Submitted by Michelle Rind on the 2016 winter session program in Costa Rica sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures…
Manuel Antonio: sounds like a person, but is instead the most beautiful beach I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting. My group and I spent four days at a hotel in Manuel Antonio, walking distance from the beautiful, white-sand beaches. Manuel Antonio is actually Costa Rica’s smallest national park, located in the city of Quepos on the Pacific. The terrain is extremely diverse, including rain forest, coral reefs and beaches.
A major draw to this park is the animals. Walking the trails located in the park, you are inches from howler monkeys (which you might want to be more than just a couple inches away), white Capuchin monkeys, sloths, iguanas, tree frogs, toucans, hummingbirds and so much more. I had never seen wildlife like this before outside of a zoo! The park has strict rules about what’s allowed in. For example, students in my group had to turn around and return fishing poles, snacks and other food items to the hotel. While this may seem inconvenient, I really appreciated the park’s dedication to conserving the natural environment. The beach nestled deep inside the park was absolutely pristine. But you have to be careful – I watched a mischievous white Capuchin monkey steal an orange right out my friend’s backpack!
The “Pura Vida” mentality that embodies Costa Rica is absolutely felt in full force at Manuel Antonio. Surfing is the major sport of the area, which draws in millions of surfing tourists a year to the area. A defining moment for me on this mini excursion was swimming during the sunset the first night in Manuel Antonio. The natural beauty and tranquility of the moment was overwhelming, in the most positive way. I hope to return to this park in the future.