ABOUT THE PARK
SERVICES
- Information stand
- Public telephone only in the Sirena sector
- Health services
- Water for consumption
- Showers and toilets
- Food only in the Sirena sector and El Tigre sector, prior reservation.
- Camping area in the San Pedrillo sector, prior reservation
ATTRACTIONS
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San Pedrillo
It consists of the Catarata-San Pedrillo trail (1.5 km), the Llorona trail (7 km), the Pargo upstream and coastal trail (2.5km) and the Marcos Reyes trail.
Sirena
It has local trails (20 km in total) where you can enjoy the Claro River pool. Near the mouth of the Sirena River, during high tide you can see bull sharks and crocodiles.
The Lioness
During the turtle nesting season you can observe the births.
El Tigre
Strong hike (7 km) with viewpoints from some of the highest points of the Park.
Local trails from where you can see the Rincón River, waterfall and forests with tall trees; In addition, it passes near the Guaymí Indigenous Reserve.
DISCOVER THE BIODIVERSITY
Prepare to be astounded as you delve into the remarkable biodiversity of Corcovado National Park, where every step uncovers a fascinating world teeming with rare wildlife, lush vegetation, and captivating ecological wonders, making it a paradise for nature lovers and conservation enthusiasts alike.
Explore the Ecosystems & Attractions
Corcovado National Park is the backpacking experience of a lifetime. It encompasses the only remaining old growth wet forests on the Pacific coast of Central America, and 13 major ecosystems including lowland rain forest, highland cloud forest, jolillo palm forest, and mangrove swamps, as well as coastal marine and beach habitats.
There is a good chance of spotting some of Costa Rica’s shyest and most endangered inhabitants here; Baird’s Tapirs, Jaguars, Scarlet Macaws, Harpy Eagles, Red-backed squirrel monkeys and White-lipped Peccaries. It is wet, remote and rugged, but the trails are relatively good, and the camping areas near the ranger stations are grassy and well drained.
Forests and Wildlife
Lowland rain forest, highland cloud forest, jolillo palm forest, and mangrove swamps, coastal marine, and beach habitats support a spectacular variety of wildlife.
All four of the monkey species (including the highly endangered Red-backed squirrel monkey), and all six of the feline species found in Costa Rica inhabit Corcovado. All four of the sea turtle species that nest in Costa Rica visit the beaches of Corcovado as well.
Over 40 species of frogs including red-eyed tree, rain, glass, dink, and poison arrow varieties, dozens of snakes including a variety of Boas and the dreaded bushmaster, as well as 28 species of lizards. More than 100 species of butterflies and at least 10,000 other insects call the Osa peninsula home (including a few you may wish were endangered).
Corcovado Marine and Bird Wildlife
The waters offshore Corcovado contain 23 marine mammal species, including superpods of spinner dolphins and migrating humpback whales. Bull sharks patrol the coastline, while caimans and crocodiles lounge in local rivers. Four sea turtle species — olive ridley, Pacific green, leatherback, hawksbill — lay their eggs on Corcovado’s beaches at night.
Bird life in Corcovado is also remarkable. In addition to scarlet macaws there are crimson-fronted parakeets, red-lored Amazon parrots, Baird’s trogons and fiery-billed aracaris. All told, there are 10 woodpecker species, 15 tanager species and 20 hummingbird species. Harpy eagles, the largest and most powerful raptors in the Americas, have also been spotted in Corcovado. The park is also home to several endemic bird species, including the yellow-billed cotinga and black-cheeked ant-tanager.
TREKKING AND HIKING
The Osa conservation area administrative headquarters just east of Puerto Jiménez next to the landing strip. Park contact information – Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to noon, and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., phone 2735-5036 -or- 2735-5580, fax 2735-5276). Take a good look a the map because it’s probably the most detailed one you’ll see and they won’t let you take it.
1.
6 Ranger Stations
There are a total of six ranger stations for Corcovado. Five stations are inside the park and two have camping areas, potable water, and radio or telephone contact with the outside world. There is also sometimes space under a roof for your sleeping bag.
2.
