River Pirates & Freshwater Sharks
Riverside Convenience Store Swimming across a wide, fast-moving jungle river that’s home to crocodiles & aggressive freshwater sharks was not my idea. This latest questionable undertaking was suggested by my new friend Jason, a local kid living in the tiny town of El Castillo on the banks of the Rio San Juan. Suddenly we were floating faster and faster towards the rapids… I had just embarked on a 3-hour boat trip down the river to check out the 17th-century Spanish fortress of El Castillo. Our long fiberglass water taxi was packed full of about 30 people, most locals, and everyone’s bags were strapped to the roof of the craft. Throughout the journey, we stopped at tiny little villages or individual homes to drop off people & supplies. The banks of the river were overgrown with the thick jungle that was home to all manner of monkeys, lizards, and birds. The Rio San Juan Bloody Pirate Battles The Rio San Juan links Lake Nicaragua to the Atla...