For the first weekend excursion with CEA CAPA in Costa Rica, my program traveled from San José to Manuel Antonio National Park! During the three days we spent in Manuel Antonio, we visited beautiful beaches and got up close and personal with the park's diverse wildlife. CEA CAPA provided us with a tour of the park, which was super informative, and our guide was an expert at finding wildlife in the lush jungle. Out of all the animals we saw, the sloths were definitely my favorite! We also saw different species of birds, monkeys, and insects that are native to Costa Rica.  

After the bus ride from San José to Manuel Antonio, we stopped to get dinner at El Wagon.  

The hotel we stayed at was super cute! 

Breakfast before our day at the park included fresh fruit, gallo pinto, sausage, eggs, plantains, and coffee. 

After the tour, some other students and I relaxed on the beach for a bit before going on a self-guided hike inside the park. The hike boasted beautiful views of the coastline and allowed us to put our new wildlife sighting skills to the test. At the end of the hike, we ran into a group of white-faced capuchin monkeys who were very friendly! We headed back to the hotel and swam in the hotel pool to cool off from a long day in the sun.  

Looking for wildlife inside the park! 

Entrance to the beach. 

View of Isla Olocuita from our hike. 

For dinner, we checked out El Avión, an old cargo plane that was converted into a restaurant. The views from this restaurant were incredible! We almost had a complete panoramic view of the coastline.  

The beautiful coastline of Manuel Antonio. 

The monkeys in the park were not afraid to get close to us! 

A quick dip in the hotel pool before getting ready for dinner. 

View from dinner at El Avión. 

This excursion to Manuel Antonio was the perfect way to spend my first weekend in Costa Rica. The trip definitely brought all the students in my program closer together, and we made so many memories. The experience made me even more excited to see what other adventures Costa Rica has to offer during my semester here!