Visiting Corcovado National Park is one of the best things you can do in Costa Rica and should not be missed. My sister and I spent two nights and three days in the park on our last trip to Costa Rica, and it was the most incredible experience of our entire trip.
Corcovado National Park was established in 1975 to preserve the land from gold mining and logging activities threatening the prosperous ecosystem here. Since then, Corcovado has thrived and is home to thousands of different species of animals and plants.
Corcovado National Park is actually home to 2.5% of the wildlife in the world despite taking up just .001% of the world’s surface area. Corcovado comprises dense rainforests, long pristine beaches, and hundreds of rivers. All of which have remained relatively untouched by humans.
As you can imagine, Corcovado is a playground for adventurous nature lovers. There are few places in the world where you can truly immerse yourself in unspoiled natural beauty, like Corcovado National Park.
Planning a trip to Corcovado can be challenging, though. You have to go with a guide and decide how many days you’ll spend in the park. Thankfully, I have done it and I am here to help you plan.
In this article, I’ll review everything you need to know before visiting Corcovado National Park to help you plan and prepare as best as possible. Ready to learn about Corcovado National Park before visiting Costa Rica? Let’s go!
Where Is Corcovado National Park?
Corcovado National Park is located in the Osa Peninsula in the Puntarenas Province in Costa Rica. It’s in the southwestern region of the country and relatively isolated. This isolation, though, is part of what makes the park such a beautiful region and visiting Corcovado National Park such an exciting experience.
The closest towns to Corcovado National Park are Puerto Jimenez, Drake Bay, and Sierpe. You can take day trips from one of these towns or spend a few nights in the park and explore even more of the dense rainforest.
We stayed in Puerto Jimenez before visiting Corcovado National Park. After some research, we concluded it was the easiest option out of the three. We loved Puerto Jimenez and wholeheartedly recommend it as a base to visit Corcovado National Park.
Is Corcovado National Park Worth Visiting?
Corcovado National Park is worth visiting, without a doubt. It’s one of the best national parks in Costa Rica. In fact, it’s one of my favorite places in Central America.
No matter how you visit Corcovado National Park, it’s such a treat. The park is relatively untouched; there are very few backpackers and tourists, and there is so much incredible wildlife and nature in every corner of the park.
One of the best things about Corcovado National Park is its untouched nature and ecosystem. There are five ranger stations (I’ll talk more about these later) for tourism spread around the park, and everything else is just pure, undeveloped wilderness.
On your visit, you’ll likely cross several rivers, go through dense rainforest, and come across wildlife you might not see anywhere else in the world.
Overall, it’s an unforgettable adventure you’ll remember for the rest of your life. I know I will.
How long should you stay in Corcovado National Park?
You can visit Corcovado National Park from Puerto Jimenez or Drake Bay on a day trip. But you can also stay inside the park and spend several days here.
Obviously, staying in the park for at least one night will give you an entirely different experience where you have more time and space to explore the park. We stayed two nights and three days in the park and could have stayed even longer. We seriously loved it!
So, I’d definitely recommend staying at least one night inside Corcovado National Park so you can have more of an up-close-and-personal experience with nature. However, if you don’t have the time or money, a day trip to the park is better than nothing.
Wildlife in Corcovado National Park
One of the best things about Corcovado National Park is the incredible wildlife. The region has been heavily protected, and there are many restrictions on the number of people allowed in and the activities inside the park. This has kept the habitat relatively untouched, so wildlife roams freely as if we aren’t even there.
Here are just some of the animals you might come across:
- Jaguars
- Pumas
- Various monkey species (squirrel monkey, howler monkey, white-faced capuchin monkey, spider monkey)
- Baird’s tapirs
- Northern tamanduas (species of anteaters)
- Margays (small cat species)
- Three-towed sloths
- White-nosed coatis
- Sea turtles
- Crocodiles
- Ocelots
Certain animals are harder to come by than others. For example, we didn’t encounter jaguars or pumas. But we met other travelers who saw them at Corcovado.
