Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica
This morning we visited one of Costa Rica’s most visited and popular National Parks, Manuel Antonio—the smallest park in the country covering around a 3000-acre area of transitional forest between tropical dry and tropical wet low-land forests. This means that many of the species of flora and fauna that are found here are in their northernmost or southernmost limit in Costa Rica, that is the case of the beach gourd tree, the rain-tree, and several others. We entered the park right after dawn, even before it officially opened to the general public, taking advantage of the still cool air. Walking on some of the different trails that the park offers, we got to increase our wildlife list: two-toed sloth, three-toed sloth, white-throated capuchin monkeys, Central American agouti, and even an anteater. Bird-watching, sunbathing, body surfing, or just getting tumbled around in the water, we spent a wonderful day.
One of the animals that really called our attention and that almost all of us saw today was the white-throated capuchin monkeys, also known as white-faced capuchin monkey, from the Spanish term “mono cara blanca.” These monkeys live in groups in which the females are kin, but the males are not. Males leave their natal group when they are reaching reproductive age and may form what is known as bachelor gangs. They are omnivores, but will prefer animal protein, fruits, and flowers.
After a wonderful day, we started heading towards tomorrow’s adventure!
This morning we visited one of Costa Rica’s most visited and popular National Parks, Manuel Antonio—the smallest park in the country covering around a 3000-acre area of transitional forest between tropical dry and tropical wet low-land forests. This means that many of the species of flora and fauna that are found here are in their northernmost or southernmost limit in Costa Rica, that is the case of the beach gourd tree, the rain-tree, and several others. We entered the park right after dawn, even before it officially opened to the general public, taking advantage of the still cool air. Walking on some of the different trails that the park offers, we got to increase our wildlife list: two-toed sloth, three-toed sloth, white-throated capuchin monkeys, Central American agouti, and even an anteater. Bird-watching, sunbathing, body surfing, or just getting tumbled around in the water, we spent a wonderful day.
One of the animals that really called our attention and that almost all of us saw today was the white-throated capuchin monkeys, also known as white-faced capuchin monkey, from the Spanish term “mono cara blanca.” These monkeys live in groups in which the females are kin, but the males are not. Males leave their natal group when they are reaching reproductive age and may form what is known as bachelor gangs. They are omnivores, but will prefer animal protein, fruits, and flowers.
After a wonderful day, we started heading towards tomorrow’s adventure!
