For the 3-day long weekend, we headed to Manuel Antonio National Park. The park was created in November 1972 to protect it from development as the area's tourist industry began to boom. Manuel Antonio is Costa Rica's second most visited park behind the Poás Volcano National Park.
October is a great time to travel in Costa Rica since it is the low season which translates into less crowds and prices. We stayed at Hotel Mono Azul for a mere $45 per night. (Prices start at $25 a night but for 5 people, we needed a bigger room.)
Some of the highlights:
A short hike to a magnificent beach in the National Park
The White-headed Capuchin monkeys who come to see the tourists at the beach (and stole our first-aid kit from our bag).
Swimming with giant turtles
Eating at “El Avion”: an Iran-Contra-Cargo plane converted into a restaurant and bar.
Remember one of the biggest scandals in the mid 1980s that involved the Reagan Administration? This very cargo plane was shot down on October 5, 1986, while delivering supplies to the Nicaraguan Contras.
Boogie boarding
Here is a slideshow with more pictures (clicking on any of the pictures will open our album).
Videos of the monkeys on the beach:
- After stealing some items from tourists
- Being a little hostile