We were in Corcovado toward the end of the rainy season and were told that it’s a little harder to spot certain animals during the wet season.
On the other hand, we saw tapirs, anteaters, all the monkey species, crocodiles and lots of kinds of birds, including macaws and toucans.
Is visiting Corcovado National Park expensive?
I won’t sugarcoat it for you – visiting Corcovado National Park is expensive. Costa Rica is an expensive country compared to its neighbors in Central America. In fact, we felt at times it was more expensive than Italy.
For total transparency, I visited Corcovado National Park on a 3-day, 2-night tour with my sister. We paid about $650 USD each. The cost covered lodging, a certified guide, and most of our meals. It was also a private tour for most of the trip until a couple joined us.
If you decide to go on a day trip from Puerto Jimenez or Drake Bay (the two easiest starting points), you can expect to pay about $150-$250 USD, depending on the season and such.
The best thing about going with a tour company, whether a multi-day trip or a day trip, is they coordinate all the transportation and minor details for you. There won’t be any big surprises regarding cost and such.
If you decide to plan most of it on your own, here’s a breakdown of some of the estimated costs of going to Corcovado:
- Permit for Corcovado National Park: $15 USD per day
- Transportation to Carate (the main entrance point from Puerto Jimenez): $30 USD
- Boat to Corcovado National Park: $60 USD
- Government-Certified Guide (also required): $70 USD per day
- Meals at a station: $20-$25 USD per meal
- Accommodation at the station: $30 USD per night
- Additional expenses (locker rental, additional gear, souvenirs): $50 USD
Remember that this is just a rough estimate, and other unexpected costs may pop up. The cost may also vary and is usually a little more expensive on weekends and during the dry season when the weather is better, and there are more tourists.
As you can see, visiting Corcovado National Park is not cheap. But the costs are something that helps keep this park preserved and one of the most beautiful slices of nature in the world.
Let me stress once again that you can try to organize a few things on your own, but there’s no question that going with a tour company is 100% the easiest way to visit Corcovado National Park.
TIP: Usually, it’s cheaper to purchase tours in person, but in Costa Rica, there’s hardly any difference between online and local prices.
Should you visit Corcovado National Park with kids?
If you’re planning a family vacation to Costa Rica and are unsure about visiting Corcovado National Park with your kids, I highly recommend it!
We saw several families and children around during our tour of the park. One family was even hiking with a younger kid who looked to be around two years old.
You can only hike Corcovado National Park with a government-licensed guide. This means you’re doing it in the safest, most well-organized way possible. Despite feeling like you’re “lost in nature,” your guide knows what they’re doing and has a safe plan for you.
I would even go as far as to say that all the station staff are beyond accommodating and would be happy to help prepare children’s meals if you decide to stay the night with younger kids at one of the stations.
Of course, there’s always more to consider when traveling with little ones. It’s still a rainforest, and there’s a lot of wildlife, insects, and unpleasant weather that might not appeal to the kids.
But overall, it would be a great growing experience for everyone, so you shouldn’t count yourself out of a Corcovado adventure if you’re with the family.
How To Get To Corcovado National Park
The two best starting points to visit Corcovado National Park are Drake Bay and Puerto Jimenez. The route to Corcovado National Park will depend on your starting point, the ranger station you plan to visit, how many days you spend in the park, and your desired route.
By boat from Drake Bay or Puerto Jimenez
If you’re going to Sirena Station (the most popular visitor station in Corcovado National Park), you will likely go by boat to Corcovado.
The boat from Drake Bay takes a little over an hour, and the boat from Puerto Jimenez takes about an hour and a half to Sirena Station.
The boat ride can be very bumpy, with large waves and rough waters. Of course, this also depends on the weather. We took a boat back to Puerto Jimenez from Sirena Station during the rainy season, and it was a challenging ride, but admittedly a lot of fun (we got soaked with waves and rain but enjoyed the experience).