Multiple Entry Points
There are several ways to enter Corcovado. Carate is 26 miles (43 km) southwest of Puerto Jiménez along a rocky muddy road that deteriorates from a reasonable gravel surface to a serious 4WD challenge as you round Cabo Matapalo. There are a pulpería for last minute supplies, a campsite with showers and restrooms, and several lodges in the area.
3.
La Leona Ranger Station
From Carate you can enter the park on foot at the La Leona Ranger station (camping sites with an outdoor shower) 1.2 miles (2 km) west along playa Madrigal. Camping sites with restrooms, a hand wash laundry area, and an outdoor shower are available.
4.
Sirena Ranger Station
Sirena ranger station is 9 miles (15 km ) west along the beach. At high tide there are several rock outcroppings that block the way. In addition to camping Sirena has a large old bunk house (renovated in 2016) where you can set up your mosquito net, and roll out your sleeping bag under a roof (reservation required). The airstrip at Sirena is open to charter or private flights with advance notice.
5.
San Pedrillo Ranger Station
From Sirena you can continue mostly along the beach (again only at low tide) to the San Pedrillo ranger station (14 miles, 23 km). Bunks and showers are available in addition to camping (reservation required). Lodges at Drake bay 11 miles (18 km) to the north often arrange entry to the park at San Pedrillo.
6.
Los Patos Ranger Station
From Sirena you can also turn north and inland past Laguna Corcovado and climb towards the cloud forest and Los Patos ranger station (10 miles, 16 km) where there are camp sites, and 12 bunks that are not occupied by rangers (although they are almost always reserved by researchers).
The Los Planes Station and trail are currently closed.
7.
El Tigre Station
The 7 km long trail from the El Tigre station at the end of the Dos Brazos road on the southeast corner of the park was opened to public access late in 2014. Reservations and guide services are required and available from local lodges.
If you are not a seasoned back country traveler & familiar with tropical trekking it’s best to use a professional guide for your own safety.
- Beach hiking in Corcovado is exposed and hot. The tropical sun will put you in the hospital if you don’t respect it.
- There are numerous river crossings on the hikes in Corcovado. Inland, the greatest danger is losing the trail on the other side, or during the rainy season being upended and bruised on the rocks (the water can be waist deep). Along the coast most fords must be at low tide (tide tables are posted at the ranger stations and most lodgings in Puerto Jiménez). Both crocodiles and hammerhead sharks patrol the waters of the estuaries of the Ríos Claro and Sirena. Cross at the shallowest point, as far upstream as possible.
- Riptides are common, Check with rangers before swimming in unknown waters. If you are caught and being towed out to sea, swim parallel to the beach until you are free of the current, then head to shore.
- Corcovado has the largest population of collard and white-lipped peccaries in Costa Rica, they are both endangered and dangerous. They travel in extended family groups of up to 30, and sharp teeth that are normally used to tear through rocky soil and roots while foraging, and will cut through flesh and bone effortlessly. They are not particularly interested in attacking humans, but their eyesight is weak, and they can be very aggressive when startled or if they think you are challenging them. Back off and if you have to climb a tree and wait for them to leave.
- Numerous snakes call Corcovado home, including venomous and constricting varieties. It’s unlikely you’ll be fortunate enough to see them unless you are looking hard, but be careful reaching where you can’t see.
- Mosquitoes and horseflies are constant pests, and spiders rebuild their webs across the trails at an absolutely astonishing rate. Purrujas (no-see-ums) are mosquito’s super evil microscopic twins (not biologically accurate, but the sentiment is valid) that come out on beaches and in marshy areas around dusk. They consider DEET a treat, but thanks go out to C. Baker’s Moon handbook for tipping us off to Avon’s skin so soft. It’s like magic..
- Africanized bees are common. We saw a miniature stampede down the main street of Puerto Jiménez when a group of horses being prepared for a tour group disturbed a hive. Dodging back and forth while running is better than running in a straight line (but don’t trip) and there’s always that Warner Brothers standby of diving in the pond and breathing through a reed until the bees move on, but be warned they are very patient.
“Through the administrative decision number; R-SINAC-ACOSA-D-011-2013 it is official that as of February 1st of 2014, all visitors to Corcovado National Park will be required to be accompanied by a local tour guide”
The only legal way to enter Corcovado is on a group or private tour purchased from a certified operator and accompanied by local guide who has registered in advance with the park service. Freelance guides are not permitted (even if they have ICT certification).
