How to Visit Corcovado National Park – The Most Biodiverse Place in Costa Rica
This post covers how to visit Corcovado National Park, the largest national park in Costa Rica, the best wildlife experience in the country and one of the most biodiverse places on earth. We’ll cover information about the park, how to access it, what a tour typically entails, information on day v night tours, what to bring and more.
This article may contain affiliate / compensated links, that may earn me a small commission, at no extra cost to you. For full information, please see our disclaimer here. While all efforts have been taken to ensure the information included in this post is correct and current, travel information such as opening hours, business operations and prices change frequently. If you find anything in this post that is incorrect or outdated please let me know in the comments so I can update it for other readers.
About Corcovado National Park
Corcovado National Park is Costa Rica’s largest and wildest national park. Covering a third of the Osa Peninsula in the country’s southwestern corner, Corcovado is Costa Rica unplugged. The best place in the country to spot wildlife, birds and all kinds of flora, Corcovado is a must-visit for intrepid adventurers.
I promised myself I wouldn’t start this blog with the overused quote from National Geographic, but honestly, there’s no better way to illustrate the immense ecological value of this protected area. The famous magazine labelled Corcovado as ‘the most biologically intense place on Earth’. Covering just 0.0001% of the surface area of the planet, Corcovado is home to an astounding 3% of its biodiversity. Let that sink in for a little while.
This exotic and untamed area attracts wildlife lovers, avid hikers and seekers of the untouched from all over the world, and is one of Costa Rica’s premier nature experiences. Corcovado is accessible from one of two main tourist hubs on the Osa Peninsula – Drake Bay or Puerto Jimenez. The park features five different ranger stations for visitors to access and experience the wonders of the area.
This post covers all the logistics and planning information you need to know when you visit Corcovado National Park. It’s detailed and fact orientated and will have you feeling prepared, but possibly not that excited…
If you’re looking to learn more about what you can expect from a visit to Corcovado National Park, and get inspired and excited, check out our post recounting our experience staying overnight at the Sirena Ranger Station. I don’t usually write story-style posts, but our time in Corcovado was something I never want to forget. Read that post here.
Why visit Corcovado National Park?
If you’re not already convinced why to visit Corcovado National Park, let me elaborate some more!
There is nowhere else in Costa Rica with such a rich and concentrated variety of wildlife and flora, full stop. If you came to Costa Rica in the hope of spotting some of its unique animals, Corcovado is without a doubt the best place to do this.
Whilst there are other nature-based and wildlife experiences around the country, nowhere remains as wild and untouched as Corcovado National Park. Its remote location means it has remained free from development, and its strict capacity limits mean it never feels overrun like some other popular national parks. Visiting Corcovado gives you a chance to observe pristine nature and wildlife in a genuinely natural state, without any human intervention.
Wildlife you might see at Corcovado National Park
There are no guarantees on what wildlife you will see when you visit Corcovado National Park. Although you may secretly be hoping to catch a glimpse at a certain species (I definitely was!), remain open-minded and be excited by whatever you encounter. They are wild after all, and that’s what makes sightings even more special.
But it is impossible to visit Corcovado National Park and not see any wildlife, given the immense biodiversity of the area. Your experienced guide will seemingly have eyes in the back of their heads, pointing out animals you never would have found on your own. Guides carry telescopes on tripods and binoculars, so you can get a really close-up look at any wildlife.
The list of animals you might see is endless, and I honestly lost track of writing down everything that we saw during our time in the park. This 424 square kilometres (164 sq mi) area hosts 13 different ecosystems and the largest section of primary rainforest on the American Pacific coastline. It’s no wonder so many animals call Corcovado National Park home.
- 🐒 Corcovado is home to all four of Costa Rica’s species of monkey. The howler, squirrel, spider and white-faced capuchin monkeys can all be seen inside the park. The likelihood of spotting all four species is high, and we saw all of them many times.
- 🐆 Less likely to be spotted, but present nevertheless are a number of big cats, including jaguars, pumas and ocelots. Sightings are incredibly rare (as in once in a decade kind of thing), but we were lucky enough to see a paw print in the sand when we were leaving the park. The cats are definitely around, but their nocturnal and stealthy nature makes it virtually impossible to see them.
- 🦥 Basically all of the mammals visitors hope to see in Costa Rica can be seen inside Corcovado National Park. Two and three-toed sloths, multiple species of anteaters, the rare Baird’s Tapir, coatis, and two species of peccary are frequently sighted, and we were lucky enough to see all of these animals!
