Manuel Antonio National Park & San Josecito in the Osa Peninsula
This morning our introduction to the wild side of Costa Rica and Panama started in Manuel Antonio National Park, which is the smallest natural reserve (only 1625 hectares) in the country. Its proximity to major population centers, its beautiful beaches and well-maintained trails through the forests have made this small park one of the most visited in the country. For this reason, the National Park Service has limited the access to only 800 tourists at a time.
We disembarked early in the morning before other visitors flooded the trails. Some of us walked up to Punta Catedral while others took the easy way through the “Sloth Valley” where we saw numerous birds, sloths and a few monkeys. By mid morning, as the sun was getting more intense and visitors were making their way into the park we boarded the Sea Voyager and sailed south to the Osa Peninsula. After a short snorkeling and kayaking briefing, we went to the bow where the staff provided us with the snorkeling gear for the rest of the trip. Then came lunch and a pleasant and well-deserved siesta.
Fico gave the first of our lectures, an “Introduction to the History of Costa Rica.” Around 4:00 pm we arrived in San Josecito, a beautiful and remote beach where we did our first snorkeling or simply swam in the warm Pacific Ocean waters. Some of us went on a birding hike and saw much more than birds. Osa Peninsula is one of the wildest corners of the country and terribly rich in plant and animal life.
The tropics are full of surprises and every tree conceals millions of creatures that the curious eye can find with just a little effort. On the way back to the beach we found hidden in the branches of a beach almond tree a magnificent polistes, or paper wasps’ nest (see the picture above), which at first glance looked like a flower. This served as a reminder that the forest is a box full of surprises and even when it appears that there is nothing to see, all we have to do is get closer and we will find wonderful hidden works of art in every branch and on every leaf.
This morning our introduction to the wild side of Costa Rica and Panama started in Manuel Antonio National Park, which is the smallest natural reserve (only 1625 hectares) in the country. Its proximity to major population centers, its beautiful beaches and well-maintained trails through the forests have made this small park one of the most visited in the country. For this reason, the National Park Service has limited the access to only 800 tourists at a time.
We disembarked early in the morning before other visitors flooded the trails. Some of us walked up to Punta Catedral while others took the easy way through the “Sloth Valley” where we saw numerous birds, sloths and a few monkeys. By mid morning, as the sun was getting more intense and visitors were making their way into the park we boarded the Sea Voyager and sailed south to the Osa Peninsula. After a short snorkeling and kayaking briefing, we went to the bow where the staff provided us with the snorkeling gear for the rest of the trip. Then came lunch and a pleasant and well-deserved siesta.
Fico gave the first of our lectures, an “Introduction to the History of Costa Rica.” Around 4:00 pm we arrived in San Josecito, a beautiful and remote beach where we did our first snorkeling or simply swam in the warm Pacific Ocean waters. Some of us went on a birding hike and saw much more than birds. Osa Peninsula is one of the wildest corners of the country and terribly rich in plant and animal life.
The tropics are full of surprises and every tree conceals millions of creatures that the curious eye can find with just a little effort. On the way back to the beach we found hidden in the branches of a beach almond tree a magnificent polistes, or paper wasps’ nest (see the picture above), which at first glance looked like a flower. This served as a reminder that the forest is a box full of surprises and even when it appears that there is nothing to see, all we have to do is get closer and we will find wonderful hidden works of art in every branch and on every leaf.