Hike from Puerto Jimenez
Instead of taking the boat from Puerto Jimenez to Sirena Station, we took a Corcovado hiking tour and walked from Carate to Sirena Station. This is a planned tour with Osa Wild. They organized car transportation from Puerto Jimenez to Carate (about an hour and a half).
From there, we walked through the rainforest and along the beach to Sirena Station for most of the day. While it was a fun adventure, walking from Carate through Corcovado National Park and to Sirena Station was hard!
We were supposed to hike back at the end of the trip, but we took a boat back because we knew what to expect and just couldn’t do it – we thought once was enough!
Several hours of the hike from Carate to La Sirena Station are spent walking on the beach, walking on the sand with all your belongings on your back. You also have to cross several rivers.
Some rivers were shallow and simple, while others went up to my chest, and I had to carry my bag over my head. It also really depends on the time of day and the tides.
The hike from Carate is about 20 km (12.5 miles), and about 7 km (4.5 miles) is on the beach. Fortunately, when we did it, it was overcast mostly, but it was still boiling and humid, making it even more challenging.
Despite the difficulty, I don’t regret it for even a second. The views and scenery were some of the most beautiful and untouched pieces of wilderness I’ve ever seen.
It was one of the hardest hikes I’ve ever done, and I’ve done the Inca Trail in Peru! But it was worth it for the beauty and challenge of Corcovado. If you’re in good physical shape, I recommend considering this option from Puerto Jimenez.
Hike from Drake Bay
There aren’t many advertised Corcovado hiking tours from Drake Bay to Corcovado National Park, though it is possible. Hiking tours from Drake Bay will likely go to San Pedrillo Station rather than Sirena Station because it’s closer to Drake Bay.
Top Trails Corcovado offers tours from Drake Bay to Corcovado. The Full-Day San Pedrillo Tour starts with a one-hour boat ride and a 12 km (7.4 miles) hike. We didn’t do this option, as Osa Wild is more popular for tours leaving Puerto Jimenez, but it has excellent reviews from other travelers.
Tours Of Corcovado National Park
Tours of Corcovado National Park from Puerto Jimenez or Drake Bay
As mentioned, you want to visit Corcovado National Park with a tour company.
Most reputable tours of Corcovado National Park also organize your transportation and fees, so you don’t have to worry so much about the logistics above. The tour may differ depending on whether you’re leaving from Puerto Jimenez or Drake Bay.
My sister and I did a three-day, two-night Corcovado hiking tour from Puerto Jimenez with Osa Wild and thought it was an incredible experience.
Our guide, Fraser, was the most knowledgeable and helpful companion. We found Osa Wild in a random travel magazine and have since heard about many other travelers visiting Corcovado National Park with them.
The company was very professional and organized, so I’d recommend them to other travelers.
Osa Wild is one of the most reputable companies that runs tours of Corcovado National Park. You can check out the Osa Wild tour page on their website for more information. They offer over 10 different tours of Corcovado National Park, ranging from day trips to multi-day adventures, and all around the different ranger stations. You can find various tours from Drake Bay or Puerto Jimenez.
This tour to the Sirena Ranger Station in Corcovado is another recommended option for a day trip. It’s a little more independent, as you’ll meet on the beach at Rancho Quemado and go from there. Rancho Quemado is about an hour by taxi from Puerto Jimenez and 40 minutes from Drake Bay.
Tours of Corcovado National Park from Sierpe
Few tourists travel from Sierpe to Corcovado National Park, so there are fewer tour options. However, it’s still possible to visit Corcovado National Park from Sierpe.
Sierpe is over an hour from Corcovado, and you’ll have to take a car and a boat to the park. Sierpe Outfitters is an established tour operator in Sierpe that offers day tours of Corcovado National Park and multi-day trips to both Sirena Station and San Pedrillo Station.
Tours of Corcovado National Park from Uvita
Again, Drake Bay and Puerto Jimenez are by far the most popular departure points for tours of Corcovado National Park. But you can organize a tour if you’re in the Uvita area and can’t make it to Drake Bay or Puerto Jimenez.
