Jul 11, 2006 - Manuel Antonio

After about 100 meters on the way towards Manuel Antonio, the road turned from paved to non-paved, pot-hole/giant puddle filled jungle trail. The following day, we joined our new English friends on a tour of Manuel Antonio National Park, which turned out to be a brutal test of a few items: (a) not complaining about the heat (b) not complaining about the massive amounts of body sweat disgustingly pouring from Ian (c) our determination to continue our reputation as cheap bastards. ... (We passed a couple beaches on the tour, which were quite tempting, however, having paid $15, we couldn't very well leave the tour!!!) In the end, we were amazed at our guide's ability to spot a small bug about 500 meters away on a tree (at which point, he would set up a small telescope for us average humans to check out).After about 100 meters on the way towards Manuel Antonio, the road turned from paved to non-paved, pot-hole/giant puddle filled jungle trail. The following day, we joined our new English friends on a tour of Manuel Antonio National Park, which turned out to be a brutal test of a few items: (a) not complaining about the heat (b) not complaining about the massive amounts of body sweat disgustingly pouring from Ian (c) our determination to continue our reputation as cheap bastards. ... (We passed a couple beaches on the tour, which were quite tempting, however, having paid $15, we couldn't very well leave the tour!!!) In the end, we were amazed at our guide's ability to spot a small bug about 500 meters away on a tree (at which point, he would set up a small telescope for us average humans to check out)....

Jul 9, 2006 - Dominical

The border crossing at Paso Canoas was a breeze.The border crossing at Paso Canoas was a breeze....

Jun 27, 2006 - Manuel Antonio, coasta Rica

Arriving in the dark and downpour we stayed at the first hostel we found, vista serena! For the next three days we stayed in a gorgeous condo on hostel prices! Very good deal! We took advantage of the sunny morning to visit around quepos, the bigger town down from manuel antonio and were able to get some shopping done! Unfortunately it rained all afternoon, so we gladly took advantage of the Tv in our living room and were unable to go on a horse ride. After cooking dinner in our kitchen we went out to see a local reagae star with some friends from the hostel! And so we began our night of dancing and drinking! After picking up more people at the hostel we went to the discoteque in quepos and salsa'd until the early hours of the morning! We reluctantly woke up early the next morning and headed down to the manuel antonio national park! Very beautiful park, with lots of nice beaches and tons of wildlife in the rainforest. ... On our hike we saw some monkeys, sloths, racoon (thingys), crabs, lizards, snakes and crocodiles! Very cool, we were prettt proud, all of these with no guide! The tide on the beach was very high, we quickly learnt that if you dont want your stuff in the ocean you need to hang it on a tree! The swim was fun, but dangerous and renee almost died.Arriving in the dark and downpour we stayed at the first hostel we found, vista serena! For the next three days we stayed in a gorgeous condo on hostel prices! Very good deal! We took advantage of the sunny morning to visit around quepos, the bigger town down from manuel antonio and were able to get some shopping done! Unfortunately it rained all afternoon, so we gladly took advantage of the Tv in our living room and were unable to go on a horse ride. After cooking dinner in our kitchen we went out to see a local reagae star with some friends from the hostel! And so we began our night of dancing and drinking! After picking up more people at the hostel we went to the discoteque in quepos and salsa'd until the early hours of the morning! We reluctantly woke up early the next morning and headed down to the manuel antonio national park! Very beautiful park, with lots of nice beaches and tons of wildlife in the rainforest. ... On our hike we saw some monkeys, sloths, racoon (thingys), crabs, lizards, snakes and crocodiles! Very cool, we were prettt proud, all of these with no guide! The tide on the beach was very high, we quickly learnt that if you dont want your stuff in the ocean you need to hang it on a tree! The swim was fun, but dangerous and renee almost died....

Jun 21, 2006 - Week One

I arrived in San Jose and was met at the airport by two very nice Ticos.I arrived in San Jose and was met at the airport by two very nice Ticos....