Corcovado National Park, on the Osa Peninsula in southern Costa Rica, is the country’s best park for wildlife: Baird’s tapirs, all four of Costa Rica’s monkey species, scarlet macaws, coatis and, with a lot of luck, a jaguar. It’s also one of the hardest to reach. You can only enter with a certified guide, so most people visit on a guided day trip or an overnight tour from Drake Bay or Puerto Jiménez. Expect to pay about $15 to $20 a day in park fees, roughly $110 to $150 for a day tour and $345 or more for a two-day trip with a night at Sirena ranger station.
This guide is for travelers deciding if and how to visit Corcovado. It covers the rules, the ranger stations, day trips vs. overnight tours, hiking routes, how to get there, when to go and what to pack.
| Corcovado National Park | At a glance |
|---|---|
| Where | Osa Peninsula, South Pacific coast |
| Gateways | Drake Bay (north side) and Puerto Jiménez (east side) |
| Guide | Required for every visitor |
| Park fee | About $15–$20 per day for foreign adults |
| Tours | Day tours about $110–$150; two days with a night at Sirena from about $345 |
| Best station for wildlife | Sirena |
| Best months | December to April (drier); Sirena closes to visitors in October |
Why go
Why Visit Corcovado National Park?
Created in 1975, Corcovado protects about 42,000 hectares (roughly 164 square miles) of lowland rainforest, rivers, mangroves and wild beaches. It’s often described as holding about 2.5% of the planet’s biodiversity, and it’s one of the few places in Central America where large animals are still fairly common.
- Likely sightings: spider, howler, squirrel and white-faced monkeys; coatis; agoutis; scarlet macaws; toucans; and, at Sirena, Baird’s tapirs, which guides see on most days.
- Possible: sloths, anteaters, peccaries, crocodiles and many snakes and frogs.
- Rare: jaguars, pumas, ocelots and harpy eagles. Guides see them occasionally; most visitors don’t.
Who it’s best for: wildlife lovers and hikers who don’t mind heat, mud and early starts. Who should skip it: travelers short on time or wanting easy trails and facilities; Manuel Antonio is a far easier first park. For more, see our Costa Rica wildlife guide.
Rules
Visiting Corcovado National Park: Rules, Fees and Permits
- Guide required: since 2014, every visitor must enter with a certified guide. Rangers check at the stations.
- Park fee: about $15 to $20 per day for foreign adults, less for children and residents. Tour prices usually include it.
- Daily limits: each station has a cap. Sirena allows 366 people a day, including 105 overnight guests; San Pedrillo allows 120, and La Leona, Los Patos and El Tigre 80 each.
- Booking: reservations go through SINAC, the park service, and must include a certified guide, so in practice you book through a tour operator. See how SINAC park tickets work.
- Book ahead: December to April and holiday weeks sell out, sometimes weeks in advance, especially overnight spaces at Sirena.
Stations
Corcovado Ranger Stations: Which Entry Point?
| Station | Access | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sirena | Boat from Drake Bay, Sierpe or Puerto Jiménez, or a long hike | The best wildlife; the main station for overnight stays |
| San Pedrillo | Boat from Drake Bay | Shorter forest trails and a waterfall; a good day trip |
| La Leona | From Carate, south of Puerto Jiménez | Beach and forest walks; the start of the coastal hike to Sirena |
| Los Patos | By road via La Palma | Inland start of a hard, hilly hike to Sirena |
| El Tigre | Inland, near Puerto Jiménez | Quieter forest trails |
For most visitors, Sirena is the one to pick. It sits in the middle of the park, where animals are most used to people and most often seen. San Pedrillo is the easier, cheaper day from Drake Bay.
Tours
Corcovado Tours: Day Trip or Overnight?
- Sirena day trip from Drake Bay: about $110 to $150, usually leaving around 6 a.m. by boat, with guide, park fee and lunch. You get roughly a morning of hiking near the station.
- San Pedrillo day trip: about $100, with shorter trails.
- Sirena day trip from Puerto Jiménez or Sierpe: about $140 to $150, with a longer boat ride.
- Two days with a night at Sirena: from about $345, more with private guides. You get the late-afternoon and early-morning hours, the best times for wildlife.
If you can, stay overnight. A day trip spends much of its time in the boat, and the midday hours at Sirena are the hottest and quietest. Lodging at Sirena is basic: shared bunk rooms and simple meals.