- 🦜 There are over 350 species of birds in and around the park, of all shapes, colours and sizes. Hummingbirds, toucans, woodpeckers, macaws, owls, hawks and eagles are just a handful of feathered friends you might spot when you visit Corcovado National Park.
- 🐢 The waters around the park are home to all four species of sea turtle that nest in Costa Rica, dolphins, whales in season and bull sharks. The rivers host crocodiles and caimans.
Read about all the wildlife we spotted on our overnight tour here
How to visit Corcovado National Park
Now you know why you need to visit Corcovado National Park, and all the amazing wildlife you can expect to see there, let’s jump into the logistics of how to visit Corcovado National Park. It’s not that straightforward and requires a lot of careful planning and preparation.
Visiting Corcovado National Park must be done with a certified local guide. You cannot enter the park without one. Whilst this may seem strict at first, once you have been inside Corcovado, experienced the intense diversity of wildlife and seen how dense the forest is, you’ll understand the requirement for a guide. Plus, it helps to protect the park and ensure visitors are not misbehaving or causing any damage. Your guide will have a telescope and a set of binoculars, as well as laser vision for spotting wildlife, so I promise they are an asset to your Corcovado experience.
Each visitor must have a national park permit, and there are caps on visitor numbers during the day (330), with limits applied to each station, and for overnight stays (maximum 80 people).
Joining a tour from nearby Drake Bay or Puerto Jimenez is the best (really the only) way to visit Corcovado National Park. The tour companies take care of the permits with the national parks authority, as well as all the other elements (guide, transport, meals, accommodation for overnight stays etc.).
It could be possible to DIY organise all the individual elements required to visit Corcovado National Park, but you would honestly save little to no money, and add a whole lot of stress. The permit system for the park is complicated, and coordinating all the stakeholders involved (local boatmen, the kitchen at the ranger station, guides etc.) is far too stressful for little reward. The local tour companies work like a well-oiled machine, and it is recommended you book with an experienced, knowledgeable operator.
In the following sections, we’ll try and simplify the process and explain how to visit Corcovado National Park, covering:
- 🗓️ When to visit Corcovado National Park
- 📍 Choosing your access hub – Drake Bay v Puerto Jimenez
- 🚤 How to get to the park itself
- 🐒 Ranger stations inside the park
- 🥾 Tour operators
- 🛏️ Day v night tours
- 🎒 What to bring
💡 IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW WHEN YOU VISIT CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK
I know there is a lot of information to absorb when planning to visit Corcovado National Park, so here is a quick summary of the most pertinent points before I drill down further…
- You first need to get to Drake Bay or Puerto Jimenez – these are the two most common access points to the park, and due to the remote location of the Osa Peninsula, you’ll want to spend a couple of days in either of these towns before you visit Corcovado National Park.
- You must go with a guide – you can’t enter the park without one. The best way to organise a guide is to book a tour with a reputable agency in Drake Bay or Puerto Jimenez.
- You need a permit – your tour company will take care of this permit for you, but you do need to remember that this is an important part of the process.
- Numbers are capped – the permit system limits visitor numbers each day, with allocations spread out across the different ranger stations.
- Book in advance – because you need a permit and because numbers are capped, you need to remember to book your tour in advance. In high season, you should be booking months in advance if possible, especially if you want to stay overnight. If your plans are more fluid and you’re happy to take a chance on availability, just be sure to at least have the tour booked two days in advance, as permits can only be issued during business hours, and your tour operator acts as a middle man between you and the national park agency, so it takes time.
- You can only stay overnight at Sirena Ranger Station – if you want to visit overnight (the best experience!) this can only be done at Sirena Ranger Station.
- Sirena Ranger Station is closed in October – being the peak of the wet season. This is usually one of the wettest months, and the trails are washed out and muddy after months of rain.
When to visit Corcovado National Park
Corcovado National Park and the Osa Peninsula generally follows the same wet and dry season as the rest of Costa Rica. Although being such a lush and tropical place, rain is common year-round, and the dry season is a little shorter than in other areas.
The November – April dry season is considered the best time to visit Corcovado National Park. You will have less chance of rain, with lower humidity and the trails will be less muddy.
