Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica: Canyoning, Salsa Dancing, & A Catamaran Cruise
20 minute read
(This post includes referral links, which means I may earn a small commission if you use them.)
Table of Contents
Parque Nahomi, Whales and Sloths
DAY 5
La Fortuna was the perfect introduction to the Costa Rica trip; Rancho Margot exposed me to the wonders of organic farming. and marveling at the Arenal volcano and La Fortuna Waterfall left me in awe. Then, with the relaxation of the hot springs and the thrill of whitewater rafting, we were shown what life in Costa Rica is all about.
But that was just the beginning…
Our second stop in Monteverde, the “green mountain,” added its own unique experiences; the El Trapiche farm tour inspired me and was one of my favorite experiences so far. Zip-lines and hanging bridges gave us a breathtaking birds-eye-views of the rainforest, and the night walk tour exposed us to a diverse range of animals – not all of them friendly!
We’ve packed so many activities in just a few days that time itself seems to warp. My new friends and I have grown close to each other, yet each person carves out their own niche in the group dynamic. After all, we’re here for a good time – not a long time!
But this last leg of the trip is the most anticipated. We’re eager to soak up our last days of pura vida, and we can hardly contain our excitement for the catamaran cruise! Costa Rica, literally meaning “Rich Coast” is calling our name as we pile onto the bus headed for Manuel Antonio.
It’s about a four hour drive, so we make a pit stop for food in Jaco. The amazing scenery at this popular surf town offers a sneak peek at what we can expect at our final location.
El Cocal
This modest beachfront community has just a single road through the middle of town, and as we walk a few minutes to our host’s house, we see chickens and children playing in the street.
Bracelets
The hosts welcome us and seat us at two tables where they’ve prepared us for bracelet-making. We each take a wooden block with three pieces of string loosely hanging from a nail at the top. They show us a weaving pattern to make the bracelets, and once people get the hang of it, she starts a competition to see who can make their bracelet the fastest.
I’m not competing though – I’m just trying to make sure I have something to tie around my wrist at the end! Isabelle and Maria try helping me out, but it’s a lost cause…
Making and selling these bracelets is a form of income for our hosts, where they charge anywhere from $2 to $10 per bracelet. With our bracelets (mostly) together, they help us tie our new creations around our wrist. Then we get ready for a snack — empanadas.
Empanadas
To make the empanadas, we first mix masa harina (corn flour) and agua together with a pinch of salt. Angel and Isabelle, the winners of the bracelet-making contest, hand-mix everything together until the dough reaches the right consistency. Then, small pieces of it are passed out to everyone on small plastic circles cut out from the packaging.
I carefully smooth out the dough into a flat circle, careful to keep it a consistent thickness. For filling, we place a dollop of ground-up black beans in the center, and with the help of the plastic circle, we fold the empanada in half. To finish it off, I seal the edges with a toothpick and write my name on top.
I pass off my empanada to the gentleman tending the skillet with hot oil, and I'm given a sense of home-away-from-home. Meanwhile, we’ve just been greeted by some visitors! The house pets – their chickens – are immediately picked up and lovingly held. They look startled (luckily they’re not a part of this meal!) but Grace and Angel reassure them.
Once the empanadas are ready, they call out our names and serve them to us on banana leaves. The ingredients are simple yet soulful, and I’m grateful for the home-cooked meal. But the sun is falling, so with empanadas eaten, we wave to our hosts “¡Gracias! ¡Adiós!” and head back to the bus.
Simple Living
As we walk back in the pouring rain, I can’t help but feel inspired by El Cocal’s simple way of living. Amenities are few, but the quality of life is rich – a tight-knit community, fresh fruit, shared meals, opportunities for growth, the beach just steps away from your front door. What more could someone need?
In contrast, is American society not crumbling under its materialistic ways of life? Depression and anxiety at all-time highs, doom-scrolling for ever-diminishing hits of dopamine, corruption at every level of government, and romantic relationships at historic lows. It’s an epidemic nobody can seem to figure out.
