Manuel Antonio National Park
Today was a remarkable day. We had a very early wake up call so as to be in the field as soon as we possibly could, binoculars at our eyes and expectations running high. Manuel Antonio National Park exceeded these by introducing us to one of nature’s wonders: a paradisiacal piece of rainforest. Even though we awoke to cloudy skies and light showers, the rays of orange sunlight soon made their way through the clouds and illuminated the forest-clad shores. During our nature walks we were able to spot 14 sloths in the trail, comprising both two-toed and three-toed sloths (an all-time record sloth count for one morning!). Only a couple of these however seemed to be awake, since their daily activity is limited to a maximum of six hours, and many of us clearly saw a mother carrying her baby on her back. We didn’t say goodbye to this park without the additional exciting sightings of more rainforest dwellers: agoutis and a coatimundi, also known as lonely cat.
Lunch was held in the lounge, with wonderful views of the rolling seas and our persistent escort of brown boobies. As we held snorkeling and kayaking briefings, these were interrupted in a very welcome fashion by the occasion leaping dolphin.
In mid-afternoon we reached the picturesque little beach of San Josecito, for a first afternoon at the remote and spectacular Osa Peninsula. Here we had a chance to snorkel, kayak, hike, swim or just relax. As soon as we got there, a total of nine scarlet macaws landed on a tree nearby, giving birdwatchers the warmest of welcomes.
But a day in the tropics is not a full experience without the appearance of attention-grabbing monkeys, and towards the end of the afternoon a troop of about 12 white-throated capuchins showed up, making the day a complete success in the tropical rainforest.
Today was a remarkable day. We had a very early wake up call so as to be in the field as soon as we possibly could, binoculars at our eyes and expectations running high. Manuel Antonio National Park exceeded these by introducing us to one of nature’s wonders: a paradisiacal piece of rainforest. Even though we awoke to cloudy skies and light showers, the rays of orange sunlight soon made their way through the clouds and illuminated the forest-clad shores. During our nature walks we were able to spot 14 sloths in the trail, comprising both two-toed and three-toed sloths (an all-time record sloth count for one morning!). Only a couple of these however seemed to be awake, since their daily activity is limited to a maximum of six hours, and many of us clearly saw a mother carrying her baby on her back. We didn’t say goodbye to this park without the additional exciting sightings of more rainforest dwellers: agoutis and a coatimundi, also known as lonely cat.
Lunch was held in the lounge, with wonderful views of the rolling seas and our persistent escort of brown boobies. As we held snorkeling and kayaking briefings, these were interrupted in a very welcome fashion by the occasion leaping dolphin.
In mid-afternoon we reached the picturesque little beach of San Josecito, for a first afternoon at the remote and spectacular Osa Peninsula. Here we had a chance to snorkel, kayak, hike, swim or just relax. As soon as we got there, a total of nine scarlet macaws landed on a tree nearby, giving birdwatchers the warmest of welcomes.
But a day in the tropics is not a full experience without the appearance of attention-grabbing monkeys, and towards the end of the afternoon a troop of about 12 white-throated capuchins showed up, making the day a complete success in the tropical rainforest.