May – October is the wet season, and whilst this may not sound appealing, it can often be a good time for wildlife spotting. The early wet season, before the rains start in earnest, is a great time to visit as the temperatures cool after rain, and many animals (such as Tapirs) appreciate a wet, moist environment. We visited at the end of May and got incredibly lucky to have no rain whilst we were inside the park, but recent rain meant there were plenty of animals out and about, and the temperatures were quite mild considering the location.
If you are visiting for a more intense hiking experience, the wet season can make things complicated and occasionally dangerous. Many routes require river crossings, which swell and often become impassable in the wet season. Even reaching the park can become challenging, with roads to Los Patos Station becoming impassable and requiring an additional 5 km / 3.1 mi hike from the nearby town of La Palma.
It’s important to note that Sirena Ranger Station closes in October due to intense rains, and muddy, damaged trails after consecutive months of rain. I wouldn’t attempt to visit Corcovado National Park after July or August as the chance of heavy and continuous rains is high, and could easily ruin your experience.
The park itself is open daily from 7 am – 4 pm, but this isn’t something you need to worry about, being on an organised tour.
Accessing Corcovado National Park
Which access point to choose – Drake Bay v Puerto Jimenez?
Accessing Corcovado National Park is not as straightforward as jumping in the car or on the bus, and pulling up in the parking lot. There is no road access and no accommodations and it takes a lot of careful planning.
There are two main ‘hubs’ on the Osa Peninsula, from which to access the park – Drake Bay and Puerto Jimenez. No matter which town you choose, it will likely be an all-day journey to get there from anywhere else in Costa Rica.
Drake Bay – situated on the western side of the Osa Peninsula, this small beach town is difficult to reach, and as a result, has retained a remote feel. Despite its location, there are enough tourist amenities here to keep even luxury travellers happy, with accommodations for all budgets, a handful of restaurants and plenty of tour operators. In addition to being a great jump-off point for Corcovado, Drake Bay has a handful of stunning empty beaches, a gorgeous (and free!) coastal trail, and access to Caño Island, Costa Rica’s best snorkelling and scuba diving destination. This is the access point we chose, and we have a comprehensive Drake Bay travel guide.
- ✈️ By air – unnecessary, unsustainable but possible, there is a small airport in Drake Bay with multiple daily flights from San Jose with Sansa Air. The flight takes less than an hour.
- 🚌 By public transport – you first need to take a bus to Palmar Norte (you may get lucky and find a direct bus to Sierpe depending on your origin, but these are less frequent). There are daily direct buses from San Jose, as well as from a number of other destinations along the Costanera Sur highway on the Pacific Coast (e.g. Dominical, Uvita). From Palmar Norte, you need to get to the town of Sierpe (by taxi if you’re in a hurry, by bus if you’ve got time) to take a boat through the mangroves to Drake Bay. There are two boat departures per day, 11:30 am and 4:00 pm, so plan accordingly. Boats depart from La Perla del Sur.
- 🚙 By car (not 4×4) – driving to Drake Bay is possible without a 4×4. Road upgrades and bridge installations mean that there are no longer any river crossings required to reach the town. However, once you turn off Route 245 (which carries on to Puerto Jimenez), the road is dirt for over an hour. It can get muddy and slippery and washed out in the rainy season, and if you’re worried about your rental agreement, best not to risk it. In this case, drive yourself to Sierpe, pay for secure parking at La Perla del Sur, and jump on a boat to Drake Bay.
- 🛻 By car (4×4) – if you’re travelling Costa Rica with a 4×4 as we were, just pop Drake Bay in your map and off you go! As mentioned above, the final hour of the drive is on a dirt road, and once you arrive in Drake Bay, all roads are unpaved. But with a 4×4, you’ll be completely fine to drive the entire way, and no river crossings are required.
Puerto Jimenez – the largest town on the Osa Peninsula still isn’t that big, but with paved roads leading the entire way, it is a busier hub town. Situated on the eastern side of the Osa Peninsula, Puerto Jimenez sits on the Golfo Dulce (Sweet Gulf), offering a different kind of landscape. We didn’t visit it ourselves, but from what we’ve read, it has a bit more of a commercial feel.
Getting to Puerto Jimenez
- ✈️ By air – Puerto Jimenez is also connected to San Jose with daily flights by Sansa Air, also taking less than an hour.
- 🚌 By public transport – there are direct daily buses to Puerto Jimenez from San Jose. If you’re coming from elsewhere along the coast (e.g. Dominical, Uvita), you may need to change buses in Palmar Norte.
