This is the beginning of one the most important holidays here in Costa Rica and Panama. More than 65 percent of our population is devoted to the Roman Catholic religion; hence this coming week is time for private spiritual devotion for some while others will consider it a vacation from their usual work. As expected, Manuel Antonio National Park is a prime destination for local and international visitors, and was highly visited today. Nevertheless, today our guests enjoyed the unique possibility to enjoy this park as soon as it opened to the public. Manuel Antonio Park, with its 1,687 acres, was ranked as the eleventh most beautiful park in the world by Forbes and is among the top three most visited parks in Costa Rica.
Our nature encounters on the different trails were special and provided great opportunities to photograph wildlife and realize the vast dynamic of tropical forests. Hoffman’s two-toed and brown-throated three-toed sloths, with their offspring, were active and enchanted their observers; white-faced capuchin monkeys gave their usual active foraging displaying. We also observed Central American agoutis, basilisk lizards, vine snakes, gaudy leaf frogs and some long distance hikers even experienced the rare observation of an eyelash pit-viper.
After our walks, the constant swell from the rising tide enchanted our young guests of age and spirit with the chance to body surf. By noon the beach started to disappear with the rising tide, and as the surf removed our footprints from the sand, we returned to National Geographic Sea Lion for lunch.
During our afternoon we explored the area on the Central Pacific region known as Dominical and Marino Ballena Park. No luck with whales this time, but the spectacular scenery with the Fila Costeña and the entrance to Osa Peninsula at Isla Violines during a colorful sunset convinced our spirits of the impressive natural wonders of this region of Costa Rica.