Uvita is about 2 hours from Corcovado by boat, and you’ll only be able to visit San Pedrillo Station as it’s the closest to the departure point. This takes away a little of the magic of Corcovado, so I wouldn’t recommend it unless you have no time to get to the Puerto Jimenez area.
Bahia Aventuras offers reputable day tours of Corcovado National Park from Uvita. We didn’t do a tour with this company as we left from Puerto Jimenez, but I’ve read positive things.
Things To Know Before Visiting Corcovado National Park
The best time to visit Corcovado National Park
The best time to visit Corcovado National Park is during Costa Rica’s dry season. The dry season is from early December to April. During the rainy season in Costa Rica, from May to November, the trails might be much muddier and the rivers higher.
We went to Corcovado at the end of the rainy season, and we mostly had good weather, but it rained almost non-stop on our last day there. The trails get muddier, and your clothes will never dry, but it didn’t take away from the fun and beauty.
Visitors to Corcovado National Park are capped
Corcovado National Park only allows 330 visitors a day/night to preserve the park. It’s broken up into ranger stations/sectors, daytime and overnight visitors.
Sirena Station allows 100 visitors daily, 80 of whom can stay overnight. San Pedrillo Station allows 100 visitors per day. La Leona Station allows 80 visitors per day. Los Patos Station allows 50 visitors per day.
You can only stay overnight at La Sirena Station, though San Pedrillo Station used to allow overnight visitors, so it may open up again in the future.
How far in advance should you book?
You should book your tour of Corcovado National Park as far in advance as you can. It has minimal space, and the last thing you want is to miss this experience because you weren’t on top of things.
You might be able to find a tour company with some space at the last minute, but it’s never a guarantee with Corcovado.
When we visited, we didn’t find any groups larger than six people. If you’re traveling with a friend or friends, your exploration group may be just you, your travel companion(s), and the guide.
Remember that it’s also busier during the dry season, so you’ll want to plan ahead if you’re visiting between December and April.
Do you need a guide to visit Corcovado National Park?
A guide is mandatory when visiting Corcovado National Park. You’ll be walking the trails around the station, and a guide is essential as they know the trails, the tides, and the rivers to cross. The trails are normally well-marked, but getting lost is also very easy.
You also never want to walk alone for fear of getting lost or stumbling across a not-so-friendly predator.
A permit is also necessary to enter Corcovado, but you don’t have to worry about it, as it’ll be a part of your guided tour.
Rules of behavior when visiting Corcovado National Park
You must follow some basic rules and guidelines and have manners when traveling in Corcovado National Park. Remember that this is one of the most diverse and dense places on the planet, and you don’t want to do anything to disrupt the harmony here.
Here are a few basic rules to follow in Corcovado:
No plastic
They are very strict about not bringing any plastic into the park. This includes even wrappers, food containers, and plastic water bottles. This is to respect the environment, which is healthy and thriving here, and we don’t want to mess with that.
Take all trash with you
Do not throw trash in the rainforest or on the ground around the stations. Do not throw trash anywhere but in designated trash cans at the station or in your own bag.
One thing you will notice when hiking in Corcovado National Park, along the beach and closer to the rivers, is that there’s a lot of trash. It can be very disappointing, but it’s usually a result of the tides, and the ocean washing it up from anywhere in the world. This is another reminder always to be cautious of where you put your trash.
No outside food
You can bring in a refillable, reusable water bottle, but it’s strongly encouraged not to bring any other outside food or drinks. Some tour companies advise you to bring a few small snacks for the first day of hiking if you’re doing a multi-day tour, but that’s it. You will be able to buy snacks such as cookies or yucca or plantain chips at the small shop at the ranger station.
No wandering around alone
You don’t want to get lost or bump into an animal. Always walk around with your guide and travel partners.
