
Costa Rica: Manuel Antonio
Back to reality. There is always a bit of culture shock after coming back from somewhere other than US or Europe. Life couldn’t be any more different overseas. In some ways, that is really good, in some ways that is really bad. However, I am thankful to come home and be able to drive on paved roads and place toilet paper in the toilet again. It’s the little things!
If you follow me on instagram or facebook these pictures will be repetitive, so I apologize! While I’m excited to document our trip, unfortunately this is going to a multiple part post since I don’t have time to do it all at once.
Our first stop was Manuel Antonio which is located on the Pacific Coast, 80 miles south of San Jose. After flying into San Jose and staying the night, it was an easy drive down. Easy as in I wasn’t driving, but Colby managed well!
Our Trip : San Jose & Manuel Antonio : Day 1 – 4
Day 1: Fly to San Jose and stay the night
Day 2: Drive down to Manuel Antonio & Beach
After the two hour drive and stopping a few times along the way for gorgeous lookouts and groceries we checked in at our hotel. We then spent the afternoon at the local beach. We were thankful it was very quiet with not many people around. The water was luke warm water and we were happy it was warm enough for us to enjoy!
Day 3: Manuel Antonio National Park & Beach
We hiked through the local National Park in the morning. While many people choose to get guides we walked all the trails on our own. The trails weaved in and out through rainforest and the beach. We saw a ton of wildlife including monkeys, sloths, and iguanas. There were lots of gorgeous miradors (lookouts) that overlooked the beach. After 2-3 hours of hiking and completing all the trails we enjoyed an afternoon by the beach. We learned the monkeys and raccoon’s know how to open backpacks and while we were in the water they stole and ate our food!
Day 4: Canyoning Tour & Beach
We spent the morning doing a Canyoning Tour. This was super fun and something I had always wanted to do. It’s similar to zip-lining, except instead you are repelling up and down instead of going side to side. The best part was Colby and I were the only ones on the tour so the guide was more flexible! He took several videos of us and even let us repel upside down! After repelling we were fed a local meal, walked across a very scary suspension bridge, and then headed back to town where we enjoyed the afternoon at the beach.
- We stayed at Jungle Creek and loved it. Hosts were very helpful and are from Canada so know English.
- The monkeys and raccoon’s know how to open you backpacks and take your food. Make sure to have it locked up, if possible
- There is no food/water in the park so make sure to bring your own
- The park is $16 per person.
- There is no fee to use the beaches outside of the park
- There were three options for the canyoning tour, but we ended up using Xtreme tours and really liked it
- You do not need a guide for the park (unless you want to use their telescopes and hear all the history). It’s a 10 minute walk straight to the beach, but we did all the hiking trails first which took a few hours.
- Manuel Antonio is VERY humid. Very. Consider this your warning.
- Everywhere takes US dollars. You will always get change in the local currency.
I didn’t start sharing our traveling adventures on the blog until the end of 2013, but you can see some of our trips below as well as how to travel on a budget here.
- Pacific Northwest
- Western Caribbean Cruise
- Arizona
- Hilton Head
- South America: Argentina
- South America: Torres Del Paine
- South America: Lake Region
- South America: Santiago + Coast
The rest of the trip is to be continued…….
Sheryl
Posted at 06:14h, 22 MayI loved following along with you on Instagram. It looks like a fantastic trip!
Cheryl Smith
Posted at 06:38h, 22 MaySo thankful you two had a wonderful time and a safe trip! I can’t get over those monkeys and raccoons!! They must have thought they were having a feast…the little rascals! That is so funny. It looks so beautiful there….and now you have more happy memories to add to all the rest. God bless you both! 🙂
Rebecca
Posted at 07:10h, 22 MayLoved the pictures on Instagram! It looked like you had a wonderful time!! 🙂
Elena
Posted at 07:39h, 22 MayI love your travel posts because you are so informative and really give great tips and advice, plus you dump like a million beautiful photos!! Hiking the rainforest and zip lining. It all looks soo fun!!! Can’t wait to hear more!
Erika B.
Posted at 09:03h, 22 MaySo fun!!! This trip seems way more to my liking than your last hiking trip, hahaha. But really I need to know more about the pink lipstick you’re wearing in the first few pictures- it looks awesome!!!
Jessica
Posted at 09:12h, 22 MayThis looks amazing! Looks like you had SO much fun! I bet the jungles are incredible! What an awesome vacation…will have to go someday!
Courtney
Posted at 09:16h, 22 MayAbsolutely breathtaking! Added to my visit list for sure!
