We take a C$30 taxi to the jetty to get boat tickets which cos C$150 each. Breakfast at bus station then head back to the jetty where, although we are staying within the country, two immigration officials take our passports and record the details. An armed member of the civil guard walks along the boat with his rifle, checking that all is in order and making sure everyone had donned their life jacket.

2 hours later and after stopping at several houses along the broad slow moving river we approach Sabalos.

Sabalos is a village of about 1000 people and is split in two by the 50m wide Rio Tarpon, a tributary of the Rio San Juan. All around is jungle and the only way to get around is by boat. A lot of the locals have canoes, either ancient wooden or slightly newer, but still ancient fibre glass. As we approach the shore, we are very impressed to see our Hotel on the waters edge standing out from the weathered houses of the village. It has polished wood decking with rockers and hammocks too. A great place to relax for a few days, it has a real colonial look to the place.

Our boat delivers as to the main jetty on the opposite bank from the hotel and we are earlier than our expected time so we pop in to one of the simple shack type restaurant for some chicken tacos.
Afterwards we look out for one of the small local boats to ferry us across for a few Cordobas but a local chap phones the hotel and a boat is sent to pick us up.

Our hostess Mariela shows us to our room. Small and simple but opening on to the deck and overlooking the Rio San Juan and surprisingly for such a cool place, we are the only guests here.