Cayo Santiago
"Monkey Island"
"Monkey Island"
Many of the excursions that I had planned for this trip to Puerto Rico were similar to other trips that I have been on before. I have hiked to the top of mountains, walked down toward waterfalls, and zip lined through the forest. Today however, was a brand new experience.
This afternoon, we chartered a boat out of a small coastal town named Naguabo. We boarded the "La Paseadora" at the local dock, and headed toward Cayo Santiago. An island just off the Eastern coast of Puerto Rico, and better known as Monkey Island. It is appropriately named seeing as the only residents of the island are 1200 Rhesus Monkeys.
The island is used as a research center for scientists from around the world, as well as an off the beaten path type tour. Frank Lopez, a.k.a. Captian Paco, was our private guide. Unsure of what to expect, we boarded the boat with Paco, just the 4 of us. We really had no idea what to expect. We thought we might cruise on over to the island, watch the monkey's and head back. But Paco was determined to make this one unforgettable day for each of us. From the moment we stepped on board with him, we were his guests because as he put it "he doesn't get clients, he makes friends". Within minutes of our cruise to Monkey Island, Paco put M and I behind the wheel while he set up for dad to fish on the way. He made sure to let us know that we were each going in to snorkel and dive for starfish, even though we hadn't planned to be in the water at all. "Don't worry, I've got all the gear," he assured us. At one point he said "get ready to jump in. When I yell starfish, you've got to dive down to get it". It took M about half a second to get ready. She dove for the first two, and I got the third. Four in all for photo ops, before we returned them to sea. We dove, snorkeled around an old shipwreck, took plenty of photos, and visited Monkey Island. So much more than we could have imagined, and we'll make sure any friends visiting P.R. are sure to visit Paco for a one of a kind experience.
As far as Monkey Island....what an experience. Although the public is not allowed to step foot on the island, we were able to wade in the water, as well as kayak to within 50 feet of the shoreline. More than close enough to get a good view of just a handful of the hundreds of the monkeys.
This was truely an unforgetable day. Especailly for my wife who has been looking forward to this excursion since we booked this trip. She is of course a big fan of the monkeys, and is well known for her spot on monkey call. Unfortunely, Munkle did not make the trip with us. I was worried that the other monkeys on the island might see him and mistake him as one of their own. Either that, or Munkle would want to go and join his freinds (OK. The truth is I just plain forgot him in the room). No matter though. We still took plenty of pictures. Here are a few.
This afternoon, we chartered a boat out of a small coastal town named Naguabo. We boarded the "La Paseadora" at the local dock, and headed toward Cayo Santiago. An island just off the Eastern coast of Puerto Rico, and better known as Monkey Island. It is appropriately named seeing as the only residents of the island are 1200 Rhesus Monkeys.
The island is used as a research center for scientists from around the world, as well as an off the beaten path type tour. Frank Lopez, a.k.a. Captian Paco, was our private guide. Unsure of what to expect, we boarded the boat with Paco, just the 4 of us. We really had no idea what to expect. We thought we might cruise on over to the island, watch the monkey's and head back. But Paco was determined to make this one unforgettable day for each of us. From the moment we stepped on board with him, we were his guests because as he put it "he doesn't get clients, he makes friends". Within minutes of our cruise to Monkey Island, Paco put M and I behind the wheel while he set up for dad to fish on the way. He made sure to let us know that we were each going in to snorkel and dive for starfish, even though we hadn't planned to be in the water at all. "Don't worry, I've got all the gear," he assured us. At one point he said "get ready to jump in. When I yell starfish, you've got to dive down to get it". It took M about half a second to get ready. She dove for the first two, and I got the third. Four in all for photo ops, before we returned them to sea. We dove, snorkeled around an old shipwreck, took plenty of photos, and visited Monkey Island. So much more than we could have imagined, and we'll make sure any friends visiting P.R. are sure to visit Paco for a one of a kind experience.
As far as Monkey Island....what an experience. Although the public is not allowed to step foot on the island, we were able to wade in the water, as well as kayak to within 50 feet of the shoreline. More than close enough to get a good view of just a handful of the hundreds of the monkeys.
This was truely an unforgetable day. Especailly for my wife who has been looking forward to this excursion since we booked this trip. She is of course a big fan of the monkeys, and is well known for her spot on monkey call. Unfortunely, Munkle did not make the trip with us. I was worried that the other monkeys on the island might see him and mistake him as one of their own. Either that, or Munkle would want to go and join his freinds (OK. The truth is I just plain forgot him in the room). No matter though. We still took plenty of pictures. Here are a few.
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