Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

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Corcovado National Park encompasses 44,484.56 terrestrial hectares and 5,375 marine hectares and contains a variety of ecosystems including forests, beaches, coral reefs, and mangrove and freshwater swamps. Corcovado has an unusually high level of biological diversity, which provides essential habitat for a number of endemic and endangered species, and which makes Corcovado, Costa Rica’s most biologically important protected lowland area, according to the Ministry of Environment . The Osa Conservation Area (ACOSA) possesses several protected areas, among these are Corcovado and Piedras Blancas National Parks, the Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve and Golfito Wildlife Refuge.

Corcovado National Park: Wildlife, Hiking, Activites And Tips

Scientists are still recognizing new and unique biological processes that occur in the Corcovado area.

Biologists recently discovered that Golfo Dulce, located just east of Corcovado, is a calving area for both northern and southern Pacific populations of humpback whales. This circumstance is unknown, and may prove essential for the preservation of genetic diversity of this species. These whales pass through the protected waters of Corcovado National Park and the Isla del Caño. Isla del Cano is a marine biological reserve.

Recently the highly endangered harpy eagle believed to be locally extinct in Corcovado National Park since 1989, was confirmed to still exist in the Park or to have returned.

Corcovado and the peninsula contain Photo courtesy of Osa Adventura

extremely high species diversity. Biologists estimate that the area contains approximately 10,000 species of insects, at least 2,418 species of plants, 700 species of trees, 140 species of mammals, 367 types of birds, 117 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 40 species of freshwater fish. An estimated 49 species of trees in the area are in danger of extinction, at least 12 of which are endemic to Costa Rica. In addition, the Osa Peninsula is the home of an endemic species of bird and 17 endemic subspecies of birds. Corcovado also contains the most significant populations of large endangered mammals such as jaguars, pumas, ocelots, white-lipped peccaries, and tapirs, on the Pacific coast of Central America. In addition Photo courtesy of Osa Adventura

to endangered mammals, there are relatively large populations of endangered birds in Corcovado including scarlet macaws and the great curassow.

Corcovado’s forests exemplify the popular conception of the tropical rain forest, with a multitude of species, very tall trees, spectacular buttresses, large woody lianas, and abundant herbaceous vines.

In sum, Corcovado represents one of the world’s most important sources for future knowledge about rainforest ecosystems and the conservation of biological diversity.

Hiking into the park is one of the most awe inspiring experiences of your life. Whether you enter from Carate or Los Patos can vary greatly depending on weather & tide conditions as well as your hiking speed. For an epic journey enter from Photo courtesy of Osa Adventura

San Pedrillo just south of Drake Bay and hike all the way to Sirena biological station which is 25 KM a 14 hour hike. From Carate it is much easier, only requiring a 16 KM hike generally 5-8 hours, depending on tide. From LaLeona Biological Station you cross four to six rivers which occasionally have visits from bullsharks and crocodiles as you carry your packs above your head! Keep your eyes open & have a blast!

Remember that the area of Corcovado National Park also offers plenty of options for hotels, accommodations_sub.php class='linking'>eco-lodges, lodges, inns, cabinas, resorts, accommodations of all kinds, diving & snorkeling, tours, hiking, guides, birding, horseback riding, tour guides, backpacking, canopy tours and so much more!

You can also enter from Los Patos Biological Station which requires crossing the Rio Rincon twenty to thirty times before even hitting the trail head. Check with park headquarters during the rainy season (May — November) to be sure you can access these trails.

National Parks have limited space so be sure to make a reservation well in advance, even in the rainy season. The park limits the number of people so you MUST have a reservation. Camping is allowed ONLY at the biological station with reservations. No matter which way you enter the park plan on a six to ten hour hike, unless you decide to fly in, which is possible from both Drake Bay & Puerto Jimenez. Corcovado office is located across from the airstrip in Puerto Jimenez, office hours are from 7:30 — 5 PM, Monday through Friday. Their phone number is 011-506-735-5036.