Manuel Antonio – Puerto Viejo

We've been keeping busy the last ten days. I did a dive at the Catalina Islands, a small group off Playa Tamarindo. There was a bit of a current and it was difficult to stop myself being swept into the white-tip sharks we were watching. We also saw a large school of manta rays and I got to feel a puffer fish.

Last week we went to a coffee plantation – as Costa Rica has supposedly the third best beans in the world, after Ethopia and Jamaica. We then went to Poas volcano and a hummingbird sanctuary where hummingbirds drink sugar water from birdfeeders. We did another boat cruise and saw howler monkeys, toucans, herons and a large crocodile.

Our next stop was Manuel Antonio National Park – one of the most publicised parks in Central America, which meant 'Happy Hour'and too many gringos! Still, the amount of wildlife and isolated beaches were amazing. We saw massive iguanas, howler monkeys, capuchin, colourful crabs, a coati and a type of raccoon.

We're now in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca a relaxed Caribbean town full of Rastafarians, bikes and trinket stalls. The beaches are empty and fringed with palms. The reason this place is popular is mainly because of a break called Salsa Brava which surfers discovered 30 years ago and now come from all around to surf.

We've rented bikes for the 4 days we're here and have been cycling more than 24km a day along a dusty, potholed track. Our legs and bums are exhausted!

   
See my Flickr photos here