There is no better way to begin an expedition to Costa Rica and Panama than by starting at the Manuel Antonio National Park, especially on a photo expedition. As always, nature is completely unpredictable but Manuel Antonio is an exception to that rule; we never know what are we going to find but there is always something and we are never disappointed.
Just starting our photo-hike we found our first targets: a spiny-tailed iguana and a two-toed sloth. It was hard to decide which we should start photographing first. Finally, we all decided to start with the sloth, for he decided to wake up and climb down the tree to give us a few minutes of action. It was a little bit hard to choose between taking some photos or just watching him coming down the tree and enjoying the moment.
The day was just starting and some of our guests declared they had already taken their dreamed-of photos. A few minutes later we resumed our hike and not too far away we met a large troop of white-faced monkeys – a young one full of energy, a couple of females with babies and of course the Alfa male, always watching. It was just the perfect timing to get the perfect shot.
We continued walking for a short distance when we saw a three-toed sloth with a baby. What an opportunity for all of us; not only did we get the chance to see the two different species but also to photograph a mother three-toed sloth with a baby, a unique and special surprise for all of us.
It was time for all of us to go back aboard National Geographic Sea Lion, full of amazing memories and of course, tons of great photos and smiling faces, just the perfect way to finish our very first day in the rain forests of Costa Rica.
