Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica
We had a great beginning today at one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful parks. Manuel Antonio protects one of the few transition Pacific forests left in Central America. The landscape is just spectacular, with nearby islands full of pelagic birds and lush forests reaching to the sea and white sand beaches.
By 6:15am we were already inside the park. Agoutis, sloths, coatis, bats and both howler monkeys and white-faced capuchin monkeys were some of the mammals that we saw! In addition, lizards, crabs, ctenosaurs, spiders and several species of birds like double-toothed kite, black-bellied whistling ducks, crowned woodnymph and blue-throated golden-tailed hummingbirds, willet, riverside wrens among others. Orchids, heliconias and ingas were some of the plants in bloom attracting many insects like these two beautiful butterflies just on the side of the trail. After breakfast we went back to the park with high expectations that were set early, looking for more wildlife and to enjoy the great beach for swimming and snorkeling.
Right after lunch we departed heading northwest towards the Nicoya Peninsula. In mid-afternoon our trip was interrupted by a fantastic view of three (or more) humpback whales breaching, sounding and showing their flukes very close to the ship for about half an hour. We know that humpback whales from both the Arctic and Antarctic come to the Pacific side of Central America, judging by the time of the year we think they are visitors from the south.
