The Famous Crocodile Bridge
THE MOST INTERESTING BRIDGE IN COSTA RICA
There is a bridge, just north on Jaco, that has become a mini tourist attraction for those travelling the coastal highway along the western coast of Costa Rica. The bridge itself is nondescript and built to be functional instead of beautiful or inspiring. Rather, it is what lies (literally) under the bridge that stops the tourists – depending on the day, you may see one, two, a few, or dozens of massive crocodiles sunning themselves on the little sand and gravel islands below!
CROCODILE BRIDGE
Spanning over the Tarcoles River, the bridge is labelled as ‘Crocodile bridge’ on Google Maps and should be easy to find. Pedestrian walkways on either side of the bridge allow tourists to venture out over the river and view the reptiles below (these are quite recent; a few years ago you’d have to brave traffic by squeezing into a tiny buffer space between the road and the edge of the bridge). And some of these reptiles are huge – I have heard friends estimate to have seen ’20 foot crocs’, which equates to around 6 meters. Published estimates of the local crocs give the maximum croc lengths at around 4 meters…still very imposing. So don’t drop your camera or phone because you won’t be getting them back!
PARKING AND AMENITIES
Parking is provided off-highway on both sides along the northern end of the bridge (this is the main tourist area, there is nothing on the southern end of the bridge), where you will also find a variety of shops, food and drink options, and toilet facilities. Many of these outlets are crocodile-themed, of course. So you can enjoy a meal of a cold drink after your crocodile encounters! Rumour say that the local shop owners entice the crocs to hang around with generous gifts of chicken, offered under the cover of darkness – this is unverified and I definitely would not want to be spreading rumours…
ABOUT THE CROCS
The crocodiles belong to the Crocodylus acutus species, known as the American Crocodile. This is a very common and widespread specie, ranging from southern Florida to northern Peru. They can reach maximum lengths of over 6 meters and weights of nearly a tonne.
A WORD OF CAUTION
Of course this should go without saying, but: STAY ON THE BRIDGE! Venturing below can be very dangerous as these crocodiles can do some grave and serious damage. If you drop anything from the bridge, take the L and consider it gone. Also take care when crossing the highway, as traffic is often heavy near the bridge and the cars are moving at highway speeds.
ENJOY BUT TAKE CARE!
These crocodiles can usually be found in mangroves, near river mouths and generally in low-lying brackish, wet and marshy areas. They are common all over Central and South America as well as the Caribbean. People have learned to live with them the same way as Floridians have learned to live with their Alligators. Big beaches and popular coastal areas should be fine, but if you are venturing off-track or into prime croc habitats, take necessary precautions. Many bites occur during drunken night swims or excursions into croc habitats. Do your own research about croc safety!
The jungles, mountains, rivers, ocean and nature take center stage here – and yes this includes crocodiles! The wilderness is raw, unspoiled and it is one of the main attractions that makes Costa Rica a top tourist destination. Imagine living here in tranquility and balance with nature – this is how life is meant to be lived. Visit the RE/MAX We Sell Paradise website to view the hot properties in our local area: https://www.we-sell-paradise.com
