A few weeks ago, just after the first rains began to arrive, Plaza Danta received a visit that made more than a few people stop in their tracks.
What appeared to be a family of eight howler monkeys was spread throughout the canopy that runs from Pura Vida Ride to Celeste, moving between the branches, resting in the shade, and making themselves very much at home above one of the most active corners of Town.
Visitors paused to take photos and videos, watching as some of the monkeys crossed from tree to tree while others seemed perfectly content to nap among the branches. For many, the highlight was seeing the baby monkeys close to their mothers, holding on nearby while the adults kept a careful eye on everything happening below.
One mother, in particular, caught the attention of several onlookers. She stayed close to her baby and seemed to study the people watching from Plaza Danta, occasionally sending down a very serious look, as if reminding everyone that this was her family outing too.
Visitors paused to take photos and videos, watching as some of the monkeys crossed from tree to tree while others seemed perfectly content to nap among the branches. For many, the highlight was seeing the baby monkeys close to their mothers, especially one who stayed tucked near its mom as she kept a careful eye on everything happening below, occasionally sending down a very serious look toward the people watching from Plaza Danta, as if reminding everyone that this was her family outing too.
These quick moments are part of what makes life in Town feel so closely connected to the surrounding landscape. The trees around Plaza Danta are not only part of the shade and beauty of the plaza, but also part of the pathways used by the wildlife that lives around us. As the rainy season begins to bring new life back into the dry forest, encounters like this become a sweet reminder to look up, slow down, and enjoy the company passing through.