Manuel Antonio National Park and San Josecito, Peninsula de Osa
What a wonderful awakening we had! Surrounded by magnificent rainforest and enchanting beaches, we started our day nice and early with a visit to Manuel Antonio National Park. This region is full of interesting geological formations like the tombolo: an ancient island that is now joined to the mainland by a natural bridge formed of sediments deposited by local marine currents. This park is located next to the village of Quepos, the only town in Costa Rica that is actually under sea level! This is due to an arm of sediments that dammed up and closed the access of water to a depression that used to be part of the sea. Today this National Park really showed us why it is the most visited park in the country.
After our wet landing in the warm waters of the Pacific coast, that easily reach the mid-eighties Fahrenheit, we divided into smaller groups so that everyone could experience the richness of the tropics. Among the species of wildlife we spotted were white-throated capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, both three-toed and two-toed sloths, long-nosed bats, ctenosaur iguanas, an osprey, a black-hooded Antshrike and all this just to mention a few examples of the mammals, reptiles, and birds we encountered.
Immediately we came back on board to head down to another marvelous region of Costa Rica: we reached the unparalleled Osa Peninsula. There were options like sea kayaking to enjoy the beauty of the scenery, snorkeling to discover another world and birdwatching. Another wonderful time! Colorful birds such as the red-legged honeycreeper, the cherise tanager, the buff-throated saltator, the king vulture and the spectacular scarlet macaw and for those who didn’t see them before, a close up of the white-throated capuchin monkeys! All of this led us to understand why Corcovado National Park, which protects most of the territory of the Osa Peninsula is considered “the most biologically intense place on planet Earth.”
Ahhh! I almost forget: we saw spinner dolphins and sea turtles while sailing to the Peninsula, and while at anchor after dinner, witnessed a spectacular show of spotted dolphin and greater fishing bats hunting in the well-lit waters at our stern.
And the adventure continues…
What a wonderful awakening we had! Surrounded by magnificent rainforest and enchanting beaches, we started our day nice and early with a visit to Manuel Antonio National Park. This region is full of interesting geological formations like the tombolo: an ancient island that is now joined to the mainland by a natural bridge formed of sediments deposited by local marine currents. This park is located next to the village of Quepos, the only town in Costa Rica that is actually under sea level! This is due to an arm of sediments that dammed up and closed the access of water to a depression that used to be part of the sea. Today this National Park really showed us why it is the most visited park in the country.
After our wet landing in the warm waters of the Pacific coast, that easily reach the mid-eighties Fahrenheit, we divided into smaller groups so that everyone could experience the richness of the tropics. Among the species of wildlife we spotted were white-throated capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, both three-toed and two-toed sloths, long-nosed bats, ctenosaur iguanas, an osprey, a black-hooded Antshrike and all this just to mention a few examples of the mammals, reptiles, and birds we encountered.
Immediately we came back on board to head down to another marvelous region of Costa Rica: we reached the unparalleled Osa Peninsula. There were options like sea kayaking to enjoy the beauty of the scenery, snorkeling to discover another world and birdwatching. Another wonderful time! Colorful birds such as the red-legged honeycreeper, the cherise tanager, the buff-throated saltator, the king vulture and the spectacular scarlet macaw and for those who didn’t see them before, a close up of the white-throated capuchin monkeys! All of this led us to understand why Corcovado National Park, which protects most of the territory of the Osa Peninsula is considered “the most biologically intense place on planet Earth.”
Ahhh! I almost forget: we saw spinner dolphins and sea turtles while sailing to the Peninsula, and while at anchor after dinner, witnessed a spectacular show of spotted dolphin and greater fishing bats hunting in the well-lit waters at our stern.
And the adventure continues…
