Although this is one of Costa Rica’s smaller national parks, it has become one of the most popular. It was created in 1972, apparently just minutes before a development project was to have been approved, which would have turned the whole area into condos and resorts.

Less renowned for bird sightings than others, it all but guarantees that a visitor will see numerous animals, including the ones I was able to capture: the sloth, capuchin monkey, and howler monkey. On the way out, I spotted a toucan, high on branch — the ones down here are smaller than those most people are familiar with.

Sloth
Howler Monkey
Capuchin Monkey
This little fellow came down from the trees and started
rummaging through my camera back pack
which I had placed on the ground by the trail.
He lost interest when all he found was a boring 28-125 mm lens.
Been in the jungle too long? Starting to see things?
Just a couple of knots in a tree!
Some of the trails in the park lead to exquisite, out-of-the-way beaches.
Playa Escondido: about a 3 km hike from the park entrance

 

Toucan

 

Back in the town of Manuel Antonio the beach is more commercial.
The tourist beach at Manuel Antonio
Costa Rica is famous for its colourful painted wagons. They are everywhere.
Detail
Tomorrow, up the coast a bit to Carara National Park.