Positioned in Central America on Costa Rica’s southern Pacific Coast on the Osa Peninsula, throughout the bay from Panama, Corcovado Nationwide Park is the premier wildlife vacation spot in southwest Costa Rica.
Established in 1975, the park encompasses an space of 424 sq. kilometres however holds 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity and over 50% of all of the species in Costa Rica. Nationwide Geographic as soon as proclaimed it as probably the most biologically various locations on Earth, with mangrove swamps, highland cloud forest, a palm forest, and the final old-growth moist forests on the Pacific Coast, amongst different ecosystems.
Having visited the park firsthand, we are able to undoubtedly see the reality in that declare. Corcovado protects a number of the most unbelievable biodiversity within the Osa Peninsula space, Costa Rica itself, and even in Central America.
The abundance of wildlife within the park is second to none. This distant rainforest is residence to tapirs, feline species like jaguars, pumas, ocelots, coatis, and all 4 species of Costa Rican monkeys, together with the white-faced capuchin. Even hammerhead sharks have been noticed within the water, and crocodiles lurk within the Laguna Corcovado. It’s the crown jewel of wildlife viewing in Costa Rica, with an abundance of unique mammals, reptiles, bugs, and birds.
If the thought of untamed trails beneath tall timber full of three-toed sloths and scarlet macaws sounds thrilling to you, it’s good to go to Corcovado Nationwide Park!
This information will cowl every little thing it’s good to find out about visiting Corcovado in Costa Rica.
Corcovado Nationwide Park from above.
How To Get To Corcovado Nationwide Park
The Corcovado Nationwide Park location on the Osa Peninsula could also be distant, however there are a number of methods to get there. Attending to Corcovado Nationwide Park begins from two factors:
From Drake Bay
Many guests to Corcovado Nationwide Park will arrive by way of Drake Bay, which has wonderful entry to San Pedrillo and Sirena Ranger Stations.
The simplest technique to get to Drake Bay from different components of Costa Rica is to fly. You’ll be able to fly into the native airport in beneath an hour from San Jose with one of many small home airways.
You can too drive to get to Drake Bay. The roads may be tough, particularly exterior of the dry season and 4WD is crucial for river crossings.
Public transportation is on the market. You’ll be able to take the bus to Sierpe, the place you’ll should hop on a ship. The boat journey is beautiful, making up for the 6+ hour bus journey!
Views of Corcovado Nationwide Park
From Puerto Jimenez
Like Drake Bay, attending to Puerto Jimenez is most accessible by air. Nature Air and Sansa function every day flights from San Jose Airport that land a couple of minutes from city. Driving circumstances are additionally not one of the best, so that you’ll need 4WD or not less than a automotive with good clearance.
Bus journeys are additionally out there, with two direct routes from San Jose to Puerto Jiménez every day. The journey takes 8-10 hours, with the choice to reach in Golfito as a substitute. Should you arrive in Golfito, you’ll be able to take the ferry to Puerto Jiménez and have entry to Sirena Ranger Station and La Leona.
Oksana and Max in Corcovado Nationwide Park
Finest Time To Go to Corcovado Nationwide Park
Any journey to the Osa Peninsula will doubtless see some rain year-round. Temperatures vary between 21-31 levels Celsius (69.8-87.8 levels Fahrenheit), relying on the time of 12 months.
Wet Season
Might till early December is taken into account the wet season. September-October are the wettest months, with humidity at a frequent 90%. The silver lining is that these quieter months supply nice offers: cheaper journey charges, and fewer crowds suited to wildlife watching! Mud and rainfall are anticipated, so pack the correct climbing sneakers and be ready to trace in doubtlessly muddy circumstances.
If storms and rains are persistent, be careful for flooding from close by rivers. In particularly dire circumstances, the rivers might change into uncrossable, which could put a cease to any plans.
Dry Season
Dry climate is predicted from December to April, with March and April because the driest. There could also be just a few scattered showers right here and there however with much less threat of flooding. The temperature is extra constantly above 27 levels Celsius (80.6 Fahrenheit), which is healthier for in a single day tenting or outside journeys.
Count on extra crowds round this time, with busier trails and extra guests which may not make for one of the best firm whereas wildlife viewing.
Tips on how to Go to Corcovado Nationwide Park
To discover Corcovado Nationwide Park, it’s good to have a native information licensed by the park service, and also you’ll want a allow.
Park Charges & Hours
A tour operator may also help you acquire a allow extra seamlessly, however you can too achieve this by yourself with a little bit of persistence. There are improbable tour operators in Drake Bay, just like the Corcovado Info Centre and Osa Wild in Puerto Jimenez.
