Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica
Our first morning found us swaying with the movement of a tropical storm. Dark skies, white lightning and the crackling of thunder welcomed us to Manuel Antonio National Park. Good luck traveled with us, because as we pulled in to the bay, sunshine smiled at us. Manuel Antonio is one of Costa Rica’s smallest national parks. Located in the Central Pacific coast of the country, it is also one of the most visited areas, not only because of its wonderful white sandy beaches, but because it offers a great opportunity for nature lovers to fulfill their thirst for wildlife.
White-throated capuchin monkeys, long-nosed bats, two-toed and three-toed sloths, white-nosed coati, Central American agouti, raccoon, black spiny-tailed iguana, Jesus Christ lizards, litter anoles, hummingbirds, ospreys, and many interesting species of plants such as stinking-toe tree, raintree and strangler fig tree. After a good morning of wildlife and trails, back on board for a big breakfast! Later this morning we were ashore for some beach fun! Swimming, body surfing, frisbee, volleyball, or just laying on the beach for a bit of body color were the activities at hand. A little bit of surf and turf fun for all of us; and yet another spotting of sloths and a big fer-de lance coiled up in its burrow bid us farewell. Offshore from the breathtaking slopes covered in lush green vegetation and the white sand beaches of the Espadilla Sur beach, we began the cruising towards our next destination.
Our first morning found us swaying with the movement of a tropical storm. Dark skies, white lightning and the crackling of thunder welcomed us to Manuel Antonio National Park. Good luck traveled with us, because as we pulled in to the bay, sunshine smiled at us. Manuel Antonio is one of Costa Rica’s smallest national parks. Located in the Central Pacific coast of the country, it is also one of the most visited areas, not only because of its wonderful white sandy beaches, but because it offers a great opportunity for nature lovers to fulfill their thirst for wildlife.
White-throated capuchin monkeys, long-nosed bats, two-toed and three-toed sloths, white-nosed coati, Central American agouti, raccoon, black spiny-tailed iguana, Jesus Christ lizards, litter anoles, hummingbirds, ospreys, and many interesting species of plants such as stinking-toe tree, raintree and strangler fig tree. After a good morning of wildlife and trails, back on board for a big breakfast! Later this morning we were ashore for some beach fun! Swimming, body surfing, frisbee, volleyball, or just laying on the beach for a bit of body color were the activities at hand. A little bit of surf and turf fun for all of us; and yet another spotting of sloths and a big fer-de lance coiled up in its burrow bid us farewell. Offshore from the breathtaking slopes covered in lush green vegetation and the white sand beaches of the Espadilla Sur beach, we began the cruising towards our next destination.
