The Tarcoles River Crocodiles

In Tarcoles, a river close to the popular hot spot of Jaco, live over 2000 American Crocodiles. The majority of these crocs reach over twelve feet in length and can eat a dog in one gulp. They have been known to eat a cow or two from the surrounding farms.

With this knowledge, and also a drive over the infamous Tarcoles Bridge over Tarcoles River where you can get a glimpse of 50 or more of these incredible creatures, we decided to take a chance and come face to face with them by signing up for the Crocodile Man Tour.

The tour is best known for the Great Feeding Show where the experienced guides feed the crocs with the same casual ease as we do when feeding a friendly dog.

Our guide knew all the crocodiles by name: Saddam Hussein, George Bush, and Bill Clinton. These guys are the biggest and ruled these waters.

We had the opportunity to meet Bill Clinton. I have to say he’s gained some weight after his presidency. This croc was definitely over twelve feet long, and weighed about half a ton – if not more. When up close, you can’t help but shiver at the thought of his mammoth jaw snapping shut on any of your body parts. The guide however didn’t shiver at that gruesome thought and instead grabbed a raw chicken and hopped off the boat.

Next he started hitting the water with the chicken as the crocodile made its way over to him. Instead, though, of throwing the dead bird into its mouth, he began teasing him. This show of superiority lasted for a good five minutes as the croc’s body leaped higher and higher out of the water until the guide finally gently handed over the chicken and strolled back to the boat.

After that, it was hard to focus on the amazing birds that also populated this region of the famous Guacalillo mangrove swamp. Birds like: red limpets, tiger herons, tiger-faced crabs, monkeys, pink spoonbills, and many more.