Have you ever picked up the perfect shell at the beach, only to realize that it came complete with 2 little claws… and there is a beach full of them! So now what to do with a million little critters? Hermit Crab Races!
Have you ever picked up the perfect shell at the beach, only to realize that it came complete with 2 little claws… and there is a beach full of them! So now what to do with a million little critters? Hermit Crab Races!When you arrive at one of the beaches at Peninsula Papagayo, you will invariably notice an abundance of small hermit crabs! At Playa Prieta, they seem to scavenge in the tree debris under the tropical dry forest during the day, and come out in droves around sunset, when the sand has cooled down.
We have made a game of trying to find the smallest hermit crab at Playa Nacascolo (the size of ants, including the shell!!) And we are always amazed at the beautiful shells that these crabs choose.
However, our favorite hermit crab activity is hermit crab races!
1) Choose your crab. **Insider tip: the big hermit crabs don’t usually win. The smaller crabs are fast, while the bigger ones tend to clam up and “play dead.”
2) Draw the race course using a stick, shell, or foot: big outer circle and then the “starting ring” in the middle works best.
3) Place your crab in the starting ring, stand back, and wait for the winner to cross the line
Good luck!
What is your favorite beach game?
– story and photos by Jane Moore of Papagayo Luxury
