National Geographic Sea Lion started off the voyage with our first day in Manuel Antonio National Park. This park includes a tombolo feature, which is the joining of an island with the mainland after sand deposits form a bar between them. Our day started as the moon-sliver sank under the night sky and the bright sun made a procession above the water horizon line, illuminating the clouds in various shades of pink and gray. After breakfast and all were refreshed, expedition landing crafts carried shore-goers to our landing spot on Espadilla Beach.
There were two types of hikes offered, one journeying up the heights of the park to Cathedral Point and the other on a flat, forested trail in Sloth Valley. Both trails offered an abundance of plant and wildlife such as three varieties of monkeys: howler, white face, and squirrel monkeys. One of the first sightings was a track marking a sea turtle’s morning walk and some viewed iguanas and sloths. Many different birds were noticed. An osprey eating a fish was observed through a scope on shore. A nesting pair of golden-naped woodpeckers sang happily in the dead palm above us, visually tantalizing us with their unique markings. Also, the golden-hooded tanagers, purple-crowned fairy hummingbird, and black-hooded antshrikes flew circles around our groupings. Two people were lucky enough to see the rare parrot snake slithering near the trail.
The rest of the day was spent swimming, relaxing and reading on the beach or on the ship’s decks. We were surprised late in the afternoon by a mother humpback whale and her calf breaching in the distance. The ship turned around and journeyed behind the pair as they played and fluked just out of reach. The glorious sunset was the epitome of a perfect day in paradise!
