Corcovado National Park
Costa Rica's bio rich park on the Osa Peninsula
Parque Nacional Corcovado is one of the world's premier wildlife watching destinations and one of the most biodiverse places in the world.
Parque Nacional Corcovado, or Corcovado National Park, is the highlight of Costa Rica’s National Park’s system and an area with some of the world’s highest biodiversity. The 41,788 hectares park, on the Osa peninsula near the border with Panama. Only Tortuguero and Monteverde can compare to Corcovado in terms of diversity in Costa Rica.
Corcovado National Park: Thepark’s biodiversity is unparallel and was named recently by National Geographic to be the 2nd most biodiverse place in the world. You will find mangrove swamp, jolillo palm groves, montane forest, and coastal beaches. There are more than 400 species of birds (20 endemic), 116 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 139 mammals. The best time to visit is during the dry season of January-April. Gold was found in the streams within the park decades ago and camps of panners, both legal and illegal, can be found in remote corners. It’s best to stay away if you come in to contact with any of them.
Wildlife:
Scarlet macaws - Seen nearly everywhere in the park and their loud squawks can be heard from miles around.
Jaguars and other Big Cats - It is very rare to see a Jaguar, but the possibility does exist. Many say that the area around Sirena is your best chance.
Monkeys - In Corcovado you can see all four types of monkeys found in Costa Rica: Howler, Spider, Squirrel, and White-Face.
Reptiles: snakes are quite common in the park, as are crocodiles, particularly around Corcovado lagoon. You can occasional see sea turtles including the leatherback nesting on Corcovado’s beaches.
Amphibians: Tree frogs, glass frogs, and poison arrow frogs can all be found.
Sharks - Being a coastal park, sharks can sometimes be seen off shore and are even found in the rivers that head inland.
Coati - Sometimes called coatimundi, these raccoon like creatures can be found in large groups all over the park, often digging for crabs near the shore.
Peccaries - These wild forest pigs can be
Tapirs - These nocturnal creatures are best seen digging through your camp ground at night, attracted by the smells of your food.
Hiking
There are two main entrances for hiking in the park. The first is at San Pedrillo, 18 km from DrakeBay. The second is from La Leona near Carate and the more popular route. To get there you can take a private plane to the small runaway in Carate or take a bumpy two hour truck/bus ride from Puerto Jimenez. Both trails meet in the middle and connect with other paths that go to the interior. Many hikers will walk for a few hours from Carate and return in the afternoon to catch a return ride on a bus or taxi. Many will hike into the interior to the ranger station at Sirena, where some of the best wildlife watching is said to be.
Sleeping
-Corcovado Lodge and Tent Camp, run by Costa Rica Expeditions, gets you closest to the park without sacrificing comfort. All rooms are luxury tents just off of and facing the stunning Pacific beach. It’s so close to the park, literally at the entrance, that guests have watched jaguars and their cubs hunt while they take their morning tea.
-Sirena Biological Station: Although basic and simple, this is one of the favorite places to sleep in Costa Rica by many tourists. The reason: the surrounding jungle at night and the abundant wildlife nearly all around you. Make reservations well in advance.
Other: Many lodges line the route between Carate and Puerto Jimenez.