Hike
Hiking in Corcovado
- Trails around Sirena: flat loops through forest and along rivers, where most tapir and monkey sightings happen.
- La Leona to Sirena: about 15 to 16 km (around 10 miles), mostly flat along beaches and forest edges, and usually around eight hours. It’s hot, with sections timed around the tides. Carate to La Leona adds about a 45-minute beach walk.
- Los Patos to Sirena: about 20 km (12 miles) of hilly inland trail, about eight to nine hours. Only for fit, experienced hikers.
- San Pedrillo trails: shorter routes, good for a first taste of the park.
Your guide decides the pace and the route, and may change plans for tides, river levels or weather. Read our tips on hiking in Costa Rica.
Getting there
How to Get to Corcovado National Park
Drake Bay (north side)
- Fly: Sansa flies from San José to Drake Bay in about 45 to 50 minutes, from about $150 to $180 one way, with a low baggage limit. See our guide to Costa Rica domestic airlines.
- Drive or bus, then boat: get to Sierpe (about five hours by car from San José, longer by Tracopa bus), then take the boat down the Sierpe River to Drake Bay, about 1 to 1.5 hours for about $20. Boats usually leave around 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Expect a wet landing on the beach.
- Bring cash: Sierpe and Drake Bay have no ATMs, so withdraw money in Palmar Norte on the way.
Puerto Jiménez (east side)
- Fly: Sansa also serves Puerto Jiménez from San José.
- Drive: Puerto Jiménez is a long drive from San José; break the trip on the way down. See our guide to driving in Costa Rica.
- To Carate and La Leona: a colectivo (shared truck) leaves Puerto Jiménez around 6 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for about $18, or a taxi costs from about $80. The road is rough and crosses rivers, so drive it only in a 4×4.
Timing
Best Time to Visit Corcovado
December to April is the drier season, with easier trails and the most visitors; book well ahead. May to November brings heavy rain, deep mud and higher rivers, but fewer people. October is usually the wettest month, and Sirena closes to visitors then. Wildlife is there year-round. See the best time to visit Costa Rica by region.
Tips
What to Pack and Safety Tips
- Pack light: leave big bags at your lodge. Bring quick-dry clothes, closed shoes that can get wet, a rain jacket, a hat and a dry bag for your phone and camera.
- Water and snacks: carry plenty; it’s hot and humid, and there are no shops inside the park.
- Repellent and sunscreen, plus binoculars if you have them.
- Snakes: stay on the trail and watch where you put your hands and feet; your guide will point out the venomous ones, such as the fer-de-lance.
- Water hazards: don’t swim in river mouths, which can have crocodiles and bull sharks. Read about crocodiles in Costa Rica.
- Connectivity: expect little or no cell signal in the park.
See our full Costa Rica packing list. Near Drake Bay, you can add a snorkel trip to Caño Island; on the way down the coast, Marino Ballena National Park is a good stop.
FAQ
Corcovado National Park FAQ
Do you need a guide to visit Corcovado National Park?
Yes. Since 2014, all visitors must enter with a certified guide, and rangers check at the stations. Most people book a tour that includes the guide, park fee and transport.
How much does it cost to visit Corcovado?
The park fee is about $15 to $20 per day for foreign adults. Day tours run about $110 to $150, and a two-day trip with a night at Sirena starts at about $345.
Is Drake Bay or Puerto Jiménez better for Corcovado?
Drake Bay is better for boat day trips to Sirena and San Pedrillo. Puerto Jiménez is better for the La Leona and Los Patos hikes and has more services.
Can you visit Corcovado in a day?
Yes. Day trips from Drake Bay to Sirena or San Pedrillo are the most common way to visit. An overnight at Sirena gives you better wildlife odds.
Can you stay overnight in Corcovado?
Yes, at Sirena ranger station, in basic shared bunk rooms with simple meals, booked through a tour operator. Overnight spaces are limited and have been reduced at times, so book early.
When is Corcovado closed?
Sirena closes to visitors in October. Other stations can close after heavy rain, so check with your operator.
The short version
Corcovado is Costa Rica’s best park for wildlife, and you must visit with a certified guide.
Base yourself in Drake Bay or Puerto Jiménez, and stay a night at Sirena if you can.
Go December to April, avoid October, book early and pack light.