Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica
Incredible as it sounds; six days ago we were just starting our trip in Panama. The Panama Canal was a breathtaking experience, fulfilling the cultural side of our trip. From then on, the days were just getting better with many new species of birds, plants and animals to add to our wildlife list. For many guest this trip was their first time snorkeling, kayaking or Zodiac riding. But as the days were going by, then end was getting closer.
Today our last day of exploration, we adventured into one of the most well known and heavily visited national parks in the country, due to the quintessential tropical white sandy beaches, framed with lush rainforest and the overwhelming amount of wildlife easy to spot. To avoid the crowds, the National Geographic Sea Lion dropped anchor at the crack of dawn, and as early at 8am our guest were transferred by our trusty Zodiac drivers to the landing beach to start on different hikes.
One of the hikes known as the tropical Stairmaster honors its name with steps that go from 2 inches to 40 inches; this area also preserves the original tropical dry-rain forest. How could it be dry and rain at the same time? Well, Manuel Antonio, is located in the middle of the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, right where the rain forest from the southeast and the dry forest from the northwest mix and match, becoming a wonderful game for any naturalist to point out the different characteristics of each forest, like the tall towering trees with branches over 70 ft high in the rain forest, versus the chunky, twisted, low branched trees of the dry forest.
The other walk was straight forward with its name as well, the Sloth Valley. It was a leisurely walk where the wildlife sightings were amazing. The first to appear in our own personal animal parade was a troop of hungry White-faced Capuchin monkeys. They are small, and so agile that they scan the forest from top to bottom effortlessly. After them, a troop of Howler monkeys were spotted chewing leaves and jumping on the branches, taking life on the calmer side. To top off this display of wildlife, we were lucky to see the two species of sloths in the country. We watched as one sloth moved from one branch to another.
I could keep mentioning all the other sightings we had of birds, mammals, lizards, iguanas and more, but I must leave you with a reason to come and see for yourself.
