CAHUITA TO SAN JOSE (30/03/09)
The black (although not as black as we had expected) sand of Playa Negra (Spanish for black beach).
Liz is almost the same colour!
There were some strips of jet black sand to slightly justify the name.
A young basilisk.
Cooling off in the Caribbean Sea (or is it the Atlantic now?) what could be better?
We originally planned another day in Puerto Viejo but changed at the last minute to having an extra night in Cahuita. It turned out to be a very good decision (well done Liz). Breakfast after an early start in the incredibly beautiful Cahuita National Park.
Again a mixture of beach and rainforest but much quieter than Manuel Antonio.
Dozens and dozens of leaf cutter ant trails criss crossed the sandy path.
We saw lots of unusual plant species that we had not seen before many of them very beautiful.
We saw lots of these bright blue crabs darting into their holes as we walked.
There are always lots of dragonflies around but they do not often stop long enough for a picture.
At the sandy point of the headland there was sea for almost 180 degrees.
Stopping for lunch we gazed at this outstanding view.
Another outstanding view!
More white faced capuchin monkeys provided us with half an hours entertainment.
This one was extremely brave to the point of chasing Liz with his eyes on her backpack, luckily she managed to fend him off before he got our peanut butter sandwiches (much to Adam´s amusement).
After monkeys it was back to posing on the tropical beach.
These strange plants provided most of the colour (other than green) in the jungle.
Hibiscus flowers are one of our favourite jungle plants.
Cooling off in the sea, combined with the humidity this was probably one of the hottest days we have had.
A basilisk lizard hiding in a bush. This made Adam´s day!
Adam is looking forward to finding larger cousins of this in the Amazon.
Before catching our bus from the end of the 8km trail we stopped for a half an hour rest in the shade.
Liz was happily having a shower when a scream shook the very foundations of Puerto Viejo. Adam thought it was probably another cockroach but turned out to be this 4 inch beauty. Otherwise a fairly uneventful day although thankfully a very short bus journey.
While having our dinner the night before we watched this gekko for a long time having his dinner, taking advantage of the light on our porch attracting lots of insects. However we did not expect him to join us for breakfast too - our breakfast!
After a diet of mosquitoes and moths the gekko had a seemingly unending appetite for fruit yoghurt licked off the end of a spoon. Understandable really...
We went for a pleasant walk through shady woods by the sea.
The path took us to yet more breathtakingly beautiful beaches (yawn). In the foreground are the red roots of a fallen palm tree.
Rather a strangely situated bench. Liz had to watch for incoming waves washing up higher than the seat while she posed for this one.
Having seen lots of monkeys by the sea, here´s one in the sea!
Always happy to escape the crowds.
Enjoying the tranquility of our hut. Check out the sandal stripes ( Liz has a different pattern).
Any excuse for a nap, all this hard work is exhausting.
Half way through our long, hot, two part bus journey. This bus from San Jose to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca in the Caribbean was smarter than most but still didn´t have air conditioning. 
Thousands of Banana plants in a Del Monte plantation. We looked out for the Man from Del Monte but we didn´t see him.
All hot and sweaty after our journey we were pleased to find that we had a very attractive ´cabina´with a porch on which to spend the rest of the afternoon.
We weren´t that optimistic about our visit to Manuel Antonio National Park due to our past record of torrential rain and no animals as a result. However we had bright sunshine all day and within 15 minutes had seen this large green tree frog, usually very difficult to see during the day.
In the distance we saw this 200 pound ( according to one of the tour guides we happened to eavesdrop on) sloth. If it had been half the price we would have bought one!
Liz got this excellent picture of a Howler monkey. They are very difficult to photograph because they very rarely leave the highest branches.
It is no wonder that Manuel Antonio is one of the most visited of Costa Rica´s national parks, beautiful white beaches backed by wildlife filled rainforest.
Whilst sitting having a peanut butter sandwich on the beach this attractive blue crested iguana came over to investigate.
This hermit crab was anxious to escape after Liz released him back onto the beach.
Somewhere in it´s evolutionary history this species of palm decided it was sick of monkeys climbing on it.
Photographs really don´t reflect the beauty and the amazing feeling of being sandwiched between the sea and the jungle.
Bringing "The Force" to the rainforest.
We had heard that Manuel Antonio was one of the few places in the world where you could see monkeys on the beach, but took this with a pinch of salt. However to our amazement a troop of White-Faced Capucins suddenly appeared and allowed up to follow them around for over an hour.
They are very expressive animals, easy to distinguish from oneanother by their faces. This one was looking disapprovingly at some American tourists.
They were obviously very used to being photographed.
Anyone for watermelon?
Thinking what to do next.
This one reminded Liz of her elder sister checking her nails.
At some points we were surrounded on all sides by the monkeys, there must have been at least 20 in the group.
Showing his teeth to the two English tourists, he didn´t realise that Mr Stabbins had left two weeks beforehand. We think they are pretty good considering that he probably never flosses.
Small lizards ran out of our way almost every step we took through the forest.
Patiently photographing another cooperative iguana.
Happy as anything after spending the day following monkeys (look in the trees just above her head).