Corcovado

Read Christoffer Steffens Corcovado Travel Report and see more awesome pics in Costa Rica Spirits,  1st edition, 2010

Because the access to Corcovado Nationalpark is difficult, you need about 3-5 days for your trip. A good physical condition is highly recommended.

Corcovado National Park was created in 1975 over an area of 46,866 ha of which the marine habitat is over 4,306 ha. The rest is land habitat, principally montane forest. The park is localized on the Peninsula Osa (Province Puntarenas), in the South-West of Costa Rica. It is like the whole country of volcanic origin and one of the eldest parts of the country.

The beaches are black because of their volcanic origin.	Tapir

 

Corcovado National Park is surrounded by other Nature Reserves. This protects the park even more against human immissions.

It is one of the wettest parts of the country. And the surface area of the South-East part of the park has inclines of more than 45º.  In other parts of the park there are inclines of between 20-45º. Only about 30% of the surface area of the park has inclines under 10%. Therefore, a good physical condition is required if visiting the park.

Before the creation of Corcovado National Park in 1975 it was inhabited by gold washers and farmers. Their acitivities had bad impacts on the areas ecology. Besides, the commercial deforestation by a company called Osa Productos Forestales threatened the area. For these reasons in 1975 the area has been declared National Park and the inhabitants had been compensated.

Its principal habitats are montane forest. But it also contains swamp forest that is flooded almost all year round. The canopy of the trees reaches over 50 meters. In Corcovado National Park grows what is regarded as the biggest tree in the country, the Ceiba Tree, which at over 60 meters high towers above the high forest canopy.

The parks contains a great variety of species of flora and fauna. There are about 500 tree species and more than 150 mammals. Many of them endangered animals like the tapir, the jaguar, jaguarundi, the ocelot, the collared-peccary, the giant anteater, the Squirrel Monkey or the scarlet macaw (Lapa Roja). Several hundred bird species have been counted.

The beaches are black because of their volcanic origin. They are laying sites of marine turtles. Whales regularly visit the protected marine area of Corcovado National Park between December and April and between August and October. Also dolphins and bull sharks are common.

 

Access routes:

1) From San José by car, bus or aircraft to Golfito. From Golfito by boat to Puerto Jimenez (11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.). From Puerto Jimenez there are several possibilities of entrance:

1a) Shuttle-Taxi (6 a.m. and 1 p.m.) for about $ 6

1b) Private Taxi Service for about $ 50-80

The road finishes about 3 km before the Entrance LA LEONA. The SIRENA BIOLOGICAL STATION is in a walking distance of 16 km to the LA LEONA entrance. The LA LEONA entrance is the most popular.

2) By boat from Puerto Jimenez to the SIRENA BIOLOGICAL STATION.

3) By small plane from Puerto Jimenez to Carate (www.alfaromeoair.com; www.flysansa.com; www.natureair.com). There are also connections from San José to Puerto Jimenez. Then by foot to LA LEONA entrance.

4) From La Palma (north-west of Puerto Jimenez) by car 2km (but not recommended during rainy season) close to LOS PATOS entrance.

5) From Agujitas (Drake Bay) by foot (16km) or boat to the SAN PEDRILLO entrance. A very good physical condition is needed.

 

Within Corcovado National Park you will find several trails:

La Leona - Sirena (18 km, about 7-9 hours): Salsipuedes Trail along the coast to the airfield at  (only at low tide; accessible the whole year). The station is at the end of the airfield.

Sirena - Los Patos (23 km, about 8-10 hours): Puesto Los Patos Trail (accessible only during dry season)

San Pedrillo-Sirena (24 km, about 11 hours)

 

The administration office is in Puerto Jimenez. Reservations for the entrance and the overnight stay in SIRENA BIOLOGICAL STATION have to be done. Phone: (00506) 2735-5036 oder (00506) 2735-5580.

It is recommended to make guided tours. 

Contact for Tours & Hotels: El Remanso Rainforest Wildlife Lodge; Golfo Dulce Eco-Lodge; Mapache Tours