If there is one place in Costa Rica that feels truly wild, it is Corcovado National Park, on the Osa Peninsula, Puntarenas. It was created in 1975 and protects one of the last large areas of tropical rainforest on the Pacific coast of Central America.
Biodiversity in its purest form
According to commonly cited estimates, the Osa Peninsula is home to about 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity in a very small area. National Geographic once described Corcovado as one of the most biologically intense places on Earth.
On its trails you may see:
- All four monkey species found in Costa Rica.
- Baird’s tapirs, the largest land mammal in the country.
- Scarlet macaws flying in pairs over the beach.
- Coatis, anteaters and, with a lot of luck, wild cat tracks.
Beaches without people
Corcovado’s landscape mixes rainforest and sea: long beaches, driftwood brought in by the waves, rivers flowing into the Pacific and forest that reaches the sand. It looks almost the same as it did hundreds of years ago.
| Location | Osa Peninsula, Puntarenas |
| Created | 1975 |
| Access | From Drake Bay, Puerto Jiménez or Carate |
| Requirement | Entry only with a certified guide |
Tips for your visit
- Entering with a certified guide is mandatory: plan your visit ahead of time.
- Ranger stations (such as Sirena) have limited space and must be booked in advance.
- Bring boots for crossing rivers and mud, insect repellent and plenty of water.
- This is an adventure to enjoy slowly: at least two days.
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