Each day entrance to the park prices USD $15 for foreigners. So, if you happen to plan to make an in a single day journey, you’ll must pay $15 every day, on prime of tenting charges. Fortunately, tenting charges are fairly low-cost, at simply USD $4 per evening at San Pedrillo and Sirena Stations.
There are 5 sections within the park with 4 accessible ranger stations. Every has a unique park entrance with vacationer trails alongside the seashore and forests.
Park ranger stations are open every day from 7 AM to 4 PM.
Corcovado Nationwide Park Entrance
Corcovado Nationwide Park path map. Picture by Cellular Maplets.
San Pedrillo Ranger Station
This station has two trails, the Catarata-San Pedrillo path (0.9 miles / 1.5 km) and the Llorona path (4.3 miles / 7 km). This a part of the park is wealthy in distinctive flora however has fewer animals than different sections.
Sirena Ranger Station
The Sirena Ranger Station is the most developed of all of the ranger stations within the park and has useful services for in a single day journeys. There are 20 km (12.5 miles) of trails winding by the forest and alongside the Calor and Sirena Rivers. There are tons of animals round, and at excessive tide, you might even be fortunate sufficient to identify bull sharks and crocodiles.
Sirena Vary Station, Corcovado Nationwide Park
La Leona Ranger Station
This space doesn’t have too many trails, however the seashore is a well-liked spot to see all 4 sea turtle species throughout nesting season.
Los Patos Ranger Station
Although the Los Patos station is just accessible on a multi-day journey, the Los Patos trails are residence to a number of species of monkeys, sloths, and birds like harpy eagles. You’ll be able to enter by the small city of La Palma and see waterfalls, lush forests, and the Rincón River.
El Tigre
The El Tigre sector begins simply exterior of the park and is ideal for a day tour. You received’t discover wild animals like sloths or monkey species right here, however reptiles just like the red-eyed tree frog and snakes are plentiful. The path is a reasonably difficult 7 km (4.3 miles) loop that doesn’t join with the remainder of the park. We advocate exploring the path with an area information who may also help level out birds, unbelievable wildlife, and pure wonders on the path.
Rio Tigre, the gateway to El Tigre path
Excursions in Corcovado Nationwide Park
As Central America’s most biologically intense place, Corcovado Nationwide Park is finest explored on tour.
There are a number of sorts of excursions to choose from in Corcovado Nationwide Park. A day tour is the commonest choice and essentially the most inexpensive, however there are additionally in a single day excursions and multi-day excursions that provide extra time within the park.
For one of the best expertise, you’ll need a tour that’s well-planned and a educated information. We extremely advocate becoming a member of a tour with Corcovado Info Centre in Drake Bay.
Day Excursions
Essentially the most inexpensive choice is the San Pedrillo day tour, which prices USD $100 per particular person and lasts as much as six to seven hours. The tour begins at 6 AM with a ship journey to the park, adopted by two separate walks contained in the park with a break in between. It contains lunch again on the town afterwards.
Day tour to Sirena Ranger Station is one other good choice. The tour prices USD $120 per particular person and lasts six to seven hours. At 6am, a ship will take you into the park, adopted by a 4-hour stroll across the trails at Sirena Station. By the point you get again on the boat round midday, you’ll doubtless have seen a complete host of tapirs, scarlet macaws, sloths, and a spider monkey or two, amongst different wildlife. You’ll get lunch again on the town.
Should you’re feeling up for an extended day and much more strolling, there are additionally a few combo excursions. For $150, you’ll be able to go on the Sirena/San Pedrillo tour or the San Pedrillo/Cano Island tour. There’s a minimal requirement of not less than 4 individuals in each circumstances. The Sirena/San Pedrillo tour begins at 6 AM and lasts about 10 hours. It begins on a ship, adopted by a 5-hour stroll round Sirena, after which one other boat to San Pedrillo Park Ranger Station. You’ll get an opportunity to have a boxed lunch there earlier than occurring one other hike to the waterfall. By the point you get again to city, you’ll doubtless have walked about 15 kilometres.
The San Pedrillo/Cano Island tour begins at 6:30, with a brief boat journey to San Pedrillo, adopted by a 3-hour hike and a picnic lunch. After lunch, you’ll take one other boat to Cano Island and snorkel for about an hour–hold your eyes open for sea turtles, just like the olive ridley–earlier than heading again into city.
Max in Corcovado Nationwide Park
In a single day Excursions
We selected one of many in a single day excursions once we toured Corcovado Nationwide Park, Costa Rica with the Corcovado Info Centre. It was a novel expertise to spend an evening within the park, and we extremely advocate it (extra on that beneath).