- 🚙 By car – the road to Puerto Jimenez is paved the entire way, so no matter what car you’re driving, you can reach the town in all weather. Once you arrive, road quality does deteriorate as you get closer to the park, but this won’t be a problem for most people, and tour operators offer 4×4 transport if you’re entering the park via one of the land access stations.
It is possible to get even closer to the park on the eastern side of the peninsula. From Puerto Jimenez, you may choose to travel even further and base yourself in Carate or Dos Brazos, which are the closest jump-off points to the La Leona and Rio Tigre stations respectively. Both these ‘towns’ have a number of nature-based accommodations on offer, and the surroundings offer stunning hikes outside the boundaries of the park. To get here, you first need to get to Puerto Jimenez, and then chat with your accommodation as public transport is infrequent and inconsistent.
Getting to Corcovado National Park
Once you’re in Drake Bay or Puerto Jimenez, how you actually get to the park will depend on the type of tour you’ve booked, and to which station. You might be driven in a regular or 4×4 vehicle, you may hike in, or take a boat. You’ll find some of this information in the proceeding sections about the different ranger stations.
But, assuming you are doing a day or overnight tour to Sirena (the most popular station) without any lengthy hikes, you will arrive at and depart from the park by boat. No matter who you’ve booked your tour with, your boat transport will be included, and you don’t have to worry about organising that yourself.
From Drake Bay, the boat trip is around 1 hour and 15 minutes, and from Puerto Jimenez, it is a little longer, approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
The trip is done on small, panga-style boats, most with a covered roof. Being the Pacific Ocean, it can be quite rough, so if you get seasick I would advise taking some tablets in advance. You will land directly on the beach (make sure you’ve got shoes you’re happy to get wet), before walking approximately 1 km to the Sirena Ranger Station. From there, you’ll begin your tour and branch out on one of the many trails around the station.
Ranger stations inside Corcovado National Park
Spanning 424 square kilometres (164 sq mi), the Corcovado National Park is divided into six ‘sectors’ with accompanying ranger stations, which act as access points to the park. These are Los Planes, San Pedrillo, Sirena, La Leona, Los Patos and El Tigre.
Los Planes Ranger Station, situated close to Drake Bay, is not currently open to the public, nor do any tours pass through here.
Which station you visit will depend on…
- Where you have chosen to access the park from – Drake Bay or Puerto Jimenez
- The type of experience you want to have – a single-day visit, overnight stay or lengthy hiking tour
- What your primary motivation is for visiting – to see wildlife or to hike
San Pedrillo
- Closest to: Drake Bay
- Access by: 30-minute boat from Drake Bay
- Overnight stays: at present no, camping was once possible but it’s not currently permitted
- Known for: primary rainforest and unique fauna, less wildlife
San Pedrillo is the closest station to Drake Bay and makes for an easy day tour. There are two trails on offer, the Catarata-San Pedrillo trail (1.5 km / 0.9 mi) and the Llorona trail (7 km / 4.3 mi). The area around San Pedrillo is known for its unique flora and plant life and is largely a primary forest that has never been disturbed. There is of course plenty of wildlife to see, but it’s not known as the best station for wildlife.
Sirena
- Closest to: Drake Bay and Puerto Jimenez
- Access by: 1 hr 15 min boat from Drake Bay, 1 hr 30 min boat ride from Puerto Jimenez
- Overnight stays: yes, the ranger station has a lodge
- Known for: best place to see wildlife
It is widely accepted that Sirena is the best station for wildlife viewing. The location deep in the park’s interior means it is a far cry from any development or human presence, ensuring the unique wildlife found in the area is rarely disturbed. If seeing Costa Rica’s unique wildlife is your main motivation to visit Corcovado National Park, Sirena is the best option. There are over 20 km / 12.45 miles of trails around the station. It is also the only place in the Corcovado National Park where visitors are permitted to stay overnight.
If you’re not looking to do any lengthy hikes, and your primary aim is to see wildlife, a day or overnight to Sirena Ranger Station is your best option. Read all about our overnight experience here.
La Leona
- Closest to: Carate (from Puerto Jimenez)
- Access by: walking in from Carate (3.5 km / 2.2 mi)
- Overnight stays: no, but a common jump-off point for overnight hikes into Sirena Station
- Known for: lengthier hikes, sea turtles
La Leona Station is situated 3.5 km / 2.2 mi from the town of Carate, which is accessible by 4×4 vehicles from Puerto Jimenez. Carate is the closest you can get to the station, and to reach La Leona, you must hike the 3.5 km / 2.2 mi along a coastal trail or on the beach. Being on the coast, La Leona is best known as a nesting ground for sea turtles. However, this station is also a common jump-off point for overnight tours to Sirena Station, with an added layer of hiking. Visitors will hike 17 km / 10.5 mi (20.5 km / 12.8 mi starting from Carate) from La Leona to Sirena, spend the night, and then boat out.
