Famous for its preserved rainforests, the Corcovado National Park is the crown jewel of Costa Rica. This little slice of paradise, located on a remote Osa Peninsula, is an area of dense lowland rainforest, premontane rainforest, and mangroves. Over 3 days you’ll discover a large population of endangered animals that inhabit the green forests, golden beaches, and crystalline streams that flow into the Golfo Dulce, one of the world’s only tropical fjords. The most common animals to be seen include monkeys, sloths, peccaries, tapirs, and a variety of birds such as toucans, fiery-billed aracaris, and scarlet macaws. Your main destination will be Sirena, a remote outpost surrounded by virgin rainforest—arguably the best place for wildlife watching in Costa Rica. Hiking trails radiate out from the ranger station, twisting through dramatic virgin rainforest between the Río Claro and Río Sirena. Explore the last humid tropical forest refuge of the Pacific Coast with a naturalist guide who will point out fascinating sights you might otherwise miss.
We spent three days in Corcovado national park, staying overnight at Sirena Station. The trip was arranged by Cindy at Tropical Escapade and our guide was Gerson. We had a fantastic time. The jungle was incredible and we saw so many animals (four kinds of monkeys, tapirs, anteaters, fer-de-lance snakes, poison dart frogs, you name it). But the best part was our guide Gerson. He not only knew the name and an interesting fact about seemingly every bird, bug and plant, but he made the trip fun and engaging for our diverse group that ranged from bird-obsessed adults to decidedly non-bird-obsessed teens. The food at the station was generous and delicious, and while the sleeping quarters were pretty tight overall the station was well-run and organized. Working with Cindy in advance to arrange the trip was also a great experience – she is super organized, answers questions patiently and had the lowest price of the three companies that I got quotes from. If I could give them six stars I would!
This tour was our last tour of our Costa Rica trip. We went to another entrance of Corcovado on an earlier tour, so we hoped that this tour would not be exactly the same. And what an addition it was! Our guide was super friendly, nice, and showed us so many animals! We even saw a deer, squirrel monkeys, two anteaters and two tapirs! So amazing. We had the best time and we really felt like this was the best ending of our Costa Rica trip as possible.
I have done a few tours with Tropical Escapade during my time in Costa Rica so far, and they all have been amazing experiences! I went on a guided hike near Corcovado National Park and saw a ton of wildlife! Carlos, my guide, was able to tell me what every spider, snake, and animal was that we came across. I also had a hands-on experience processing cacao by hand, which was so fun and something I’ll never forget! Cindy was my guide for that process, as well as hiking to a waterfall in the area which was beautiful and super remote! My group had the place to ourselves while we were there. Overall I’ve had awesome experiences with Tropical Escapade, and will book more tours through them while I’m in Costa Rica!
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica, please refer to the Costa Rica Tourism Official Website.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
What you get on this adventure:
Accommodations are very basic—dormitory-style rooms, each with two bunk beds and one single bed. Bedding is provided. Private rooms are only available if space permits; otherwise you’ll share a bedroom with other guests.
What’s not included:
The best thing about hiking in Corcovado is that there are incredible options for all skill levels. Hiking from La Leona to Sirena is suitable for less experienced hikers. There are plenty of beginner to intermediate trails in the area. If you can walk for four to six hours with little elevation gain, you are good to go!
It is essential to have previous trekking experience and an excellent physical condition to hike from Sirena to Los Patos. Walking at a moderate-fast speed is necessary. Be prepared for broken topography and humidity, excessive warm weather, slippery land and the weight of your backpack filled with water and other things you’ll need throughout the day.
Traveling by boat is the most popular option for those who don’t want to spend 6–9 hours hiking through the rainforest. Boats to Sirena Ranger Station depart daily from Drake Bay.
The waters around Osa Peninsula contain 23 marine mammal species, including superpods of spinner dolphins and migrating humpback whales. Boat ride allows you to see some wildlife and sights that can’t be seen from the mainland. Observe marine life such as bull sharks and sea turtles, watch out for mammals on the beach, and once you reach Drake Bay, enjoy the views of the Llorona waterfall—a 100-foot waterfall that marks the end of the Las Marias Trail from Corcovado’s Sirena Station.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Remember that you are in the tropics. On the Osa Peninsula, temperatures seldom drop below 27°C (80°F) in the rainy season and may exceed 35°C (95°F) in the dry season. Combined with the high humidity (60 – 100%), conditions here can become uncomfortable. Physical activity in such conditions is much more tiring than in cooler climes, and unless you take the appropriate precautions, sunburn, heat exhaustion, sunstroke and dehydration are likely consequences. Your guide will give you precautionary advice during adventure tours.
Corcovado expects 4 to 7 meters (160 to 280 inches) of rainfall annually, mainly between the months of April and November, heaviest in October. During this period, it rains every day, with heavy showers in the afternoon and evening. These thunderstorms, if they persist, can interrupt schedules as a result of swollen rivers and flooding. During such times Corcovado Park can be inaccessible and roads impassable. Throughout the rainy season forest trails will be muddy and in places slippery.
Group sizes and prices:
Hiking in Corcovado National Park can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to Corcoavdo, most people fly into San Jose International Airport about 6 hours from the Osa Peninsula. From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service to the meeting point.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at the guide shop or a predetermined location in Puerto Jiménez or Drake Bay.
A 30% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 3 months (90 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.
We spent three days in Corcovado national park, staying overnight at Sirena Station. The trip was arranged by Cindy at Tropical Escapade and our guide was Gerson. We had a fantastic time. The jungle was incredible and we saw so many animals (four kinds of monkeys, tapirs, anteaters, fer-de-lance snakes, poison dart frogs, you name it). But the best part was our guide Gerson. He not only knew the name and an interesting fact about seemingly every bird, bug and plant, but he made the trip fun and engaging for our diverse group that ranged from bird-obsessed adults to decidedly non-bird-obsessed teens. The food at the station was generous and delicious, and while the sleeping quarters were pretty tight overall the station was well-run and organized. Working with Cindy in advance to arrange the trip was also a great experience – she is super organized, answers questions patiently and had the lowest price of the three companies that I got quotes from. If I could give them six stars I would!