I believe the answer isn’t found outside – it’s found within. Humans aren’t designed to consume — we’re designed to create. But how?
It begins by reclaiming your power and directing it inward. Spread love and kindness to yourself and others. Find something you’re passionate about that makes you feel alive. Discover what makes you truly happy and grateful to wake up every morning, day after day after day.
Consumption is cheap and fleeting, always leaving you empty and wanting for more. In an overwhelming world full of physical stimulants, mental distractions, and spiritual diversions, reclaiming your energy is an act of rebellion.
At least that’s what I believe. And as we stop at El Malecón Quepeño (the Quepos Boardwalk) we watch Mother Earth create it’s own work of art — a sunset over the Pacific ocean, something we can all finally check off our bucket-lists.
Manuel Antonio
At last we arrive at the Karahe Hotel, our (almost) beachfront property. Waiting in the parking lot, I point upward and say to Zach “It’d be cool if we got one of those rooms with a balcony.”
Not a few seconds later, Daya hands us the keys to room 203, the exact room we were just looking at! We drop off our bags in our new home and waste no time running down to the beach for our first taste of the salty ocean.
With some beach time squeezed into the night, we retreat back to the hotel room. Stepping into the shower, I realize I forgot my Ground Yourself comb at Hotel Historias! The wooden, minimalist, travel-friendly comb now has a new home in Costa Rica.
DAY 6
Today is the day of the much anticipated catamaran! But conditions aren’t looking great… it rains on Zach and I as we walk to the hotel restaurant for food. It’s a typical breakfast of gallo pinto: rice, black beans, plus fried plantains, queso fresco (cheese), fresh fruit, fruit juice and coffee.
Then, with rain still coming down, we hop onto the bus on our way to the catamaran dock.
We’ve been trying to play music from our phones on the bus, so yesterday someone bought an aux cord. I was talking smack on iPhones without an aux port earlier, but since everyone now knows my Galaxy S10 has one, they’re ready for me to plug in!
I post the Spotify link in the group chat and we all queue up our favorite songs. When the list runs out, Grace takes over as the resident DJ of the bus – EDM being our favorite. The sky doesn’t look promising, but we refuse to let the weather get us down, singing the whole way to the dock.
We wait out the storm for a little bit, but citing unsafe conditions, the catamaran captain reschedules the boat ride for tomorrow afternoon.
Initially it’s disappointing, but thinking about it longer, it’s for the best; a catamaran ride on the evening of our last day sure beats this rainy morning at 9 am!
Parque Nahomi, Whales, and Sloths
With the biggest shake-up of plans the whole trip, we head to nearby Parque Nahomi to check out the view. It’s a small park, but as we walk to the far end, someone spots a whale. I’m a little skeptical at first, but as I look out a hundred yards from the shore, I can see it!
Breaking the surface of the water is a humpback whale and its baby! Daya tells us that humpback whales migrate to Costa Rica to give birth, where warm waters help their calves maintain body heat. It’s my first time seeing a whale in the wild, and it’s a reminder of the vibrancy and diversity of life that exists here in Costa Rica.
Danielle, a whale enthusiast, says she once took a whale-watching trip and saw nothing. She says this unexpected whale spotting has made her entire trip!
With some free time to spend, we get back to the hotel and head straight for the beach. But as we walk past the restaurant, a worker flags us down — there’s a sloth in a coconut tree! He’s just 20 feet overhead, and everyone crowds around to snap a picture of the sleeping brown blob.
It continues to rain (it is the rainy season!), but that doesn’t matter once I’m body-surfing the waves. The raw power of mother nature requires full awareness of the present moment – the big waves can be dangerous if you’re not paying attention! We had lifeguards come up to us more than once emphasizing caution and safety to the ocean’s riptides, ripcurls, and most surprising, crocodiles!
Quepos Farmer’s Market
After our short dose of ocean-time, Randall drives a crew to the Quepos Farmers Market. We take only a few steps off the bus before we witness monkeys jumping around the tents, snatching bananas from the vendors!