Don’t bathe in beaches, lagoons, or rivers
Many beaches, lagoons, and rivers are completely prohibited from swimming. There are a few exceptions, but only your guide knows. Some tours go to specific swimming spots but stay away from the water unless told differently. The reason? There are crocodiles and sharks, and the currents can be stronger than you can imagine.
Don’t touch the animals
You might get really excited if you see a cute animal or an animal that looks friendly, but please do not touch any of the wildlife. Remember, we’re here to observe and explore, not disrupt.
Listen to your guide
The guides are government-certified individuals who have visited the park dozens of times. They know the rules, the trails, and everything else. Please, always listen to them.
Corcovado National Park Stations
Corcovado National Park is divided into six sectors, with a ranger station in each sector. Only five stations are currently open for tourists.
La Sirena Station
This is the most popular station in the center of Corcovado National Park on the coast. There is a network of 8 trails totaling about 20 km (12.5 miles) around the station. This is also where guests stay overnight in Corcovado.
San Pedrillo Station
This station is on the park’s northernmost end and is closest to Drake Bay. There are several trails branching off from the station, and it’s known to have the most beautiful sunset out of all the stations.
La Leona Station
This station is on the southern end of Corcovado National Park, closest to the town of Carate. If you hike into the park, La Leona Station is the first access point to other places, like Sirena Station.
Los Platos Station
This station is located on the park’s eastern side, just north of El Tigre Station. Trails from this station cut through the heart of Corcovado National Park and lead to Sirena Station.
El Tigre Station
This station is located just outside the park on the eastern side. It’s a very challenging area and is usually only accessed by more advanced hikers and adventures. There are much fewer tourists and hikers on this end.
Los Planes Station
This is the first station that opened in the park. It’s in the north, just east of San Pedrillo Station. It’s closed to visitors, and nobody can pass through.
Eating and sleeping in Corcovado National Park
Camping is prohibited anywhere in the park.
Currently, the only option is to sleep at La Sirena Station. They allow a maximum of 80 people to stay overnight and no more than 100 visitors per day at this specific station.
At La Sirena Station, you’ll sleep in bunk beds and dormitories. Each bed has a mosquito net and there are clean toilets, sinks and showers on the property.
The beds themselves are comfortable, and the entire dormitory and bathroom area is surprisingly clean for being in the middle of the jungle. I could understand the price better after staying here, as the service and quality are top-notch.
There’s also a cafeteria at Sirena Station with buffet-style meals. You’ll meet with your guide before meals and get in line with the guide. You can specify in advance if you have dietary requirements, and the staff will do their best to meet all your needs.
Meals usually consist of rice and beans with eggs, bread and cooked plantains for breakfast, chicken or beef for lunch and dinner. There are also salads and fruits, and a dessert option too
The food is a little bland, but we’re here for adventure, not food, so that’s okay.
There’s a fountain at the station where you can refill your water bottle – like in the rest of Costa Rica, water is safe to drink.
A little souvenir/gift shop at Sirena Station sells coffee, small snacks like natural cookies, plantain chips, t-shirts, and other small souvenirs.
Other useful things about staying overnight in Corcovado
Here are a few other useful things about staying overnight in Corcovado at Sirena Station:
- No alcohol is allowed on the premises.
- There is a doctor on the premises.
- You cannot wear any shoes inside Sirena Station, so you’ll want to bring sandals to change into for inside the station.
- There’s Wi-Fi in the main lobby, but don’t rely on it. We were able to send a WhatsApp message home once or twice, but nothing more.
- There is a charging station in the dining room.
- Lights out at 8:00 pm, and while this seems early, everyone is so exhausted after a day of exploring that 8:00 pm feels perfect.
- Lights on at 5:00 am: you want to start walking the trails early for better chances of seeing the animals.
- Locker rentals are available for $4 USD.
- Rubber boots are available for rent for $5 USD, which are preferable to hiking boots as they get wet and muddy.
