Manuel Antonio national park

April 2, 2016

Today here in Costa Rica we were up bright and early at 5:30am in the town of Santa Elena. We had to get our luggage out the door to our bus driver Santiago and our tour guide Christen at 6:30 and then had breakfast and left by 7:30. 

The Journey today began with us traveling 5 hours to the town of Bjuco. On the way to the national park Manuel Antonito, Christen pointed out these trees that were growing all along the highway. They were called African oil palm, they aren’t originally from here in Costa Rica. The palm of the trees are extracted for oil for the kitchen and also bio diesel. Also on the way to the national park there was a semi-truck that stopped suddenly on the road. The trailer that the truck was carrying caught on fire and was about to tip over, we passed it and other cars stopped to help. 

We finally arrived at national park, it was such a beautiful place where many tourists stopped to visit. Before entering the gate to the park there was monkeys that would literally walk up 5 feet in front of you- It was amazing. The group was warned about the monkeys coming up close and snatching your belongings. The walk from the gate to the beach where we were was about 1.8 km. When we arrived at the white sandy beach the view of the ocean waves crashing on the bright black rocks was breath taking. Some of us went in the water and others wandered the beach to explore. When we went swimming in the ocean and got up from under the waves and washed our face with our hands the taste of salt lingered in your mouth until you washed it out with bottled water. Loved the beach and view! 

After the beach and national park visit we headed back to our hotel where not far of a walk was a beautiful beach again! We were told that we could get a good view of the sunset at 5:45, so we went. I would have to say that with the waves crashing into the beach and the bright orange sun illuminating the sky it was absolutely the most beautiful thing that I had ever seen! The sunset was stunning. 

We ended our day with a delish supper, tasty pineapple drink and swimming in the pool. Today over all was one of my favourite days, despite being +34! I had an amazing time here in Costa Rica and would do it again in a heartbeat!