Corcovado National Park, on the Osa Peninsula, protects some of the wildest rainforest in Costa Rica. The day starts early with a boat ride along the coast and a wet landing on the beach, then you set off on foot with a certified guide.
Your guide reads tracks and listens for calls to find what lives here: scarlet macaws, peccaries, all four of the country's monkey species and, with luck, a Baird's tapir or an anteater. It is a long, hot day with plenty of walking, best if you love hiking and wildlife.
Highlights
- Scarlet macaws, peccaries and, with luck, a Baird's tapir
- All four of Costa Rica's monkey species: howler, spider, capuchin and squirrel monkeys
- An early boat ride along the coast of the Osa Peninsula
- Wet beach landings at the edge of the forest
Know before you go
- A certified guide has been mandatory in Corcovado since 2014, and Sirena has a daily visitor limit. I book permits as early as I can.
- The Sirena, El Tigre and Los Patos sectors close every October. San Pedrillo and La Leona stay open.
- December to April, the dry season, is the best time to go.
- Because of the long day in heat and humidity, I recommend it for kids from 8 years old.
- Wildlife is wild: tapirs and anteaters take luck, and no sighting is guaranteed.
How the day goes
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Boat to the park
About an hour from Drake Bay to the Sirena or San Pedrillo sector, or an hour and a half from Uvita to San Pedrillo. The boat lands on the beach, so expect wet feet.
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Guided rainforest walk
Forest trails at a slow pace, stopping wherever your guide spots an animal.
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Lunch and the boat back
Lunch in the park, then the boat ride back in the afternoon.
Included
- Boat transport from Drake Bay or Uvita
- Corcovado National Park permit
- Certified guide (required in Corcovado)
- Lunch
Not included
- Tips
What to bring
- Water shoes or sandals for the landings, plus hiking shoes for the trails
- A light long-sleeved shirt
- Insect repellent and sunscreen
- Refillable water bottle
- Dry bag for your phone and camera