corcovado national park tours
Corcovado National Park is located in the southwest of Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica, and is part of the Osa Conservation Area. Biodiversity in this place is surprising. National Geographic has called it "the most intense in the world, biologically speaking" and it is estimated that no place in the world (who has a similar extension) contains greater biodiversity as Corcovado.
There are two main paths, one that runs along the coast, and one inside, and 4 ranger stations where you can spend the night: 3 in the park entrances and one where they cross paths. Most animal sightings occur in the path to the beach, where you can see macaws, hermit crabs, pelicans fishing in the sea, spider monkeys, anteaters, white-faced monkeys (capuchins), woodpeckers or coaties.
Corcovado National Park - Pedrillo Ranger Station
Price Range: $160pp (includes transportation)
Duration: 8 hours
Departure Time: 8:00am
Starts with a beautiful 45 minute boat ride down the Sierpe River passing through the largest conservation area of mangrove swamps in Central America, which is considered as RAMSAR site (one of the most important habitats in the world). While enjoying your boat trip, be sure to keep your eyes open to see the crocodiles, snakes, monkeys, and the water birds, these animals are frequently sighted throughout the area. After the river mouth, we'll continue on the sea through the breathtaking beauty of Drake's Bay on our journey to Corcovado National Park. After arriving at the San Pedrillo Ranger Station (located inside the park), we'll take a hike along the park's rustic trails, exploring the nature of the 3rd most beautiful park in the world, which NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC magazine has described as being, "Biologically, the most intense place on the earth." There you will be guided by extremely knowledgeable naturalist guides, who will help you discover the secrets of this amazing and unique habitat.
Within the park, there have been 600 species of insects identified, 375 birds, 6 cats, 67 amphibians and reptiles, and 4 different species of monkeys. Not only is the park home to a wide variety of wildlife and over 1500 species of trees, but it is also a shelter for many endangered species such as the tapir (Tapirus bairdii), the white lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari), the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), the silky anteater (Cyclopes didactylus), and the jaguar (Felis onca). This tour is perfect for biologists, students, or nature lovers of any kind.
After the hike, we'll set the table for a picnic lunch at the ranger station, before leaving the park at around 3:00. We'll make our way back to Sierpe around 4:30, there you'll have time to enjoy a cold drink, change clothes, or just sit back and discuss with friends which part of the trip you liked better.
Corcovado National Park - Sirena Ranger Station
Price Range: $170pp (includes transportation)
Duration: All Day
Departure Time: 5:00am
This tour is an expedition to the Heart of the Corcovado National Park, the most remote ranger station from any possible access in the Osa Peninsula. We begin the trip at Sierpe river and town, going down the river for about 45 minutes through the Terraba-Sierpe Wet Lands (Declared as one of the most important Ramsar Sites by Unesco 1971), where it is very possible to see many different species of birds and 3 species of monkeys, crocodiles, Caymans, snakes; furthermore the unique scenery beauty that the mangrove forest offers. Once we get to the sea we are heading down south for about 1 hour and 45 minutes travelling parallel to one of the few places around the world were it is still possible to see primary forest meeting together with the beach and the ocean, the last remaining tropical rain forest in the pacific Mesoamerican coast.
When we get to Sirena we will be hiking through the different trails that will take us deep through this fascinating beauty of the primary forest at this ranger station and the big biodiversity and biological intensity that these wonderful ecosystems enclose. Also if we are lucky we will find Jaguar or Puma´s foot prints. Some of the mammals that is possible to see are ant eaters, agoutis, tayras, coati mundi, howler monkeys, white face capuchin monkeys, squire monkeys, and spider monkeys, there is also big mammals like tapirs, and 2 species of peccaries. There is a large variety of bird species like trogons, tiger herons, guans, hawks, tanagers and more. Also it is possible to find snakes, Crocodiles, and iguanas.
After enjoying the hike, we will have lunch, and some rest, and then take the boat back to Sierpe. On the way back your guide will show you the beautiful scenery of this wet land, giving you at the same time an explanation and identification of the natural history of the existing species and why they are important to our world (sometimes we see dolphins, whales manta rays, and sea turtles).
Once back in Sierpe you can enjoy your favorite drink and talk about what you learned and what you liked most about this beautiful place.