Punta Leona

Although our trip to Manuel Antonio would have been enough to have seen in one weekend, our weekend was far from over. That evening we headed northward to Punta Leona, a private community and resort with one of Costa Rica's finest beaches, Playa Blanca.

Saturday Morning we woke up and headed to breakfast. The buffet style food, while not as good as our host mother's cooking, was a still very good or as they say here in Costa Rica, "muy rica." We sat calmly eating our breakfast until a swarm of White Faced Monkeys and Pizotes descended upon the outdoor restaurant. The Pizotes are a member of the raccoon family, but are arguably much cuter. They grazed the ground for food as the monkeys came from above snatching peoples left overs right off there plates. Although the signs said, "don't feed the monkeys we are affecting their diet" people went right ahead and waiters and waitresses didn't do much to stop the mischievous and wily monkeys. They stole bread, fruit, and handfuls of sugar packets as people (including myself) snapped photos. We felt a bad considering how we might actually be affecting the diets of the monkeys, and I'm still concerned about the ones stealing sugar packets for the fear that they might become diabetic.

After and eventful breakfast we made our way to Playa Blanca. We lounged in the sand and in the water which was slightly more refreshing than that of Manuel Antonio. We explored the rocks and tide pools and came across some very interesting creatures while we admired the beautiful landscapes. We concluded our beach day by taking an afternoon hike through the local biological preserve before dinner. After dinner we were all too exhausted to do much so went to bead early in hopes of waking up for the bird watching tour Sunday morning at six.

Sunday morning we were able to see a few species of Toucans, some Scarlet Macaws, as well as many other species of birds. After the bird watching tour we headed to breakfast where we had an experience similar to the one above, but this morning a waiter brought out a whole garbage bag full of bread and dumped it behind the restaurant in and effort to distract the monkeys from the sugar packets.

This weekend was an extrememly eventful one. I can't believe we have only been here for two weeks. We have done so much already that I'm sure I would be satisfied if I went home now, and knowing that I'm here for more than three more months is still a little hard to comprehend.

Photo of Scarlet Macaws courtesy of Emily Ferstle.