Tag Archives: Golden Princess

Arriving Puntarenas, Costa Rica


Puntarenas Lighthouse

Puntarenas Lighthouse

The Golden Princess left Callao, the seaport serving Lima, on Friday, March 20, 2015, and sailed northward.  We were leaving South America behind us and heading toward Central America.  Our next destination was along the isthmus that links the North and South American continents.  After three full days at sea the Golden Princess docked at the port city of Puntarenas in Costa Rica on Tuesday, March 24.

Puntarenas

Puntarenas

Stepping off the ship we saw two sand sculptors plying their trade for tips on the beach alongside where the Golden Princess docked.  Their subject this day was the scaryAmerican crocodile.  I’ll be showing you living examples over the upcoming series on this destination.

Sand sculptors alongside the dock

Sand sculptors alongside the dock

Here’s a look back across the Gulf of Nicoya:

Gulf of Nicoya

Gulf of Nicoya

And a view of the beach:

Puntarenas beach

Puntarenas beach

One last look at that lighthouse before we head inland:

Puntarenas Lighthouse

Puntarenas Lighthouse

Ursula and I had an appointment inland, so our stay in Puntarenas was necessarily short.  Our first stop on this tour was the beautiful Hotel Villa Caletas (one of Central America’s Top Five hotels) for some outstanding views:

The view from Villa Caletas

The view from Villa Caletas

The hotel itself is quite photogenic as well:

Villa Caletas

Villa Caletas

Villa Caletas

Villa Caletas

After Villa Caletas we stopped at the outer edges of the Costa Rican jungle for some quick pictures of wild parrots:

Wild parrots

Wild parrots

Colorful Parrot

Colorful Parrot

Costa Rica jungle

Costa Rica jungle

On Wednesday I’ll present to you our first stop deep in the jungle, complete with a visit with white-headed capuchin monkeys, a white-nosed coatimundi, and cashews in the wild.

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Fun Photo (and Video) Friday — Farewell, Lima


Pottery Gallery

Pottery Gallery

It’s time to head back to the Golden Princess and start heading north from our two-day stop in Lima.  Here are some last minute looks before we board (a farewell video follows today’s gallery):

Next week I’ll be taking a break from our Chile-to-Los Angeles cruise for repeat posts in honor of Memorial Day, and the approaching anniversary of the D-Day Invasion of Normandy during World War II.  The week following that we’ll return to this cruise and our next port-of-call — Puntarenas in Costa Rica.

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Arriving Pachacamac


One of the massive Pachacamac Pyramids

One of the massive Pachacamac Pyramids

After our visit to El Salto del Friale to watch some guy dressed as a monk jump off a cliff into raging waters, our tour group headed some 25 miles/40 kilometers south along the coast to the Pachacamac Archeological Site.

Our tour bus

Our tour bus

If you thought the pyramids of Huaca Pucllana were impressive, wait until you get a glimpse of Puchacamac!

Pachacamac-related sites in Peru

This archeological site covers some 2.3 square miles/6 square kilometers, and it is dotted with the remains of massive pyramids, temples, roadways, and buildings.

Pachacamac 3-20-2015 10-48-58 AM

Map of Pachacamac

Atop the highest ground is the Temple of the Sun, which I’ll cover more in depth in a later, separate blog post (you’ll get a glimpse however on this week’s Fun Photo Friday).  You can see the Temple of the Sun depicted at the upper right-hand corner of the 3-D rendering below:

3-D Modelling of the Pachacamac Archeological Site

3-D Modelling of the Pachacamac Archeological Site

Upon arrival to Pachacamac you’ll find the visitors center, which contains some background information as well as replicas of ancient artifacts that were found in the area.

Replica Artifacts

Replica Artifacts

Many of the building at Pachacamac were built by the pre-Incan Ichma Culture sometime between A.D. 1350 and 1400. Here is a detailed replica of Ichma Culture pottery:

Replica Pottery at Pachacamac

Replica Pottery at Pachacamac

There is much to see, do, and photograph here, which is why we’ll be exploring Pachacamac over the next three weeks culminating with a hike high above the surrounding area for some breathtaking views from the Temple of the Sun.  So, until Wednesday, let me leave you with just a taste of what’s in store over these upcoming weeks:

Pachacamac

Pachacamac

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