There are two choices to select from, every one prices $345. There’s the Sirena In a single day Tour, or the Sirena/San Pedrillo Combo In a single day Tour.
Each choices begin at 6 AM on the primary day by way of boat to Sirena. Each present lunch and dinner on the primary day and breakfast the following morning.
On the Sirena In a single day Tour, you’ll spend the tour getting very properly acquainted with the forests and paths round Sirena Ranger Station, together with a swim on the Rio Claro; be certain to pack a showering go well with and water sneakers. You’ll spend the evening on the ranger station and be again in Drake Bay by round 2 PM on the second day.
Should you go for the Sirena/San Pedrillo In a single day Tour, you’ll spend the primary a part of the day exploring Sirena earlier than boating to the following station. You’ll get to hike to the Corcovado Yard station and attain camp round 4 PM. We advocate that you simply deliver insect repellent with you. You’ll spend the second day climbing, together with a swimming break on the waterfall, earlier than taking a taxi again to Drake Bay. You’ll get again to city a little bit after midday.
Drake Bay
2-Night time Tour
For $565, you’ll be able to go on the Sirena/San Pedrillo 2-night tour. Should you’ve learn this far, you will have a reasonably good concept of the kind of climbing and exploring you’ll be getting.
You’ll begin at 6 AM on the primary day, heading for Sirena Ranger Station. You’ll take a ship to the following station the following afternoon. On the third day, you’ll return to Drake Bay in time for lunch. Whilst you’re on the tour, lunch and dinner will likely be offered for the primary and second days, and breakfast will likely be offered for the second and third days.
Sundown in Corcovado
Our Expertise At Corcovado Nationwide Park, Costa Rica
Day 1 – Sirena Ranger Station
At barely 6:30 am, we have been buzzing with pleasure as we climbed aboard the boat for our hour-long journey to Sirena Station inside Corcovado Nationwide Park, Costa Rica. We have been gearing as much as spend two days with our information, David, from the Corcovado Data Centre.
David defined that we’d by no means discover what we’re hoping to see if we’re on the lookout for it. Nonetheless, Max and I beamed with pleasure in hopes of seeing a puma or an ocelot.
It wasn’t lengthy earlier than all 12 of us have been safely contained in the park. The paths from the seashore veered in 2 completely different instructions and David reminded us once more to be affected person. “If we glance, we received’t discover. Generally it takes hours for us to see the primary animal. You by no means know.”
And with these phrases ingrained in our minds, we adopted David into the park because the solar lit up the seashore. We walked in silence, our eyes peeled on the timber.
Instantly we heard a sound. A well-recognized roar and motion within the timber gave away our first sighting, a gaggle of howler monkeys. We’ve seen howlers many instances earlier than (they hang around on the timber simply exterior of Max’s mother’s home in Playa Avellanas every day), however there was one thing so particular about seeing them within the park.
A couple of meters additional, a household of coatis had claimed their very own tree. David defined that the animals usually work together since all of them grew up collectively on this forest. We had our fingers crossed to see a child monkey and child sloth!
And similar to that, the opposite information yelled out, “Search for! Mother and child sloth!” There was no child monkey beside them, however there was a child sloth! We may solely spot them by the telescope. However, it was the cutest factor we’ve seen within the park.
Over the following few hours, we continued to discover the paths close to Sirena. Our efforts have been rewarded with some child caymans, a sounder of wild pigs/peccaries, a big household of spider monkeys, many extra households of howlers, squirrel monkeys, and many birds.
Simply earlier than lunch, David led us to the river, the place one other group was fortunate to identify a Baird’s Tapir, the largest mammal in all of Costa Rica. The tapir and her child have been napping within the bushes. So, we solely caught a glimpse of them earlier than heading again to the seashore for a little bit lunch break.
We met up with different tour teams and shared a picnic lunch on the seashore. Max used his free time to catch some footage from above with the drone. Surrounded by a crowd of onlookers, we flew alongside the seashore and hovered over the river.
Instantly I perked up once we heard the voice of one other information yelling, “Hey, man with the drone!” I fearful he may ask Max to take it down, however that wasn’t his intention. “Look down!” he yelled, pointing to the place the jungle meets the river.
I adopted his gaze and noticed a Baird’s Tapir meandering out of the bushes. I grabbed the digicam and ran in the direction of him, utilizing my longest zoom to catch him as he approached the ocean. He was not more than 100 m away. I froze in full awe. I couldn’t cease taking a look at him, admiring his distinctive options in fascination. He lingered on the seashore for an additional jiffy and disappeared again into the bushes.
