Manuel Antonio National Park & Curu Wildlife Refuge
The final day of our passage began with an early morning arrival at Manuel Antonio National Park. We entered the well-known Costa Rican rainforest via the isthmus, which is locally known as tombolo, formed by the collection of sedimentary material that now connects the Cathedral Point to the mainland. We hiked into the forest by two separate trails offering elevated views of the pristine beaches and abundant wildlife. Some were greeted on the trail by a mother white-tail deer and her fawn while others finished the morning with a personal glimpse of the two-toed sloth, who was searching the low lying branches for a more comfortable resting spot. An unusual daytime jaunt for a nocturnal creature who finds a new bed several times a month!
We returned to the Sea Voyager for a festive Spanish style lunch in the lounge, complete with sangria! But that didn’t hinder our enthusiasm, and without wasting a moment, we gathered again for a fascinating presentation by Isabel Salas on Primates of Central America. With all our primate questions answered, we set out again to explore Curu Wildlife Refuge, a tropical dry forest and natural habitat for Scarlet Macaws and Howler Monkeys. We hiked throughout the black mangroves, listening to the clams click and even caught site of a male Coatimundi foraging in the leaves.
As the sun slowly sank over the horizon, we bid farewell to the tropical landscape. With intermittent lightning flashing through the windows, we met for our finale cocktail hour and enjoyed the camaraderie of new friends, sharing photographs and stories, the memories of a once in a lifetime voyage.
The final day of our passage began with an early morning arrival at Manuel Antonio National Park. We entered the well-known Costa Rican rainforest via the isthmus, which is locally known as tombolo, formed by the collection of sedimentary material that now connects the Cathedral Point to the mainland. We hiked into the forest by two separate trails offering elevated views of the pristine beaches and abundant wildlife. Some were greeted on the trail by a mother white-tail deer and her fawn while others finished the morning with a personal glimpse of the two-toed sloth, who was searching the low lying branches for a more comfortable resting spot. An unusual daytime jaunt for a nocturnal creature who finds a new bed several times a month!
We returned to the Sea Voyager for a festive Spanish style lunch in the lounge, complete with sangria! But that didn’t hinder our enthusiasm, and without wasting a moment, we gathered again for a fascinating presentation by Isabel Salas on Primates of Central America. With all our primate questions answered, we set out again to explore Curu Wildlife Refuge, a tropical dry forest and natural habitat for Scarlet Macaws and Howler Monkeys. We hiked throughout the black mangroves, listening to the clams click and even caught site of a male Coatimundi foraging in the leaves.
As the sun slowly sank over the horizon, we bid farewell to the tropical landscape. With intermittent lightning flashing through the windows, we met for our finale cocktail hour and enjoyed the camaraderie of new friends, sharing photographs and stories, the memories of a once in a lifetime voyage.
