Mainely Outdoors: Costa Rican fish tails

Within a period of seven hours my body experienced a 100-degree temperature change. That’s how long it took me to fly from Portland where it was about 15 below zero with the wind chill, to San Jose, Costa Rica, where the mercury hovered at a balmy 87 degrees at 2 p.m. local time. This wasn’t my first visit to this small Central American country near the equator where the humid heat smacks you like a wet washcloth as you depart the plane.
Situated between Nicaragua and Panama and bordered by the Caribbean Sea on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other, Costa Rica is a tropical paradise for tourists. Sportsmen visit by the planeload to experience and enjoy some of the finest saltwater fishing in the world; sailfish, blue, black and striped marlin, dorado, Wahoo, rooster fish and several species of tuna offer diverse, nearly nonstop action. Even novice anglers will catch fish from the waters off Costa Rica, perhaps the largest of a lifetime. The proverbial neon blue, tail-walking, acrobatic leaping sailfish drew me to the Los Suenos area of Costa Rica the first time, and I wasn’t disappointed. What I didn’t anticipate was the vast array of breathtaking scenery and multitude of unique animal life to interact with between fishing forays.
As much as I appreciate the sights, sounds and smells of Maine’s woodlands, wandering the hills and valleys of a true rainforest is a life-changing experience. I hiked trails among lush green jungle foliage, traveled above by aerial tram and wandered through and among the palms, ferns, tree and fronds on a gondola. There were rivers overrun with crocodiles, rocky ocean ledges lined with exotic sea birds, white sand beaches for swimming among tropical fish and strange colored odd shaped trees full of colorful birds, reptiles and amphibians.
Among my non-angling rewards was the chance to watch a local farmer work his land the old-fashioned way — using a team of trained oxen, each as large as a compact car. A river guide actually climbed out of our tour boat and coaxed a 16-foot crocodile from the shoreline by slapping a chicken carcass on the water surface. Then he hand fed the chicken and several fish to the wild croc, while up to his waist in the river and only two feet from those deadly gaping jaws. I’ve got photos of this eye-opening performance.
Other memorable sights included tiny, colorful gaudy leaf frogs the size of your finger tip, sloths hanging from trees and rare red macaws and toucans winging among the tree tops. White-faced Capuchin monkeys swing among the vines and limbs chattering animatedly keep tourists looking up while a wide variety of snakes of every shape and size, some deadly poisonous and thankfully rarely encountered, keep visitors glancing where they step.
Iguanas, some larger than your arm, are seen everywhere, and seem as curious about us, as we are of them. During a round of golf, while my wife was setting up and making a tee shot, a two-foot green iguana climbed up onto the golf car seat to get a better view. As she returned to the cart, the bold reptile moved to the passenger side of the seat to allow her to drive — and was none to quick to be shooed away.
Small lizards from three-inches to 10-inches are everywhere and quite harmless, a cute cousin to our raccoon wanders the wilds, as do agouti, a groundhog-size rodent that looks like its forever having a bad hair day. A prodigious number of butterflies flit about and hummingbirds are zipping from flower to flower everywhere. Visitors can view all this beauty on foot, from horseback, by ATV, aerial tram, zip line tours of the canopy or snorkeling the shoreline. There truly is something for every traveler to enjoy from golf to surfing, shopping to scuba diving and of course the fishing is world class.
    Los Suenos Marriott Beach and Golf Resort is roughly a two-hour drive from San Jose airport and has a large marina within walking distance. A full spa, workout facility, casino, huge pool area, 18-hole golf course, beach and water sports area as well as wonderful restaurants are available in this luxurious setting.  While Dad fishes there is no lack of fun things to occupy Mom and the kids, and literally dozens of family tours for the entire family to participate in and enjoy.
Some folks call Costa Rica the poor man’s Hawaii, and what a wonderful break from the frigid local weather. Check out the Los Suenos Marriott resort online or call 1-888-236-2427 to ask questions or make reservations. Along with all my touring,  I did manage to do a bit of fishing and I have a tale or two to tell – and the photos to prove it, so check in next time for Costa Rica fish tails.