The first natural protected area in Costa Rica was Cabo Blanco on the Nicoya Peninsula in western Costa Rica. This preserve was established by true nature pioneers Nicolas Wessburg and Karen Morgensen in 1963.
Nicolas Wessburg was assassinated in 1975 while he was supporting the creation of what is generally regarded as the top dog of national parks in Costa Rica, Corcovado on the Peninsula de Osa.
Karen and “Olof” now rest at the original site of their homestead in Montezuma, Costa Rica marked by a beachfront plaque where they are remembered and lovingly praised for their conservation efforts by locals.
Despite pressure by developers to continue building tourist destinations and additional services in Costa Rica, the legacy of Karen and Nicolas lives in a staggering number of national parks, regional parks and privately owned nature reserves and “fincas” or farms.
One of the most beautiful and frequently visited park is Manuel Antonio. This park is just outside of the town of Quepos and has seen some development of a tourist village next to the park entrance.
You can see a few different critters in Manuel Antonio. From the very small like this hermit crab wandering around his large sand landscape.
To a little larger…
This agouti was wandering around the park on one of the beautifully canopy covered trails that weave throughout the park area.
After the park closed and the majority of visitors left, we did find a couple of raccoons scavenging for anything previously unwanted.
White faced capuchin monkeys and this spider monkey walked, jumped and climbed the endless canopy of what must seem like a great green ocean from their perspective.
By far the highlight for me was this three-toed sloth and little sloth hanging on for a ride.
Sloths are interesting creatures. Besides moving slowly they actually digest slowly as well allowing them to keep to the safety of the tree tops for about a week. When they have to make a number two, they descend from safety and dig a hole, the only time they are vulnerable to predators.
Costa Rica supports habitat for both two and three toed varieties however my toes have slightly shorter claws though I have ten.