Tales with TR: A Hockey Podcast · The Hockey Podcast Network

Almost EATEN by a CROCODILE in Tulum! - 289A

January 15, 2026·29 min·2 clips

Terry Ryan was five feet from a crocodile while bushwhacking through a Mexican jungle.

Host Terry Ryan recounts a harrowing personal encounter from his recent vacation in Tulum, Mexico. This solo episode is a travel story with a near-miss wildlife experience at its core. Ryan describes exploring a remote, marshy area near the coast on his first day, renting a bike from his hostel, the Mayan Monkey. He ventured off the main paths into a jungle area known as Jaguar Park, walking through shallow water. His story centers on the moment he stopped and looked down to see a large crocodile just five feet in front of him in the water. Ryan insists the animal's snout was as large as his lower leg and that he was moments from stepping directly onto it. He immediately turned and fled through the dense palm trees and marsh, convinced other crocodiles or jaguars could be nearby. After a frantic escape, he reached safety and later learned from research that American crocodiles, not alligators, are native to that region of Mexico. He mentions that other tourists at a cenote, or natural swimming hole, also reported crocodile sightings. The most compelling insight is his realization that in a foreign ecosystem, common sense from home, like freely hiking in Newfoundland, does not apply. Ryan swears on the memory of deceased friends to emphasize the story's truth, acknowledging it sounds unbelievable. The episode has a highly conversational, confessional, and adrenaline-fueled storytelling tone. Listeners who enjoy personal, off-topic adventure stories from podcast hosts will love this episode. Hockey fans seeking pure game analysis or interviews should skip this installment.

As heard by us

A sweaty beach detour turns into a funny, tense first-person story.

A sweaty beach detour turns into a tense, funny first-person story, with the speaker mapping out a dead quiet stretch of shoreline, a small bike, and the uneasy sense of being too far from the busy resort.

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Why you'd press play

For when a beach walk turns into a hot, rambling detour with a little too much suspense for comfort.

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