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Kara
Posted at 09:28h, 22 Maythose monkeys are the cutest!! I can’t believe they broke into bags and stole food! The repelling looked awesome too 🙂
Kat | curlsnchard.com
Posted at 09:47h, 22 MayI love your photos <3 Costa Rica is definitely pretty far on the top of my to travel list in the Americas. Our next trip is most likely going to Guatemala, probably even this winter already. You said they take US Dollar everywhere – did you feel like you got screwed over with the exchange rate in stores (if you used Dollars)? I remember when I traveled in Mexico last winter, lots of tourists were using US Dollars, but oh my, they paid so much more for everything than we did!
Biana @Blovedboston
Posted at 10:14h, 22 MayI LOVED seeing all the photos popping up on instagram and how sweet are those two little monkeys – so cute!! Looks like it was an incredible trip and I’m adding Costa Rica to my list of travel destinations ASAP! xo, Biana –BlovedBoston
Amie
Posted at 10:53h, 22 MayIt always looks like you guys have such a great time on these trips!!
Rebecca Jo
Posted at 10:57h, 22 MayOh wow… such a beautiful trip!
You both look so happy 🙂
That bridge… no…. just no….
Jojo
Posted at 11:53h, 22 MayDarn those sneaky monkeys. Lol Looks like u two had a wonderful adventurous trip. Pictures are lovely!
Alexis
Posted at 12:27h, 22 MayI’m so excite that you’re posting about the trip! It looked like SUCH a fun trip. I’ve always wanted to go canyoning — which looked like it was just as much fun as I’ve imagined. I can’t wait to hear more about it!
Cole
Posted at 12:43h, 22 MayGorgeous photos! Love those monkeys 😉
becky
Posted at 13:33h, 22 MaySo pretty!!!!! My brother in-law is marrying a woman from Costa Rica and there are talks of a wedding down there in the near future so this post got me super excited to possibly visit soon! Those sneaky monkeys stealing your food are just like the marmots here in CO! If you leave your pack anywhere while hiking, they’ll open it right up and take all your food haha! Glad you guys had a fun time!
Holly Housewife
Posted at 13:57h, 22 Mayomgosh beautiful photos!!!! It looks like a dream trip!
Lol to the monkeys and raccoons being able to open zippers! They’re so smart!
Can’t wait for trip part 2! 🙂
Amanda
Posted at 14:10h, 22 MayYou guys seriously take the best trips together! It all looks like so much fun!
Robin
Posted at 19:35h, 22 MayGreat photos! It looks like you had an amazing time!
Angela
Posted at 15:51h, 23 MayThat tour looks like such a blast! I have loved living vicariously through your Insta pictures. 🙂 Plus those monkeys!! Too cute!
Michelle O.
Posted at 16:44h, 24 MayI loved costa rica when I went and seeing iguanas everywhere. It was so cool. These pictures make me want to go back. A shock to me was the toilet paper in the trash and when I told people that you couldn’t flush toilet paper a lot of people didn’t believe me. WHY would i joke about something like that haha.
xx, Michelle
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Jessy
Posted at 17:38h, 24 MayBeautiful photos, Caroline! I’m so happy you guys had a great time. But, I still can’t get over the monkeys stealing your food! That is crazy!
Susannah
Posted at 10:33h, 26 MayOh my goodness, it looks like you had an amazing trip!!!!
Elle Spann
Posted at 10:45h, 26 MayCR is so fun and Manuel Antonio is awesome! The white faced monkeys are my favorite- they are so cute and playful. Some of my favorite memories there are with those furry creatures!
Elle
Southern Elle Style
Kristi Case
Posted at 10:47h, 26 MayLooks like so much fun!
Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom
Posted at 14:32h, 27 MayWhat gorgeous photos and it looks like you had such a lovely vacation. It is hard to return to life afterwards, isn’t it?!
I love that picture of you jumping off of that big driftwood. You have such a playful spirit!
Wishing you a lovely day.
xoxo
Ashley
Posted at 08:44h, 28 MayThis looks so fun! I love, love ziplining.
Kelly @ SoKo Blog
Posted at 15:27h, 29 MayGoodness what a beautiful place! Love that ya’ll had a chance to get away 🙂
Laura @ Making Baby Provence
Posted at 10:52h, 03 JuneHow can you charge those adorable monkeys with theft?!
I love reading about your travels. This looks like a place we should put on our bucket list! I should also consider blogging about our vacations, so I can remember what we did when I’m old and too feable to travel. 😉
Tiffany | A Touch of Grace
Posted at 12:31h, 03 JuneWe absolutely love Costa Rica! We didn’t visit this area, but it looks beautiful! So glad you guys had a great trip and I can’t wait to read more!
Krystal
Posted at 12:28h, 08 JuneI could look at these pictures all day! I just booked our first post-baby vacation in September and although we won’t get to do all the adventurous things that you’ve done in Costa Rica, I am looking forward to it. ou look like you had a great time!!!
Kelli {A Deeper Joy}
Posted at 13:07h, 09 JuneYou are so cute! I love all of your colorful sunglasses! And canyoning is THE BEST! Looks awesome!