Los Patos
- Closest to: La Palma (from Puerto Jimenez)
- Access by: taxi from La Palma or Puerto Jimenez, or a 5 km hike from La Palma in wet season if the road is impassable
- Overnight stays: no, but a common jump-off point for overnight hikes into Sirena Station
- Known for: intense hiking
Los Patos Station is for serious hikers. The most common route for visitors is to hike 24 km / 15 mi to Sirena, stay the night and then boat out the following day. If you’re an avid hiker, you may continue on to La Leona, and then Carate, the following day. Los Patos is accessible by road from the nearby town of La Palma, or from Puerto Jimenez. However, the road often becomes impassable in the rainy season, so visitors must begin hiking from La Palma, which adds an extra 5 km / 3.1 mi to the trip. There is plenty of wildlife to see on this lengthy route, however, the forest is dense, and the trails are steep, so the primary focus is hiking, not necessarily wildlife watching.
El Tigre
- Closest to: Dos Brazos (from Puerto Jimenez)
- Access by: trail begins outside the park in Dos Brazos, reachable by regular vehicle from Puerto Jimenez
- Overnight stays: no
- Known for: reptiles and frogs, viewpoints
El Tigre is the newest sector to open in Corcovado National Park. The 7 km / 4.3 mi trail begins outside the park in Dos Brazos, and loops into an untouched section of Corcovado. The trail doesn’t connect with any other trails inside the park, so it is a one-day-only loop. The hike is considered challenging, and there is some incline, culminating at a mirador (lookout) over the Golfo Dulce. This trail is a great place to spot reptiles like snakes, and a number of frogs, but larger mammals are rare.
You can read more about the various sectors on the Costa Rica national parks service SINAC’s website
Day vs overnight tour
When deciding on a tour to visit Corcovado National Park, most travellers have two main choices – a day tour or an overnight tour. As mentioned above, unless you’re after an intense hiking experience, Sirena Station is your best choice, and most tours depart from Drake Bay or Puerto Jimenez.
- Day tour
- 📍 Departing from Drake Bay or Puerto Jimenez
- 💰 Approx. $90 – 120 USD
- ⏰ About 4 hours of hiking in the park
- 🥪 Lunch usually included
- Overnight tour
- 📍 Departing from Drake Bay or Puerto Jimenez
- 💰 Approx. $340 – $500 USD
- ⏰ About 13 hours of hiking in the park
- 🥪 Lunch, dinner and breakfast included plus overnight accommodation
Each tour operator does things slightly differently, but for the most part, they operate on a pretty similar schedule as they are bound by the meal times at the station, and most share boat transport to and from the park. Below is a brief summary of what you can expect when booking a day v overnight tour, based on our experience at the Sirena Ranger Station with Corcovado Information Centre.
Day tour summary
Day tours generally start from Drake Bay or Puerto Jimenez at around 6 am, and most involve a boat ride to the Sirena Ranger Station. Landing on the beach at approximately 7:30 – 8:00 am, you’ll start hiking towards the station. You’ll spend around 4 hours hiking the trails around the station, with your local guide pointing out whatever wildlife you can find, and sharing a ton of interesting facts on the flora and fauna of the area. At around 11:30 am – 12:00 pm, you will hike back to the beach to get on the boat and return to Drake Bay or Puerto Jimenez. Most day tours don’t offer lunch inside the park at the ranger station as food is very expensive there. Rather, you will eat when you return to town, at around 1:30 – 2:00 pm.
Read more about Corcovado Information Centre’s day tour here
Overnight tour summary
Overnight tours start in the exact same way as the day tours, and depending on your operator, you most likely be combined in the beginning. At the point in which the day tour people head back to the boat, the overnighters will head to the ranger station, and have a couple of hours break. A big buffet lunch is served at 12 pm, and you’ll be allocated your bed for the night and have some time to organise your things. At around 2 pm, you’ll head out again for a second hike, lasting 3 – 4 hours. Then it’s time for dinner, and early to bed at the Sirena Ranger Station. The following morning starts early, and you’ll have a short hike of approximately 2 hours, before returning to the station for breakfast. At around 8:30 am, you’ll head out for a final hike of around 3 hours, before swinging past the ranger station to collect your things and walking back to the beach to get on the boat at around 12:30 pm. You’ll return to Drake Bay between 1:30 – 2:00 pm, a full 24 hours after the day trippers.
