Manuel Antonio National Park and Drake Bay, Costa Rica
This morning we began our adventure in the “crown jewel” of the renowned National Park system of Costa Rica, in Manuel Antonio National Park. Our nimble expedition vessel able to maneuver between the rocky headlands and anchor very close to the wide sweeps of sandy beaches. We enjoyed an early breakfast and then we headed ashore as the park opened, in order to beat the heat and have chance to witness – we hoped – more wildlife activity. We were not disappointed!
No matter which trail you were on, or which Naturalist was your guide, everyone came back to the beach excited after great views of sloths and monkeys and anteaters and Agouti and….and so on! It was a fantastic morning, some of us even watched the sloths moving around, such activity often considered a rare sight. There was a chance for a quick swim before re-boarding the ship and heading south, towards the remote Osa peninsula.
As we sailed we kept a watch for marine life, and very quickly we saw breaching pantropical spotted dolphins who came to bow-ride and soon after the dolphins the first of many sea turtles, all of which seemed to be resting at the sea surface. We arrived to Drake Bay and here we dropped the kayaks and Zodiacs for a late afternoon adventure exploring the Rio Agujitas, an adventure that is only possible at high tide. Here we saw mantled howler monkeys, some Central American squirrel monkeys, and many green iguanas sunning themselves on any exposed branches or rocks.
We returned to the ship for cocktails, recap and dinner after a very worthwhile first day.
This morning we began our adventure in the “crown jewel” of the renowned National Park system of Costa Rica, in Manuel Antonio National Park. Our nimble expedition vessel able to maneuver between the rocky headlands and anchor very close to the wide sweeps of sandy beaches. We enjoyed an early breakfast and then we headed ashore as the park opened, in order to beat the heat and have chance to witness – we hoped – more wildlife activity. We were not disappointed!
No matter which trail you were on, or which Naturalist was your guide, everyone came back to the beach excited after great views of sloths and monkeys and anteaters and Agouti and….and so on! It was a fantastic morning, some of us even watched the sloths moving around, such activity often considered a rare sight. There was a chance for a quick swim before re-boarding the ship and heading south, towards the remote Osa peninsula.
As we sailed we kept a watch for marine life, and very quickly we saw breaching pantropical spotted dolphins who came to bow-ride and soon after the dolphins the first of many sea turtles, all of which seemed to be resting at the sea surface. We arrived to Drake Bay and here we dropped the kayaks and Zodiacs for a late afternoon adventure exploring the Rio Agujitas, an adventure that is only possible at high tide. Here we saw mantled howler monkeys, some Central American squirrel monkeys, and many green iguanas sunning themselves on any exposed branches or rocks.
We returned to the ship for cocktails, recap and dinner after a very worthwhile first day.
