When we arrived at Matapalo Rock, I thought about renaming the famous landmark – at least for this one day – either Whirlpool or Maytag: it was like the spindle of a washing machine, and the water was on the agitate cycle.
The Cruce Aguas Abiertas Golfo Dulce event began on a sunny Saturday morning with the 1.5- and 5-kilometer races. On Sunday, swimmers will return to the water to cross the gulf in a 14-kilometer swim for the first time in the event's history.
The Crocodile Bay Resort & Marina says it will bring Puerto Jiménez and the Golfo Dulce a modern, clean facility to dock, fuel and maintenance boats, with a hotel and condominiums that will create jobs. But a vocal opposition says this project poses major environmental concerns, will not really benefit the community and will make Puerto Jiménez look like Cancún.
In the latest seismological event to happen in Costa Rica this week, a magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck off the country’s southern coast at 2:37 p.m. Saturday. There were no initial reports of damage.