Vamos a la Playa

Today was our beach day! Before actually traveling to the country, our students tend to see Costa Rica as a tropical beach paradise and often have few expectations beyond playing in the sand. As such, this trip to the beach is highly anticipated all week and it does not disappoint. As we entered Manuel Antonio National Park early this morning, complaints of a 6:00 am breakfast were quickly replaced with a stunned silence. The beach is gorgeous and its density of wildlife practically guarantees sightings of sloths, white-faced monkeys, squirrel monkeys, and countless other species. However, I have no way of knowing our students saw any of these animals as they sprinted to the sand. 

I apologize for the relatively few pictures in today's post, but I must admit I was enjoying the sand and waves myself and wet sand does not mix well with delicate electronics (not that our students noticed). Here are the four pictures I took today:

This is NOT Manuel Antonio, but the view from the parking lot on our way to the park

Our students begin their hike to the beach

Ms. Hyatt and I snuck to get gelato in Jaco with some very hungry students (bologna sandwiches can only carry one so far)

Tracing our progress

Tomorrow our students will sleep in a little (breakfast is at 7:30 am) before boarding the bus back to San Jose. The long travel day is broken up with a stop in the town do Sarchi for one last souvenir purchasing bonanza at a historic ox cart manufacturing plant. 

Hasta mañana!

 
 
 

 
 

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