Read more about Corcovado Information Centre’s overnight tour here
As mentioned, there is also a range of specialist tours that have a bigger focus on hiking. Given the lengthy distances to hike in and out of the park, these tours are usually overnight, or multi-day experiences, most departing from Puerto Jimenez or Carate via the La Leona or Los Patos stations.
Rather than taking a boat in and out of the park, you will hike in and/or out from Carate (La Leona Station) or Los Patos Station (both accessible via Puerto Jimenez) with an overnight stay at the Sirena Ranger Station. The hikes range from 20-24 km / 12-15 mi and are a very different experience from the standard overnight tours.
If you love hiking, maybe this is a better option for you. But personally, if you are visiting Corcovado to experience the wildlife, opting for the boat is better. We walked at a very slow pace without rushing to reach a destination, and that is what allowed us to see so many animals.
Which tour to choose?
At first glance, I know the overnight tour is outrageously expensive. It is a huge cost and a big chunk of anyone’s Costa Rica budget. But when you drill down and compare what you have included, and the extra time you spend in the park, I wholeheartedly recommend the overnight option if you have the means. Factor in what you would otherwise spend on 3 meals and a night of accommodation, and although it is still expensive, it’s not that bad.
There was one couple in our group of 6 who opted for the day tour, and when it was time for our guide to take them back to the boat, it honestly felt like we had just arrived! Their experience seemed very quick and rushed, and looking back, we saw so, so much more wildlife on our other hikes once they had left. When you’re comparing 4 hours on the trails vs 13 hours on the trails, that is a lot of extra time and opportunity to see animals and learn more from your guide. Plus, once the day trippers clear out, the park is a lot quieter, and you are less likely to encounter any other groups on the trails.
Tour operators to visit Corcovado National Park
There are a number of operators in both Drake Bay and Puerto Jimenez that run tours to Corcovado. Any accommodation in these two hub towns can also organise a tour for you to Corcovado, using their preferred local guides, or by outsourcing to one of the tour companies.
The tours themselves are generally very similar, with the same kind of timeline and inclusions. Unless you’re looking for a specialist hiking tour, there isn’t much difference in itinerary and prices across operators.
Top tip – be sure to check what meals are included in your tour. For the day tour, it’s common to have lunch included (usually outside of the park). For overnight tours, you should have lunch, dinner and breakfast included. Some operators have meals at an additional cost, and this will add a massive expense to your experience! Meals at the lodge inside the park are $20-25 each, so you want to make sure that is included in your already expensive overnight tour.
But of course, you want to ensure you are booking with a reputable operator, especially for the overnight tour, which is a huge expense for any type of traveller.
We did our Corcovado overnight tour with Corcovado Information Centre. They are based in Drake Bay and are a Costa Rican-owned and operated business. The owner’s family have been living on the Osa Peninsula for over 40 years, and they have extensive knowledge and expertise on the area, the wildlife and processes for visiting the park. We highly recommend their services and had a fantastic experience with them.
Corcovado Information Centre offers tours departing from both Drake Bay and from Puerto Jimenez, and their packages are all-inclusive. All we had to do was book, pay and turn up at the agreed meeting spot, and they took care of all the rest!
If you’re in Puerto Jimenez, we have heard also heard amazing things about Osa Wild. As with most operators, they can also organise tours from Drake Bay, but their primary base is in Puerto Jimenez. They are a locally owned company with fantastic sustainability ethics and initiatives.
What to bring when you visit Corcovado National Park
You CAN’T bring any food when you visit Corcovado National Park. Exceptions may apply if you are doing a lengthy hiking tour, or have medical issues. Consult your tour operator if this is the case. But for most people, don’t pack any snacks, they will be confiscated. Only reusable water bottles are allowed.
For day trips
If you’re just visiting for the day, you’ll come dressed in your kit, so there’s not too much additional that you need.
