Caribbean Train, Boat and Bus experience

[kimba6539]

Has anyone done this shore excursion through Carnival? We are looking at it as a possibility. How much wildlife do you get to see? Thanks!!

 

Kim

[rjscott]

Hi, Kim!

We did this excursion this past March thru Celebrity and really enjoyed it. We had a very nice motorcoach and our driver stopped along the way and got us a large bunch of baby bananas to sample. Yum! We first went to a banana plantation and processing plant. Since it was a Sunday, the plant wasn't operating, but our guide was able to walk us around the plant and describe to us how the bananas are picked, graded and prepared for shipping. Then we went out onto the grounds to see how the bananas are grown and tagged for picking. From there, we went to a very nice rest area(with clean, indoor bathrooms) where there were various local fruits to sample along with complimentary beverages and musicians playing for our entertainment. From there we went to the canals for our boat ride. The passengers sit on each side of the boat and whenever the pilot or guide would see any wildlife, the pilot would direct the boat as close to the wildlife as he could. Once the people on the side of the boat facing the wildlife got their photo's, the pilot would turn the boat so that the people on the other side could also get a good view and take photo's as well. We saw many water birds, a couple of cayman (like a crocodile), a couple of "Jesus" lizards, and two sloths. I gathered it was unusual to be able to see sloths that close to the riverbank, as our guide was very excited for us to be able to see them. The canal ride was very pleasant.

We then reboarded the bus and drove to where we boarded the train. It was a short train ride, mostly to spot howler monkeys and sloths in the trees. We did see several howler monkeys and a couple of sloths. The train did not have A/C, but the windows were open, and the doors were open at the ends of each car, so there was some cross-ventilation. Once wildlife was spotted, the train would stop and we were able to go out on the platform to take photo's.

Hope this is the kind of info you were looking for.

[kimba6539]

Thanks a lot!! This is exactly the info that I needed. I know there is no guarantee to spotting wildlife but it sounds like there was plenty to see. The price through Carnival seemed reasonable too.

 

Kim

[rjscott]

Kim, we often book our tours independently, but a friend had done an independent tour with one of the vendors recommended here on CC in Puerto Limon a year previous and she had said it was "just ok", and their vehicle broke down partway thru their tour and they had to wait for another one to come. The cost of the tour with Celebrity was surprisingly not much more than it would have been to go independently. We were back at the ship in time for lunch and then went back out to shop at the market a short walk from the pier area.

 

Have a great time!