What To Pack For Corcovado National Park
Clothes and hiking gear
Packing for Costa Rica can be challenging, especially if planning a trip to Corcovado National Park. Here are a few suggestions of necessities when it comes to clothes and hiking gear:
- Hiking boots (though you can rent rubber boots at Sirena Station for $5 USD, they are better than hiking boots as it can be very muddy on the trail).
- Flip flops to wear around the station.
- Quick dry towel and remember it’s very humid, so nothing will dry.
- Hat to protect from the sun and stop sweat from dripping into your eyes when hiking.
- Bug spray, as mosquitos can be vicious here.
- Sunblock to wear, even in gloomy weather.
- Clothes for your trip to change into if you’re staying overnight. Because nothing dries, you’ll want fresh clothes for each day you stay in Corcovado National Park.
- Extra socks.
Water and food
If you’re walking to Corcovado like we did, you can bring a few small snacks for the first day—just remember not to leave any trash or anything behind. Your tour guide should provide more information about food and what would be appropriate to bring if your tour recommends it.
You’ll also want a good, reusable, refillable water bottle. We brought about 2 liters of water for our first day. You will also want to bring some salt powders as they will help you keep hydrated – remember that if you are hiking in Corcovado National Park like we did, you will be sweating a lot!
Other things to pack
If you’re staying overnight in Corcovado National Park, here are a few additional recommendations:
- Earplugs for the evenings in case there are loud sleepers in the dormitory room (which is pretty much inevitable).
- Fresh sleeping wear.
- Headlamp if you go on a night walk with your guide.
- Battery pack to charge your cell phone.
Make sure to check out my blog post, The Best Costa Rica Packing List, for an even more detailed idea of what to pack for your trip to Costa Rica.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is required when visiting Corcovado National Park. You must have travel insurance before your trip, and you’ll want it anyway.
Your guide is there to ensure you’re safe and nothing bad happens, but it’s always something you should have when traveling to a place like Corcovado, with its abundant wildlife and natural environment.
You can also read my post, Why You Need Good Travel Backpacker Insurance, for more information!
My Personal Experience At Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica
There aren’t enough words to describe how much I loved my time in Corcovado National Park. I did the two-night, three-day hike in Corcovado National Park, departing from Carate to La Sirena Station.
Crossing some of the rivers was incredibly challenging, frustrating, and even scary – we knew when we were walking that we had a limited time frame to get to those revers as the tide would rise and with that sharks and crocodiles would arrive too.
I’ve done many multi-day hikes in South America and other places, but this one pushed me to my limits. On paper, one full day of hiking doesn’t sound that bad. But when it’s mainly on the sand, with rivers to cross, and the humidity eating away at you, it puts a toll on the mind and body.
That said, I wouldn’t change anything and would love to do it again. The struggles at the beginning are worth it to experience the diverse wilderness you’ll only see at Corcovado. The rainforest, the animals, the plants, and the overall beauty will take your breath away.
Another great thing about staying a few nights in Corcovado National Park is the general camaraderie you see at La Sirena Station amongst other travelers and workers.
Everyone is there because of their love for nature and animals, and everyone is genuinely excited to share the experience with you. It’s one of the most heartwarmingly friendly places and a great way to meet other like-minded travelers while having the time of your life in Corcovado.
I certainly wish to go again, and if you are in the planning phases of your trip to Costa Rica, make sure to include it in your itinerary!
Further Readings
If you are planning a trip to Costa Rica, you may find these other posts particularly useful:
- What To See And Do In La Fortuna
- The Prettiest Waterfalls In Costa Rica
- A Useful Guide To San José
- How To Rent A Car In Costa Rica
- How To Drive In Costa Rica
- Is Costa Rica Safe To Visit?
- The Best Things To Do In Manuel Antonio
- How To Visit Manuel Antonio National Park
- How To Visit Marino Ballena National Park
- How To Visit Rio Celeste Waterfall
- How To Visit Nauyaca Waterfalls
- A Guide To Snorkeling At Caño Island Costa Rica
- The Best Things To Do In Puerto Viejo
- A Useful Guide To Tortuguero
Pin It For Later!