The troop of mono tití (squirrel monkeys) are right along the edge of the forest – looking up, I see thirty more climbing the trees overhead. One of the vendors seems to be feeding the monkeys to attract attention, but Daya says high-sugar fruits (like bananas) can give monkeys metabolic and health disorders.
I’m not big on consuming, but as we walk around the market, I try looking for a way to support the local community. Grace and I split a mango, and around the corner, a $3 handmade hacky sack catches my glance.
Manuel Antonio National Park
We jump back on the bus and pick up the rest of the crew to visit the most famous park in Costa Rica — Manuel Antonio National Park. Walking to the entrance, we pass lines of tables selling souvenirs – it’s clearly a touristy area.
Zach (who skipped the farmer’s market and stayed at the pool with Sophia and Michael) is a few drinks ahead of the rest of us. He’s tempted for a look at the souvenir tables, but the park closes sooner than we thought, so we must push on. Once Daya scans all our admission tickets, we speedwalk 15 minutes to Manuel Antonio Beach.
We run across the beach to swim in the natural cove – but as soon as we begin to relax, the park rangers are reeling us back in. To maintain safety and give the wildlife a break, they clear the water at 3 pm and close the park at 4 pm. Walking back, we hear whooping noises, which can only be one thing – howler monkeys!
Most of the group makes it back to the front gate, but a few are scattered elsewhere. Looking around, I spy a man with a machete and a pile of coconuts. The street vendor chops off the top of a coconut, sticks a straw in it, and sells it for $2. I love it! It’s an unexpectedly hydrating and delicious treat, and I convince Maria to get one too.
But wait – there’s more!
Once we drink the coconut water, we take our coconuts back to the machete-wielding man. He chops them in half, slices a piece off the hull to be our “spoon”, and we scoop out the bonus treat inside – the coconut meat.
Beach Time
For the first time this trip we have a few hours with nothing planned – except for going to the beach of course! The morning clouds have cleared, and the sun is calling everyone to come outside, including the monkeys!
As we walk to the beach, we receive a different type of warning, this time from a waiter; don’t let the monkeys steal the pineapples from your piña coladas! As we’d soon find out, los monos cara blanca (white-faced monkeys) are a different species than the ones at the farmer’s market, but just as mischievous!
Taking time to look the sand, I notice a mix of white and black particles shining a soft, silvery smooth color that stretches across the whole beach. We take pictures and videos, body surf some more waves, and we finally enjoy some much-needed down time.
The sun begins to set, and if you’re at the beach for the next hour, you’re in for a real treat!
Everywhere I look, people are soaking up the natural splendor, and every minute holds something new and wonderful for this ever-changing work of art.
As I bask in the golden sunlight, the warm salty air filling my body, I can’t help but think I only have one more day left in this beautiful country. I desperately wish to freeze time, but I can only witness this precious moment as it ceaselessly marches on. I smile, grateful for the opportunity to be a part of life on Earth.
Ground YourselF
My time spent barefoot at the beach watching the sunset isn’t only relaxing – it’s healing.
Your body generates electrical energy through physical motion and mental emotion, and Mother Earth acts as your “ground” (GND) by absorbing this excess electricity.
But when you’re constantly insulated by rubber-soled shoes, that energy has nowhere to go. Overthinking, emotional burn-out, physical fatigue, and poor sleep are just a few symptoms of being disconnected from the Earth.
To me though, grounding is more than just the physical exchange of ions with the earth…
It’s taking one second to marvel at the nature that surrounds you.
It’s creating s p a c e to breathe deeply and live happily.
It’s giving thanks for life as it is.
It’s trusting that everything is unfolding according to a divine plan.
In a lost, tired, and ungrounded society, the real revolution is to Ground Yourself.
Use code GROUNDYOURSELF to get 10% off your own pair of EarthRunner grounding shoes and re-connect to Mother Earth.
