swam around, but they disappeared in the dreary water as soon as I started moving.

After what felt like an eternity I moved upstream until I arrived at a turn, and all of a sudden the creek was barred by a real big caiman basking in the shallow water (yes, it was low tide so the stage was low as well).

That was when I got a shock, I even got to take a picture. I just wanted to return to my starting point and inspired for speed by the impressive crocodile, I was somehow able to use the pole effectively so that I arrived at the pier within seconds.

Back at the hotel I recovered from my journey and started reflecting on the experience.

The next day I took other guests on my crocodile adventure tour but we never saw such a big caiman as I did on that first day.

If you enjoyed the story you can re-read this and others on my website Green-Ecotourism.Com where you can also find out much more about sustainable tourism.