Manuel Antonio: 4 days (Costa Rica 3 weeks itinerary)

17.4., Wednesday, Day 1

Later, we embarked on a night tour of the Rainmaker Reserve, enjoying the walk and encountering various wildlife. Upon our return, a delicious dinner and pineapple juice awaited us.

We ended the day with football chatter with our tour guide on our way back to the hotel, followed by a restful sleep.

18.4., Thursday, Day 2

We finally had a restful night’s sleep in this bed, sleeping through without any interruptions. After getting ready, we went down for breakfast, enjoying the delicious food served. We then took our coffee to the gaming zone and played a game of darts.

Our transportation arrived, and we headed towards the national park. Upon reaching the agency, we completed the necessary paperwork, which was delayed due to a couple’s registration issues. One of the problems was that they didn’t have any documents with them, unlike us, who had all our documents photographed on our phones. It was surprising that they were so ill-prepared for the trip.

After sorting out the paperwork, we proceeded to the park entrance, where our belongings were checked. We were informed that plastic and food items were prohibited inside the park. Luckily, we had a reusable water bottle, and we left our only snack with the agency for safekeeping.

Our experience in the park was fantastic; we encountered various animals, including lively squirrel monkeys. Despite guides claiming they’re hard to spot, we saw them everywhere. We also saw lizards, spiders, birds, deer, and, most excitingly, sloths in their natural habitat.

Before heading to the beach, we stopped at a café for juice and fruit, refreshing ourselves before the hot beach. At the beach, we received instructions to visit Manuel Antonio Beach and Espadilla Sur Beach. We decided Espadilla Sur Beach due to crowds on the first one. For this one, we were warned about the Manzanilla tree, whose leaves are poisonous. We found a safe spot under a different tree, enjoyed a brief swim, and then headed back.

We exited out of the park, managing to grab a quick lunch at a nearby restaurant with our remaining hour. Although the food wasn’t exceptional, it satisfied our hunger.

Returning to the hotel at 2:00 p.m., we took some time to rest before deciding to walk to Quepos. Before leaving, we had a rematch of darts, and this time I won, unlike in the morning when Tin won.

On our way to the city, we heard the sounds of howler monkeys and spotted numerous squirrel monkeys along the way. The howler monkey’s protective behavior towards the squirrel group intrigued us. We also marveled at the flight of over 10 large red parrots.

Descending, we encountered more wildlife, including monkeys and birds. Arriving just in time for sunset, Tin treated us to chips and drinks, adding to the enjoyment of the peaceful yet entertaining evening.

As darkness fell, we began the 45-minute uphill trek back to the hotel, spotting 2 raccoons along the way, completing our wildlife sightings for the day.

Upon returning to the hotel, we relaxed with TV and Instagram before quickly falling asleep from the day’s exhaustion.

19.4., Friday, Day 3

As we were ready early enough, so we engaged in a game of darts before having breakfast. Breakfast was once again delightful, and afterward, we returned to the room for a brief rest before volunteering.

At 8:25, the director of the Kids Saving The Rainforest organization picked us up in a lovely car and transported us to their location. She explained that their van had broken down, so she came instead.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by José, who guided us through the ground, explained the organization’s operations, showed us the locations of the kitchen, clinic, and nursery, and introduced us to all the resident animals.

Their work is both intriguing and admirable. They care for animals brought to them by the police or reported anonymously and release them back into their natural habitat, unless they’re unfit for survival, in which case they provide a sanctuary until the end.

Approximately 20 animals reside there permanently, including parrots with various injuries, sloths with health issues, spider monkeys with disabilities, and capuchins rescued from labs. We found their efforts really moving.

After a brief fruit break, a young man took us to the kitchen to prepare medication for some animals and the bird feed. We gave medicine to a sloth, a monkey, and a kinkajou, using various methods to ensure they took it.

Following lunch, we rested before preparing meals for the animals, which was a rewarding experience as we observed their excitement at mealtime.

After cleaning up, we made a bird feeder, which was a grasshopper made out of a pal leaf, and were then escorted back to the hotel.

In the afternoon, we relaxed by the pool, enjoying swimming, puzzles, and cocktails. It was heartening to see so many guests enjoying themselves at the pool.

20.4., Saturday, Day 4

After waking up, we headed to breakfast and followed it up with a game of darts. We got some spare time, assuming our pick-up was at 10 a.m., we later discovered it was delayed until 12:15 due to high water levels. Opting to wait upstairs, I changed into swimwear while Tin watched a match, and I enjoyed swimming and poolside play.

Rather than descending to the street for pick-up, we waited for them to collect us at the reception. Sure enough, the driver and guide Kenneth, familiar from our previous night tour, arrived to take us. Boarding a boat at the river, we embarked on our journey. On the route, we spotted various wildlife, including monkeys, falcons, iguanas, a turtle, and a sloth. Tin even caught sight of a small crocodile before it slipped into the bushes.

Unfortunately, we didn’t encounter any more crocodiles by the end of the tour, despite the captain mentioning he had seen more earlier.

Following the tour, we had lunch at a newer buffet restaurant (Soda Comidas al Sabor Tipica), which left us underwhelmed. The portions were small, and the “choose what you want” wasn’t true. Despite flavorful dishes, such as vegetables and chicken, the servings weren’t enough, not even satisfying a child’s appetite.

We tried to go to a shop along the way, but the cash registers had just stopped working for some reason. There was a queue, and we couldn’t really afford to spend time waiting. We went back, and the guide took us to the hotel. We took some time to relax in the room before heading to the pool. There, we had cocktails, chicken wings and fries, and we enjoyed in conversation and relaxation before retiring to the room for a movie and some phone time before sleep.

After days of intense physical activity and sweltering heat, this easy day was a welcome break, offering sun, water, cocktails, and tranquility.

21.4., Sunday, Day 5

We got our things packed and had everything ready at reception by 6:50 in the morning. Although we ordered breakfast, we didn’t have time to eat it. Our ride to Sierpe, where the ferry to Drake Bay departs from, was full and arrived exactly at 7:15, so we had to board quickly. A hotel staff member kindly offered to pack our breakfast to go, which we gratefully accepted. It was a thoughtful gesture from them.