We were docking in Puntarenas nice and early, and our tour guide said to meet him on the pier at 8am. We decided to order in room service for brekky just to be sure we'd be ready, as breakfast dining can be a little late. So, we headed off the ship at about 7.45am, wondering how this day was going to pan out. We had not been attracted to any of the ship's shore excursions, and when I googled Puntarenas we'd found a tour company that could show us around on an 8 hour tour for just $69 each, and you don't pay them until the end of the tour. I was really worried because I had this impression that all Central American countries were lawless and dominated by drug gangs, or something like that. I was most placated at the destination talk yesterday when the lecturers said that Costa Rica is very safe. As we were coming off the ship one of the crew was directing people to tour buses, and we said no, we were bing picked up by Giotours. The couple behind us (whom we'd met in the bar the other night, Diane and Ted) said they were going with Gio as well. The wharf was really long, but among the big coaches was a little mini bus and when we headed over toward it we found a man holding a sign with our name on it, just like they'd said they would. It turned out that the other couple only came with us as far as the end of the pier because then they were going white water rafting, in a different bus. So Tom and I had Jesus (pronounced "hey soos"), the tour guide, and Esthero (I think?) the bus driver who spoke little English, all to ourselves, in a 2016 air conditioned Toyota minibus. We travelled along a divided highway for a way and then turned off, travelling down potholed tracks through nicely kept shanties till we came to a house with a big shed and a lady seated outside it. Jesus went over and gave her some money and then led us into the back yard, pointing out the capuchin monkeys that were coming over. He asked if we wanted them to climb on us but we declined, interested only in seeing them in their habitat. The alpha male jumped onto the roof of the shed and was jumping up and down and screeching - just like a two year old. We spent a little while there and on our way back to the little bus another minibus pulled up with some of our fellow-passengers. After that we were supposed to stop at a fruit stall but they weren't open for some reason. Tom and I weren't worried but Jesus was disappointed. As we drove he pointed out the farming areas and told us about Costa Rica and life there. He and the bus driver actually live in San Jose. He took us to another wooded area where we saw howler monkeys moving around in the trees, then we moved on to a little village called Tarcoles. As we drove around Tarcoles Jesus was pointing out exotic plants, explaining their seasons and finding macaws in the trees, and vultures on the roadside. They then took us to Jose's Crocodile Tours down on the bank of the Tarcoles River and put us on a river boat, advising us to sit in the middle of the boat for the best view. The documentary maker from our ship was also on our ship and various other tourists. Another group from our ship cam along and we're put on an adjacent boat which left and then returned before us. Our boat guide, Jimmy, grew up in this area and knows it well. He whistle loudly out the front of our little boat and we were soon joined by an egret and a falcon who then followed along with us for the entire 90minute cruise. As we cruised along the water Jimmy was able to point out all sorts of plants and wildlife. The wild bananas that grow on the banks are just full of seeds and not much flesh so not nice to eat. We also saw some pretty iguanas with pink heads, and a "Jesus lizard", so called because it runs across the water. There were also quite a lot of Brahman cattle brought out originally from India, but over here they are not sacred. On our way up river we came across quite a few crocodiles, some of whom we stopped to feed. The boat driver would get out of the boat with chickens pieces, slap the water with them to get the crocodile's attention and then feed the croc. He was very brave, considering the short life expectancy we were all sure he must have. We then returned downstream, almost to the ocean (we could see the waves, tinted by the mud flowing downstream) and then ventured up into the mangrove area, where the baby crocodiles grow for five years or so before they venture out into the river. We saw small crocs and baby crocs, and also crabs and more lizards. Then it was time to return to shore. We'd had a wonderful cruise. Jesus and the driver were waiting for us on our return, and they took us to a little roadside restaurant for a lovely Costa Rican lunch. We started with homemade corn chips with bean and coffee dip, followed by a meal with meat (chicken for me, beef stew for Tom), rice, black beans, salad and a delicious vege stew. This was washed down with a lovely pineapple smoothie. Jesus and the driver ate with us. After lunch they took us up a mountain for a lovely view of the coastline, pointing our some e pensive looking houses owned by Americans, and spotting toucans and macaws in the trees for us. We then drove back down the mountain to a luxury resort overlooking the Tarcoles River, where we could see right back up the coast to Puntarenas. After that we returned to Puntarenas for a tour of the town, stopping along the way at a huge souvenir shop, and then back to the ship just about 3.30pm. We really enjoyed our tour. On returned to our suite we had a whiskey and a nap, before venturing down to the bar for trivia. The host asked if we could add another member to our team, a lovely lady named Ann, from England and France. We did very well, with the five of us (Joe and Jane from South West Rocks included) coming second. While we were there, Nicholas (the food and beverages boss) came to the door of the bar, so Tom thought he'd use the opportunity to tell him we were eating in the dining room this evening, not our suite as planned. When we then returned to our suite for showers before dinner, our butler was lurking near our room. It transpired that Nicholas had come to check with him first, but he didn't know where we were, so he'd gone looking for us, and told Nicholas that we were in the bar. This is all part of the great filet Mignon saga! So, we went down to dinner, to be met by the maitre d' and the head waiter supervisor (the lovely Eileen from Malaysia) as well as Nicholas and shown to a table in Allan's area. Even the Russian sommelier came by and asked if we'd like our usual champagne! Allan had been made aware that we were going to have filet Mignon with bacon wrapped around it, but we also chose some delicious entrees and appetisers (scallops, and smoked salmon on a potato pancake with salmon caviar and a quail egg). While we were eating our first course I was suddenly embraced by Noelene, as she and Garry were on their way to eat at an adjacent table! She's a sweetie. Our filet Mignon arrived with the bacon wrapped around like a parcel (something lost in the translation), and it was delicious! Nicholas dropped by to see what we thought, as did the maitre d' and Eileen! It was all a little overwhelming. Nicholas said he hadn't tried the dish, but that when he emailed it to the head chef he kept a copy for himself, to cook it when he's at home next month! We finished the meal with appenzeller cheese for me, gelati for Tom, followed by a glass of Cadillac and sorbet. Then off to our suite to put the clocks back an hour, for the third time!