Salsa Dancing
Eventually the sky gets dark and grey, and one by one the beach-goers clear out. For our group, it’s almost time for our next activity – salsa dancing! We assemble at the open-air restaurant and clear the tables to make room.
First the instructor teaches us Costa Rican cumbia. I get it down fairly quick, and once we’re told to pair up, Maria (who’s better at dancing than me!) calls out my name! It only takes a second or so for us to sync up, and we’re having a great time – turns out, dancing is fun when you know what you’re doing!
The instructor has everyone go solo again to learn a few more dances, but when we go to pair up again, he separates Maria and I to help those still learning.
At the end of class, we take an (interesting) group picture. My shirt is soaked with sweat, but there’s a smile on my face for the whole two-hour lesson.
Once I finally reach my bed, I sleep like a baby.
We’ve had some incredible memories so far, but with tomorrow being the most anticipated part of the trip since Day 1 – the catamaran – it could surpass them all!
DAY 7
Quepo Canyoning
This morning, after breakfast, we start our day by driving to the Quepo Canyoning Operations Site. We meet our guides Alex, Chino and Junior, and begin suiting up with zip-lining gear.
We jump back on the bus for a few minutes until we reach the end of a dirt road. I look ahead, but there’s no clear path to where we’re going. We follow Alex to a small creek, where he plops right in and starts walking downstream! My shoes instantly become soaked – good thing it’s our last day!
We emerge from the shallow stream after a minute of walking through the water, and soon we’re climbing up a ladder into the canopy of the trees. Standing at the top of the platform, we realize there’s a huge Northern Tree Boa just a few feet away from us! He’s draped over the branches in traditional fashion, and he’s at least six feet long.
Here we prepare for the first zip-line. Although it’s our second time zip-lining in just a few days, they’re two completely different experiences. Treetopia felt more structured and “safe,” and we were way up in the air. This time we’re in the trees, zipping in and out of the canopies – a few times at the mercy of our own capabilities!
Waterfall Rappel
After a few zip-lines we arrive at the main attraction – the waterfall rappel. Seventy five feet high, it’s much smaller than La Fortuna Waterfall, but still gorgeous nonetheless. Grace loves an adrenaline rush, so she goes down first. They float her over to the top of the waterfall on the cable, then she uses the rope in her hands to gently bounce her way down.
Alex tells me she hit the perfect line going down, and since I’m next, I try copying her path to get the fullest waterfall rappelling experience.
Poised at the top of the waterfall, I slowly bounce my way down the slippery rock face. Despite the water crashing all around, I try to take my time and soak up as much of the descent as possible. Finally I splash into the pool below, and Junior helps me get my bearings at the bottom of the waterfall.
At the bottom, a poison dart frog cheers us on.
As I watch the others descend the waterfall, I bask in this serene space, feeling nostalgia for a place I haven’t even left yet.
With everyone successfully rappelled, we take a quick snack break for some fresh fruit and crackers before heading to the next zip line. We hook in again, but this time, it’s our gloved-hands that are in charge of slowing ourselves down! I like this part since it gives us more control over our zip-lining experience – but also because I like going fast.
But before Quepo Canyoning ends, we have one more adrenaline rush – a monkey drop! This one is 50 feet up from another small pool, and it’s much less intimidating than the one in Monteverde. Sam was pretty nervous about the whole experience – between the zip-lining, waterfall rappel, and the monkey drop – but she manages to make it out alive!
Back at the operations site, we receive lunch and talk about our favorite parts. We look through all the pictures taken on our extravaganza and purchase the picture package for everyone to share.
We bid farewell to our guides Alex, Chino and Junior, and hit the road again.
Calm Before the storm
Back at the Karahe Hotel, we waste no time heading straight for the beach. It’s sunny out again, and with the catamaran coming up soon, it’s looking like the weather might hold out for us!