Purchase tours in advance through a travel service, the lodge where you have reservations or in person from a local tour office.
Despite the ominous sounding declaration that violations will be “sanctioned by Article 307 of the Penal Code of Costa Rica which stipulates prison of up to one year.” we spoke with visitors inside the park early in 2016 who were unaccompanied. We were told by these affable scofflaws that it is still possible to purchase permits and camping reservations at the main station in Jiménez in person without producing an accompanying guide or guide permit.
For foreigners entry permits are $15 per day with a two day minimum – so $30 plus $15 for each day after the second.
Big changes arrived at Sirena station in the first half of 2017. Services previously provided by SINAC (the parks service) have been taken over by the Asociación de Desarollo Integral (ADI) of Carate, a nonprofit consortium of local hotel owners tour operators.
- No Camping is allowed. Overnight visitors must reserve a bunk and mosquito net in the bunkhouse ($30 per person per night)
- No Outside food is allowed (no not even a Powerbar). Meals must be purchased at the cafeteria ($20 breakfast, $25 lunch, $25 dinner)
Other places in the park still allow visitors to bring food but please – PACK IT IN PACK IT OUT!
Watermelon rinds are not natural to the rain forest ecosystem. People thinking “oh, it’s natural, it will degrade” then tossing food scraps in the bushes was one of the main motivations for the strict new “no food allowed” regulations at Sirena station.
WHEN TO VISIT
If you will be camping, you probably want to try for the drier months of January through April. If you have the fortitude to withstand afternoon showers and a really good drenching or two, a visit during the rainy season may be rewarded (if you can get to the park…) with empty trails and better wildlife viewing in the absence of the crowds.
GETTING THERE
SCHEDULE AND RATES
• San Pedrillo Sector for a one-day visit from 7:00 am to 01:30 pm.
• La Leona Sector on a one-day visit from 8:00am to 02:30pm.
• Sirena Sector will remain open every day for overnight stays and day visits; for the month of October this sector could close its doors to visitors. (check at the office upon reservation)
• Patos Sector for a one-day visit from 7:00 am to 02:00 pm
• El Tigre Sector from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm, contact the Dos Brazos Association of Río Tigre at 8691- 4545/8988-1885, email: [email protected] , https://www.corcovadoeltigre.com/
- Nationals and residents: ¢1,808.
- Non-resident foreigners: $16.95.
- Camping area: $4.52 (San Pedrillo station)*.
- ¢565 National and resident children (age 2 to 12 years).
- $5.65 Non-resident children (ages 2 to 12)
Important:
RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendations:
- Respect the regulations for public use of the park.
- Respect the park’s visiting hours.
- Be careful of ocean currents and do not swim in the marked danger areas.
- Plants and animals are living beings, do not mistreat or feed them.
- Take care of your belongings.
- Garbage is not part of the natural environment, please remove it from the park
- For the visitor’s comfort, comfortable and easy-drying clothing, closed-toed shoes or rubber boots for hiking, sandals for resting in the station, a hat and sunscreen are recommended.
- The weather conditions in the area are changing, it is the tropical rainforest, take precautions accordingly, you can store your clothes in the backpack in a plastic bag to prevent it from getting wet, Zip closure bags for cell phones, passports and other things. of value to protect them from the rain.
- Because it is an extreme adventure area, a local guide must be hired to hike within the park.
- If you stay overnight in Sirena or San Pedrillo, remember to bring your personal toiletries and sleeping items (camping tent, sheets, towel).
- If they have special medication, don’t forget them.
- Contact guide associations, tour operators and local organizations for advice on hiring guides and tourist services in the area.
- Entering while intoxicated, as well as entering and consuming drugs.
- Picnics are not allowed inside the PNCo, food is not allowed in the Sirena sector.
- Enter with domestic animals or pets.
- The entry of single-use plastic.
- Extract stones, plants or other natural resources from the wild area.
- Travel off trails or areas intended for public use.
- Smoking (Law No. 9028).
- Throw garbage.
- Swim at the Park’s beach, as there are strong currents
- Touching, feeding and harassing animals.
- Night walks
- Enter with weapons