This morning, we got up early to head to Manuel Antonio National Park. It is one of the nation’s smallest parks, protecting a beautiful area of coastal rainforest.
For most of us, it was the first time we ever entered a national park by wading through a tidal pool – nothing like starting the morning hike with wet shoes! (Not really a problem, it was plenty hot and things dried fast.)The unusual entrance opened onto beautiful white sand beaches.
When we headed into the rainforest, we saw all sorts of wildlife: Rainforest Anoles, Whimbrels, Lesser White Line Bats, Tennesse Warbler, Golden Orb Spider, Jack-O-Lantern Crab, Black Hooded Antshrike, and Howler Monkeys.
Yellow-Crowned Night Heron
Basilisk
Two-Toed Sloth (with baby)
Baltimore Oriole
Common Potoo (look closely – he looks just like a part of the tree)Some iguanas …
And a Northern Raccoon.Back along the beach, we enjoyed watching the White-Faced Monkeys – they weren’t quite tame, but they did hang around for pictures.
The beach was inviting and the water was warm, so most folks got at least their feet wet before we headed back.
As we left the park, business had picked up since early morning – there were lots of vendors, selling water and all sorts of other items.
Back in Quepos, we had lunch at a place owned by an American sport fisherman – El Gran Escape Restaurant and Fish Head Bar. The food was good, as attested by the owner’s dog – wearing a tag that said “Please don’t feed me – I’m on a diet.”
Being Sunday, most shops were closed, but we walked around Quepos to check out the local art and to walk along the sea wall.
We saw lots of Brown Pelicans and Great Frigatebirds.After lunch, we hopped a boat for a ride around Isla Damas, to visit the mangrove swamps. This place was loaded with wildlife, especially birds: Whimbrel, Mangrove Cuckoo, Willets, Lesser Yellowlegs, Wlison’s Plover, Yellow-Crown Night Heron, Little Blue Heron, Green Back Heron, Great Egret, Spotted Sandpiper, and Bare-Throated Tiger Heron. We also saw a white-faced monkey looking for crabs, a Black Iguana, and a close-up view of a termite nest.
We watched some locals fishing for (and catching) red snapper with hand lines. Tough way to put dinner on the table.
Mostly we marveled at the mangrove forests – amazingly thick growth with incredible roots everywhere – hard to imagine making your way through one of these areas.
Tonight for dinner we went to Ronny’s Place (http://www.ronnysplace.com/), an open-air restaurant with an ocean view. We had shrimp rice and mahi mahi casados and enjoyed watching the Yellow Geckos patrol the walls looking for moths and other bugs.
Mr. Ronny himself stopped by to welcome us.