With smiles on our faces, David reminded us, “Should you look, you received’t discover, however if you happen to don’t look, generally the animals discover you.”
“How widespread is it to see a Tapir within the park?” I requested curiously.
“We regularly see them sleeping such as you did at the moment, however strolling alongside the seashore like that….very uncommon. Simply as uncommon as seeing a puma.”
Glad with our time in Sirena, we hopped again into the boat en path to San Pedrillo. It’s our second cease of the day and our tenting spot for the evening.
Our nice information, he’s an area from one of many surrounding communities
Path signal main in the direction of Sirena Ranger Station
Child sloth and mama sloth hanging on a tree in Corcovado Nationwide Park.
Squirrel Monkey
Baird’s Tapir, one of many rarest mammals to see in Corcovado Nationwide Park
Day 1 – San Pedrillo Station
We arrived to two tents arrange proper on the seashore in entrance of the ranger’s station. We took a stroll whereas different boat excursions departed and returned to the rangers station simply in time for sundown. Then, we watched the solar set behind the horizon from the hammocks that hung exterior of our tents, having fun with the explosion of color over the ocean.
After a easy meal, we tucked into our tents, staring up into the starry sky. We fell asleep to the sound of waves crashing on the shore whereas crickets sang and the jungle hummed.
San Pedrillo
Waterfalls in San Pedrillo
Sundown in San Pedrillo
Our lunch at Corcovado Nationwide Park which was offered as a part of the tour
Day 2 – San Pedrillo Station
The subsequent morning we awoke earlier than daybreak and caught the dawn on the seashore a few kilometre away from the ranger station. After one other unsuccessful puma search hike, we boarded the boat again to Drake Bay.
We searched (for the puma), and we didn’t discover it, however it didn’t matter. The expertise of roaming the park and seeing this intrepid nook of Costa Rica up shut was sufficient for us to mark Corcovado Nationwide Park as one in all our favorite spots in all of Costa Rica.
Dawn at San Pedrillo
Puma tracks? Wishful pondering…
The place To Keep In Corcovado Nationwide Park, Costa Rica
Tenting Areas
There may be tenting out there at each San Pedrillo and Sirena Stations. Tenting charges are USD $4 per evening, and guests should deliver their very own gear. Some excursions, like ours with the Corcovado Data Centre, can organize this for you.
Drake Bay
A number of accommodations in Drake Bay make an ideal residence base for exploring Corcovado Nationwide Park.
- Jaguars Jungle Lodge is essentially the most distant rainforest lodge in Costa Rica. The 130-acre beachfront property shares its jungle with Corcovado Nationwide Park, Costa Rica, and so they even have an in-house tour firm able to take you on unique eco-tours. The property has a restaurant with scrumptious selfmade recipes in addition to vegan and vegetarian choices, an unique backyard, jungle trails for wildlife recognizing, and a non-public seashore for fishing, snorkeling, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
- For first-class remedy in a distant location, SCP Corcovado Wilderness Lodge is an efficient alternative. The lodge has a palm-fringed seashore and tropical gardens which are surrounded by 189 acres of pristine rainforest. Their lodging vary from a non-public backyard villa, or a 3-bedroom seashore home, relying in your wants. They’re additionally a part of the Each Keep Does Good program, which companions with a number of organizations worldwide to assist the youth and their communities, in addition to reforestation and coastal clean-up efforts.
Puerto Jimenez
- Cabinas Jimenez, positioned alongside the Gulfo Dulce, is a sustainable property that places you proper on the coronary heart of Puerto Jimenez. Right here, you’ll have nice ocean views in addition to tons of outside adventures to select from reminiscent of whale and dolphin excursions, snorkeling, horseback using, and climbing that may be organized by the property. Every cabina comes with its personal distinctive paintings, and friends can discover the close by space utilizing the free kayaks and bikes. There’s additionally a pool, excellent for enjoyable and having fun with the luxurious surroundings.
- Exterior of city, La Leona Eco Lodge provides friends a novel expertise with tent-cabins that get contemporary ocean breeze and scenic views of the Costa Rican rainforest. They’ve lots of tour packages to select from, and all actions on the lodge think about the surroundings because the property may be very concerned within the conservation, recycling, and preservation of pure sources.
In Corcovado Nationwide Park, probably the most bio-diverse place on the earth
Have you ever ever visited Corcovado Nationwide Park? Which of Costa Rica’s Nationwide Parks are subsequent in your checklist?