Costa Rican Wildlife Steals Pair's Hearts
By Lori Barber, Special for The Arizona Republic

My husband and I were married in Jamaica and celebrate each anniversary with a special vacation. When America West introduced service to Costa Rica, the decision for last year's adventure was easy.

Costa Rica, which is in Central America, offers rain forests, volcanoes and beaches. We reserved a hotel in the coastal town of Manuel Antonio, about 80 miles from the capital, San José. Hotel La Mariposa is a 56-room, vine-covered paradise nestled in the hills, with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean.

We spent the first day relaxing at the hotel's negative-edge hilltop pool. On the way, we encountered geckos scurrying in the bushes and 2-foot-long iguanas strolling along the paths. As I watched the bartender cut mounds of fresh mango and papaya, I couldn't resist ordering the specialty, rum smoothie. Apparently, I was not the only one watching the bartender. Suddenly, a monkey we spotted earlier in the trees swooped down, grabbed a banana, and raced off.
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The hotel offered several excursions - we selected the half-day mangrove boat tour of Isla Damas. Our guide, Joel, once worked at a bank but didn't like being stuck in an office all day. We boarded the boat along with Joel and his coffee mug; he still enjoys several cups each morning. The tour took us through a series of canals in the estuary, where we saw turtles, snakes, birds, sloths and frogs. A curious group of monkeys ventured over to say hello. Joel "chatted" with his friends by making a variety of animal calls.

Another highlight of the trip was a visit to Manuel Antonio National Park, a tropical forest perched above the ocean that offers kayaking, horseback riding and fishing. We hiked through the park's well-marked trails, past snakes, anteaters and a community of monkeys. The trail ended on a pristine beach, which served as a wonderful place to cool off after the adventure.

There were a variety of restaurants and bars within walking distance of the hotel. Our favorite, Karolas, was nestled in the jungle at the end of a pedestrian bridge. Karolas' specialties include a sinful coconut margarita and a platter overflowing with fresh shrimp, lobster, mussels, ahi and mahi-mahi. One of the most notable bars in town is called El Avion (airplane) because it is built around a real airplane. In 1986, a CIA plane crashed in the jungle and later was abandoned. The plane's interior was redesigned to include a full bar, cozy tables and a sound system.

When I returned to work and grabbed my first cup of coffee I thought of Joel enjoying his coffee in an open-air "office" as he communicated with exotic wildlife along Isla Damas in beautiful Costa Rica.