We would recommend wearing whatever style of hiking shorts you prefer. Pants are also viable, but remember you are wading in and out of the water for the boat, so make sure they roll up. Up top, a singlet, t-shirt or light long-sleeve shirt works, whatever you are used to wearing. Trainers are fine for standard day tours, the trails are relatively flat and not too complicated. Unless it’s the peak of the rainy season or you’re doing one of the longer hikes, hiking boots aren’t necessary. It’s advisable to pack some shoes you are happy to get wet for getting off and on the boat. This could be water shoes, Teva sandals etc. or, you can go barefoot if you really want to – just don’t get your hiking shoes wet before you’ve even arrived! Don’t forget sunglasses, and a hat if you’re funny about sunburn, although the trails are mostly shaded.
Bring a small, comfortable backpack. Inside we recommend having:
- 🚰 Reusable water bottles, around 2 litres per person. You can refill bottles with safe drinking water at the check-in point for the park and at the station. No single-use plastics.
- 📷 Whatever you use for taking photos (phone, camera, different lenses, GoPro etc.) with fully charged and spare batteries, and empty plus spare memory cards.
- 👀 Binoculars if you have them. This is one thing we didn’t have, as we couldn’t justify carrying around a pair for 6 months in Central America, but we wish that we did. Your guide will have a pair, but if you’ve got your own you don’t need to be rushed to share them around with the rest of your group.
- ☔️ Raincoat or poncho. Even if it’s the dry season, rain is always possible in Corcovado.
- 💧 Waterproof protection for your bags and cameras. We bought our waterproof backpack, as well a number of dry bags I could slip my camera in and out of whilst hiking in case of rain.
- ☀️ Sunscreen if required. The trails are mostly shaded but we know some people (looking at you Brits) are mad on it. Make it reef-safe.
- 🦟 Insect repellent. Make it natural if possible, and don’t apply it inside the forest.
- 💊 A small first aid kit or medicine bag, if you travel with one. You don’t want a headache in the middle of the rainforest.
Most day tours won’t involve any swimming, but I would encourage you to check in with your tour operator. There may be the opportunity for a swim in one of the rivers or waterfalls, in which case you’ll want to add a towel and swimmers to your packing list.
For overnight trips
Leave your suitcase or big backpack in Drake Bay / Puerto Jimenez. You only need a handful of things for your overnight stay, and you don’t want to be lugging heavy kit on and off the boat. Arrange in advance for your tour company or accommodation to store your luggage. We left ours inside our rental car in Drake Bay, which we felt comfortable leaving parked on the street in the centre of town.
If you’re taking the boat to Sirena, remember whatever bag you bring with your overnight gear you will have to walk with it from the beach to the station and back. This isn’t a long walk (around 1 km / 0.6 mi), but it can take a while, depending on how much wildlife you spot. You might be hauling around your overnight bag for a couple of hours before you drop it off at the station, so make sure it’s not too heavy!
Clothes and shoes
- 🩴 Shoes that can get wet for boat landings. I wore Tevas and Brayden wore his sneaker-style water shoes.
- 🥾 Comfortable trainers or hiking shoes for walks (trainers are fine for standard tours, the trails are well made and flat, and hiking shoes may only be necessary for the wet season or for lengthy hiking tours).
- 🕶️ Sunglasses and any other glasses you need.
- 🧢 Hat if desired. The trails are mostly shaded but this is Costa Rica, if you’re sun sensitive, best to bring one.
- 🩳 1 – 2 x hiking shorts or pants (as long as you can roll them up for the boat landing). We opted for two sets in case we got soaked on the first day, things do not dry overnight in a place so humid!
- 👚 1 – 2 x singlet or shirt for hiking in whatever style you prefer, we packed two and had a clean shirt for day two of our tour.
- 🧥 1 x light long-sleeved layer for the evenings. It doesn’t get cold per se but it can be cool if it’s rained, and this also provides protection for bugs.
- ☔️ 1 x raincoat or poncho, essential in the wet season and still recommended in the dry season.
- 🛏️ 1 x pyjamas or whatever you wear to bed, remember you’re in a room with up to 80 people so sleeping naked is not a viable option!
- 🩲 2-3 x underwear, an extra is always a good idea in the wet season so you’re not sleeping in soggy knickers.
- 🧦 2-4 x socks, one per day for the dry season and up to 2 per day for the wet season if your shoes aren’t very waterproof!
- 👙 1 x swimwear, you may get the chance to swim in the Rio Claro.
Travel gear
- 🚰 Reusable water bottles, around 2 litres per person. You can refill bottles with safe drinking water at the check-in point for the park and at the station. No single-use plastics.
