Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio and Parque Nacional Corcovado, Costa Rica
It was early morning and still dark when our ship dropped it’s anchor in the protected calm waters of the Playa Espadilla Beach at the Manuel Antonio National Park. Us early risers got a great look at the Southern Cross as we snacked on the delicious fresh fruit and breakfast bread. The sun was just starting to peak above the horizon and we headed to the beach to start our first day in Costa Rica.
This park is the smallest national park in Costa Rica and is extremely popular. It covers an area of 6.8 square kilometers and affords protection for the lovely beaches, mangroves and humid tropical forest. We had the opportunity to see sloths, bats, monkeys and spiny–tailed iguanas. Manuel Antonio is one of the few remaining natural habitats for the squirrel monkey – highly sought after as pets and for zoos.
We then continued on our journey along the Eastern pacific coast of Costa Rica. Not long after hoisting the anchor, we encountered a pod of humpback whales! The ocean was like glass and several hues of blue and it was so easy to see these magnificent mammals as they surfaced several times off the port side off our ship. These whales are not particularly fast swimmers but nevertheless, they often muster enough energy to leap clear of the water. After several sightings of at least four of these amazing creatures, they finally took the deep dive and disappeared from sight, leaving us to wonder where they might show up next.
By late afternoon we were pulling into Corcovado National Park and settling into hammocks between the coconut trees on the black sandy beaches, watching Scarlet Macaws fly overhead from the warm waters offshore or spying Capuchin Monkeys as we hiked along trails. This park was created in 1975 and protects a fascinating and biologically complex area of land. I headed out with the ship’s underwater camera to see what I could find. After several minutes I ran into a group of goatfish as they foraged along the bottom in search of a late afternoon appetizer. A mixed school of grunts, snappers and wrasses flowed in and out of the huge coral heads. Eventually, it was time to end our afternoon on the beach and we all headed back to the ship. Tomorrow, we discover one more day of Costa Rica’s hidden treasures.
It was early morning and still dark when our ship dropped it’s anchor in the protected calm waters of the Playa Espadilla Beach at the Manuel Antonio National Park. Us early risers got a great look at the Southern Cross as we snacked on the delicious fresh fruit and breakfast bread. The sun was just starting to peak above the horizon and we headed to the beach to start our first day in Costa Rica.
This park is the smallest national park in Costa Rica and is extremely popular. It covers an area of 6.8 square kilometers and affords protection for the lovely beaches, mangroves and humid tropical forest. We had the opportunity to see sloths, bats, monkeys and spiny–tailed iguanas. Manuel Antonio is one of the few remaining natural habitats for the squirrel monkey – highly sought after as pets and for zoos.
We then continued on our journey along the Eastern pacific coast of Costa Rica. Not long after hoisting the anchor, we encountered a pod of humpback whales! The ocean was like glass and several hues of blue and it was so easy to see these magnificent mammals as they surfaced several times off the port side off our ship. These whales are not particularly fast swimmers but nevertheless, they often muster enough energy to leap clear of the water. After several sightings of at least four of these amazing creatures, they finally took the deep dive and disappeared from sight, leaving us to wonder where they might show up next.
By late afternoon we were pulling into Corcovado National Park and settling into hammocks between the coconut trees on the black sandy beaches, watching Scarlet Macaws fly overhead from the warm waters offshore or spying Capuchin Monkeys as we hiked along trails. This park was created in 1975 and protects a fascinating and biologically complex area of land. I headed out with the ship’s underwater camera to see what I could find. After several minutes I ran into a group of goatfish as they foraged along the bottom in search of a late afternoon appetizer. A mixed school of grunts, snappers and wrasses flowed in and out of the huge coral heads. Eventually, it was time to end our afternoon on the beach and we all headed back to the ship. Tomorrow, we discover one more day of Costa Rica’s hidden treasures.
