This morning we went on a guided tour of the National Park. We met our guides, and we walked the couple of minutes up to the park from our hotel.
In we went and we started spotting things straight off the bat. Frogs, crabs, lizards, and insects...I know they are not the cutest, but they are essential to a tropical forest. I was really hoping to see more frogs today, which I did, however I didn't get to see the elusive green tree frog.
We continued on our walk, about 2hrs all up. We saw sloths, and sleeping monkeys and a couple more birds. Check, check, check. I'm so happy with all the animals I have seen!! If you want to see animals, Costa Rica is the place to see them!!
After the walk was finished, we headed back to town and found ourselves at a really cool little restaurant on the beach. Time for breakfast. Although it was almost lunch time, so let's just go with lunch. I had the yummiest lunch, a Costa Rican plate, which had fish, salad, veggies, beans, rice and fried plantain. I couldn't finish it, there was so much food on it!! You know you are going to struggle to finish your lunch when the food comes out on a platter!!
We then made our way back to the hotel, where we got changed and ready for our second day of being pummelled at the beach!! We decided to have a taste of a new beach today, so we headed back into the national park and walked the trail back to the beach. We may have already staked out the beaches during our morning walk!! Now this is where the rainforest meets the ocean. It is so stunning. The first beach we went to looked so packed.... So we decided to keep walking to the second more secluded beach. This is where we had the beach to ourselves. The waves were rough on the side that we chose, however we had the beach to ourselves. Good trade off in my eyes!!!
That was until we ran in to the water, and yes the waves taught us a lesson. We all managed to survive...with only a few wipe outs!! At one stage I swallowed so much water after being smashed by a wave, my nostrils felt like I had snorted acid. It was burning!! Then the fun part, when it makes it's way down your throat. The taste of salty water made me want to vomit! I actually came close to it... but managed to hold off!! It was a close call though!!
After we had all finished being killed by the waves, we jumped out and just hung around on the beach trying to dry off. That's was when Jacqui who was the smart one who decided to hang on the beach and not be smashed by the waves and who was watching our stuff asked me if I had food in my bag. Nope, why??? Apparently a raccoon tried to make off with my bag. Jacqui had to fight the little thief off!! Phew!!
About an hour later the tide turned. The waves were heading further and further up the sand, so we retreated even further under the huge tree we were sitting under. From the right there was the march of the iguanas... then from above the onslaught began. The white faced monkeys were trying their hardest to pick off some easy bags!! We all ran round picking up our bags and moving them into arms length. The monkeys soon realised we were no easy targets!! They played around in the trees near us and then moved on down the beach. The iguanas kept to themselves....just enjoying a delicious meal of hermit crabs. At one stage we thought we were being attacked from all angles!!
We finally decided that it was time to head back to the hotel, as the park closes at 4pm. Along the way we ran into a troop of squirrel monkeys.... and with that we have seen all 4 monkeys of Costa Rica!!
We made it back to the hotel and cleaned up, and about 30min later the rain started. It was heavy!!! But thank goodness it only lasted about an hour. It had stopped well and truly before dinner time....although I still didn't chance it, I took my raincoat to dinner. We ended up going to marlins a seafood restaurant. And as you do I ordered the ribs!! Gees they were good, and thank goodness Barry was there to finish them off for me!!!
We headed back to the hotel, as I had a fun night planned. Packing my case. I was packing my things into my case, and I thought that I should give my sandals one last whack out, make sure all that sand is out. So I took them outside and gave them a good whacking. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed something on the pylon... What the hell is that?!?!? So, as you do you get closer to look at it... I couldn't believe my luck....it was a green tree frog!!! I nearly wet myself!! There were 3 of them and these other small little frogs as well! I started knocking on everyone's cabin doors and yelling grab your cameras!! Thats when we all stood round taking photos of these amazing beautiful frogs!!! I'm in heaven!!