- 💧 Waterproof protection for your bags and cameras. We bought our waterproof backpack, as well a number of dry bags I could slip my camera in and out of whilst hiking in case of rain.
- 🔓 Padlock for the lockers, to avoid being charged an exorbitant $4. There are open lockers without doors which is where we ended up keeping our bags, and we weren’t concerned about them, but lockable ones are available. We used the locks on our bags, rather than on the lockers.
- 🛍️ Lots of plastic bags for wet towels and smelly socks when re-packing your bag. Just make sure they are secured in your bag and aren’t going to fly off and pollute the park.
- 🧖🏽♀️ 1 – 2 x towels. They aren’t provided for showers, you may want a separate one for swimming in the river, but one good quick dry travel should do you for both activities.
- 🪥 Basic toiletries such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, essential skin care products and hairbrush. Contact lenses and fluid if required, any medication you need and if you travel with a little first aid kit or medicine bag, that wouldn’t go astray either.
- ☀️ Sunscreen if required. The trails are mostly shaded but we know some people (looking at you Brits) are mad on it. Make it reef-safe.
- 🦟 Insect repellent. Make it natural if possible, and don’t apply it inside the forest.
- 🔦 1 x headtorch for bathroom visits in the evenings. Lights go off strictly at 8 pm, and it is dark around the station. A phone torch would suffice.
- 🔌 1 x phone charger with adaptor. There are plugs around the station.
- 🔋 1 x power bank if you have one. No need to find an empty plug and you can charge your phone in bed.
- 📷 Whatever you use for taking photos (camera, different lenses, GoPro etc.) with fully charged and spare batteries, and empty plus spare memory cards.
- 👀 Binoculars if you have them. This is one thing we didn’t have, as we couldn’t justify carrying around a pair for 6 months in Central America, but we wish that we did. Your guide will have a pair, but if you’ve got your own you don’t need to feel rushed to share them with the rest of your group.
I hope this post answers all your questions about how to visit Corcovado National Park. I know it can seem complicated and overwhelming to work out how to experience this special place, but it is worth all the time, money and effort required to visit Corcovado National Park. It is up there as one of our best wildlife experiences of all time, and an easy highlight of our Costa Rica trip.
Don’t forget to read our other post about our experience staying overnight at Sirena Ranger Station, where I recount our tales of tapir spotting, grumpy peccaries and all the other wonderful wildlife we encountered in the park.
The Comments
Samantha
Amazing post. Do you have suggestions for great tour companies to go with for the overnight tour!?
Sally Rodrick
SamanthaHey Samantha, there’s a section in the post – https://sallysees.com/visit-corcovado-national-park/#Tour-operators-to-visit-Corcovado-National-Park 🙂 We went with Corcovado Info Centre and couldn’t fault them. It depends if you’re starting from Drake Bay or Puerto Jimenez though. Enjoy!
Sandy D’Angelo
Sally,
We were thinking of coming from Manuel Antonio. I would like to see the wildlife, so Sirena seems like the section to go to. We would like to see jaguars, pumas, etc. can you see them there? Also, how intense is the hike from Sirena? We are coming in October but you state that station is closed then, so we’ll have to figure another time. What tour company do you recommend from Manuel Antonio?
Thank you,
Sandy D’Angelo
Sally Rodrick
Sandy D’AngeloHi Sandy, yes Sirena is definitely the best option for wildlife. Although it is highly unlikely you will see jaguars or pumas. Big cats are notoriously elusive, and are mostly nocturnal. Night tours are not allowed in the park due to how remote it is and potentially dangerous if something were to go wrong at night. We saw jaguar tracks on the beach which was really cool, but I wouldn’t get your hopes up for actually seeing one. I’m sure it happens but better to be surprised instead of disappointed 🙂 We didn’t find any of the hikes too intense. It’s mostly flat, and you walk very slowly with lots of breaks to look for wildlife. It’s just a long day, with multiple 2 – 4 hour hikes, but the walking itself wasn’t too difficult. We travelled independently to Drake Bay, which is quite easy to do. You can book a shared or private shuttle to Sierpe, from where you take the boat to Drake Bay – I’ve got all the info here. Overnight tours to Sirena depart from the main beach in Drake. I’d suggest staying a few days in Drake Bay before/after your overnight tour as well, it’s a gorgeous place. You can read more here. If you can wait until December or later, you’ll have a better chance of dry weather and hopefully the park has dried up a bit after the wet season. Enjoy – it’s a magic experience!