After cruising north along the Pacific coastline overnight, our day began in Bahía Santa Elena (Santa Elena Bay). The bay borders the Área de Conservación Guanacaste, recently designated a Marine Management Area. Such a designation means the bay will be reserved for specific purposes, including the conservation of marine life, the fostering of recreation and tourism, and the sustainable use of its resources, including fishing. With its completely undeveloped shoreline, the 732-hectare bay is a breeding area for many marine species, including dolphins, whales, and turtles, as well as the endangered whale shark and several species of rays. Increasing coastal alteration and overfishing have threatened the bay. With participatory management and conservation, the bay’s designation as a Marine Management Area should aid in its prolonged protection. The process involved the whole community, including the artisanal fishing, sport fishing, longline fishing, and tourism sectors, together with town officials, government agencies, and nongovernmental organizations.
We got to explore the area by kayaks and then by local pangas and a hike in the forest. We spotted so much diverse wildlife, including shorebirds, sharks, crocodiles, monkeys, ants, and iguanas.
After lunch, the ship was repositioned to yet another beautiful spot called Junquillal Beach. This area is part of the Guanacaste Conservation Area, and we found the three-mile-long beach completely empty today. We had a great time walking, hiking, swimming, and just sitting on the beach to watch the beautiful horizon crowned with dark, gray clouds. To finish our day, we were sent on our way with an incredible downpour. It was the first seen in the area in almost five months, marking the end of the very dry season.
Back on board and all showered and clean, the beautiful orange, pinks, and reds of a Pacific Ocean sunset closed this amazing day in the best way possible.
