Manual Antonio National Park

Croc watch

A very early start to Quepos and Manual Antonio sees me throw my bags on the bus and nap. We are awoken within a couple of hours to grab some breakfast at a local rest stop. I quickly grab a bite and then its time to nap again, as I want to be well rested for the rest of the day. We stop again, this time at a fruit stand near a bridge. We get out to stretch our legs and are told that we are also at a crocodile watch stop. I look down from the bridge, and sure enough, littering the river is a rather large group of lazy crocodiles sleeping in the sun. These ones are massive. I sketch a couple before it is time to once again board the bus. 
Manual Antonio - where we are headed, is apparently a small nature reserve and national park with a gorgeous beach... And indeed it is. The beach is an amazing stretch of soft sand that is lined with rain forest - lucky us. The water is a solid 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and clear. The sun is out; and there are squirrel monkeys chattering in the trees. I don my bikini and jump into the gorgeous water. Life is great.
This evening we have a fabulous dinner as a group and have a great time together - It's Christmas Eve. Good food, good drinks, good company!

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Beach in Manual Antonio

"On our way out of the park we are also lucky to spot more sloths!! I love these creatures - they are so alien to me, and the way they move is so lazy and so smooth."