The Mangrove Info Center

The Mangrove Info Center – we had heard from several unrelated sources that kayaking in the mangroves was a fun and worthwhile experience requiring minimum physical exertion. To verify this, we contacted them directly. Their representative Elly told us on the phone the two hour kayaking and snorkeling excursion was easy; when we arrived, our assigned guide, Derek, said that day’s activities would be on flat water. Instead, the kayaking was very strenuous and we returned tired and unhappy an hour later than scheduled. I had sores in both hands and we were so exhausted on our return that we cancelled the afternoon’s activities which we had been looking forward to for several days. We did not enjoy the tour.

There was no representative of the company when we and several other tourists arrived, requiring that we wait. When two Mangrove Center representatives arrived they discovered there were 13 rather than 11 guests representing more than they were, according to Elly, allowed to take into the park. She brushed it off and said no one would notice.

Other disappointing features: The educational discussion, given around a broken down electrocuted water tank, was poor; we received no instruction on the use of kayaks; the water was full of jelly fish and several in our group were stung while they were in the water; because of strong winds reaching the snorkeling spot was difficult and unpleasant, requiring all our energy and determination only to discover on our arrival the water was so murky we couldn’t see any of the fish or underwater features the whole group had been looking forward to viewing.

The return was worse. The strong wind pushed us off course. Derek, who was in the lead, returned to help two kayakers whose kayak broke down, leaving them in neck high water full of jelly fish with no life vests. We later learned they had to wait for a long time in the sun with no sun protection or mosquito repellent (we were forced to leave these behind due to park rules) or additional drinking water until his return and were even more unhappy than we were. Because he had not explained where we were headed when we departed or when he left, we were stranded midway across the lake amidst the strong whipping wind without a heading for a few anxious moments.

To add to our discomfort our kayak was different from the others and sluggish in the water; and the rear cushion strap was broken making it impossible to adjust comfortably. Although we clearly told Elly we did not enjoy the excursion, neither she nor Derek apologized for the experience. Derek said he was surprised about the weather; apparently he didn’t check the weather reports.