There’s a bunch of activity on the beach today, and various vendors are setting up to sell their creations. I spot a gentleman rolling a cart full of coconuts on the beach, and in anticipation of a few drinks on the catamaran, I order two coconuts this time. The hydration is unbeatable, and the coconut meat is the perfect snack for what lies ahead.
Finally, the moment we’ve all been waiting for- it’s time for the catamaran! We jump on the bus and jam out to our favorite hype-up songs. As Randall drives us up to the dock, we spy clouds lingering on the horizon – but it’s sunny now, and life is good.
CatamaraN Cruise
Carrying the energy from the bus, we step onto the boat and bust out dance moves before we even pull away from the dock. We joke that Daya booked out the whole catamaran for us – at least it feels that way with less than twenty people aboard the 100 person boat!
Everything’s going great, including the weather, as we order drinks and patrol out to sea. Usually there’s a four-drink minimum for the four-hour ride, but considering our group’s size, they tell us there’s no limit today. Bottoms up!
Suddenly, after only a few minutes on the water, the music dies down... Someone spots a whale! Danielle rushes to the railing, eager to experience another whale sighting, and I see Angel on the top deck gaining a higher viewpoint.
Lo and behold, we look out across the water and witness humpback whales for the second time this trip!
Once it seems like they’ve swam away, we crank the music back up, getting right back to where we left off.
Patrolling around Isla Luana and other rock formations, I’m enamored at the Jurassic Park vibes of the raw, untamed tropical coast.
Finally we motor over to a cove just outside Biesanz Beach, where we can hardly wait to drop anchor and jump into the warm water.
We do tricks off the top deck, go down the slide head-first, and someone throws a floating mat in the water for us to lounge around on.
We’re having an absolute blast, the vibes are immaculate, and we’re all living our best lives.
Eventually the sun begins to set, so we emerge from the cove waters to head back to the dock. Grace points out that our generous catamaran hosts had us for an extra hour!
Our final moments of daylight are ethereal – as we step off the boat, the sun lights up the sky with a soft orange glow, just before it falls beyond the horizon. It’s symbolic of my amazing time with these former strangers, now good friends, and our shared experiences in Costa Rica.
Trip of a Lifetime
Costa Rica is a must-visit travel destination, and I’m happy to have experienced it in good company. I could’ve done the trip by myself, but I believe happiness is best when it’s shared…
Whether it’s standing in the pouring rain with Zach at La Fortuna Waterfall, going out on the town in Monteverde on a Tuesday night, or dancing cumbia with Maria, sharing smiles and laughter is what humans are made for, and I’ll never forget the group or our unbelievable experiences.
I’m especially grateful to U30X for outlining the trip and appointing Daya to lead us along the way! The activities were engaging, sustainably-oriented, and perfect for a young group of people to experience a foreign country.
Despite the wide range of personalities, Daya did an awesome job rallying the troops together and making sure we got to experience everything we wanted to do.
We jam-packed as many activities into the trip as we could, each one peeling back a new layer of what life in Costa Rica is all about. The whole trip absolutely could not have turned out better, and it’s left me blown away.
Despite the rainy season weather and the catamaran rescheduling, among other small nuances, it felt like a higher power watched over us the whole time. The only thing we had to do was keep a positive attitude and be grateful, and every single time the circumstances worked out in our favor.
Final Thoughts
Costa Rica isn’t considered rich in man-made objects, but they’re rich in spirit and passion for life. The people are caring towards one another and to nature, and it was shown to us at every step of our journey.
I wore my Ground Yourself shirts to spread the word, but with Pura Vida as the country’s motto, it’s nothing new to Ticos!
This trip has set a new precedent for me, and now serves as a foundational building block for more exotic adventures to come. I brought back very little in terms of material goods, but I’m happy to say I found the pura vida experience I was looking for!
If you made it here, thank you! I loved spending countless hours detailing my week-long journey in Costa Rica, and I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about my greatest adventure yet!
I know it won’t be my last time in Costa Rica, but until next time…
¡Pura Vida!
Follow me on Instagram:
