Corcovado

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Parque Nacional Corcovado is located on the Osa peninsula in the southwest of Costa Rica.

	corcovado Travel Guide : 1 Understand 1.1 History 1.2 Landscape 1.3 Flora and fauna 1.4 Climate 2 Get in 2.1 By bus 2.2 By 4WD 2.3 By foot 2.4 By air 3 Fees/Permits 4 Get around 4.1 Trails 5 See 6 Do 7 Buy 8 Eat 9 Drink 10 Sleep 10.1 Lodging 10.2 Camping 10.3 Backcountry 11 Respect 12 Stay safe 12.1 Basic considerations 12.2 Other precautions 13 Get out 14 External links

Understand

While the park is one of the more remote in the national park system, Corcovado provides excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.

History

• The park was established on October 24, 1975.

Landscape

Flora and fauna

Corcovado boasts all four monkey species of Costa Rica (squirrel, white-faced, howler, and spider), many endangered large cat species and other mammals, birds, and a host of exotic frog, fungi, and insect species. Corcovado has such an impressive biodiversity partly because it encompasses many different microclimates and types of terrain, but mostly because it is isolated from heavy human impact.

Climate

• Dry season. Running from mid-December until mid-April with occasional rain showers.
• Wet season. Running mid-April until mid-December.

Get in

Travel to and through the park is perilous and is best accomplished during the dry season.

• Puerto Jimenez. This is the nearest sizeable town to the park and most people entering the park will probably need to pass through this town.
• Park Entrances:
  • From the north. Travel along the beach through San Pedrillo.
  • From the south. Travel along the beach through Carate.
  • From the east. Through Los Patos.

By bus

• Regular bus service is available to Puerto Jimenez. Passenger truck service from Puerto Jimenez to the southern entrance at Carate occurs on a biweekly or greater basis.

By 4WD

All roads on the Osa Peninsula exhibit the disrepair characteristic of Costa Rica outside of the main tourist destinations. The road from Puerto Jimenez to Carate require a 4WD vehicle as it is a gravel road with several required river fordings. It recommended that this drive should only be attempted during the dry season. Note that Carate is next to the beach. Take care not to pass Carate as it is poorly marked. Parking is available by paying the store/bus stop which is Carate.

• 4WD Taxis are available for the passage to Puerto Jimenez.

By foot

• From Carate, it is a 4 km walk on the beach to the park entrance at the ranger station Las Leonas. Park permits and camping are available at the ranger station.

By air

• Small planes fly from the city of Golfito on the mainland directly to the small airstrip at the central ranger station.

Fees/Permits

Get around

Trails

• La Leona to La Sirena. The 20km long hike to La Leona is on a trail which is on and off the beach. It is imperative that visitors time the hike so as to arrive at the river fording 2 km shy of La Sirena at the lowest possible tide.

• Los Patos to La Sirena. This hike is approximately eight hours through secondary rainforest. The trail slopes slightly down toward La Sirena.

• San Pedrillo to La Sirena. This hike is approximately thirteen or fourteen hours and is almost entirely along the beach.

• Drake to San Pedrillo. This trail is outside of the park and leads to its entrance. The hike is approximately six hours along the beach and just inside the forest.

See

• Wildlife. The park is home to:
  • Over 350 species of birds including Scarlet Macaws .
  • 116 types of amphibians and reptiles including poison dart frogs.
  • 139 mammals, including Tapirs, Squirrel Monkeys, and large cats such as Puma and Jaguar.
• Natural Beauty:
  • Natural rock formations.
  • Waterfalls.
  • Beaches.
  • Rivers.
  • Rainforest. It grows reaches right up to the oceans.

Do

• Visit La Sirena. In fact it is recommended that you spend as much time as possible here since it makes a good central base for exploring the park. It is located 20km from each entrance.
• Take pictures. Take as many as possible so as to enjoy the beauty long after you have left.
• Kayak. Ask the locals for a kayak ride through the rainforest.
• Hire a guide. The guides know the animals' habits and are able to tell you where the tapirs normal routes are. However, be sure to also make sure to take the time to explore on your own.

Buy

• There is nothing for sale within the park, including food or souvieners.

Eat

• Meals are available at the central ranger station with advance reservation.
• People often bring food inside the park with them. Commonly it is food that is easy to pack, lightweight, and non-perishable such as pastas, rice, beans, or soup packets.

Drink

• There is potable water available at each Ranger Station.
• Remember to carry plenty of water during your hikes. If staying for multiple days, many people choose to bring powdered drink mixes.

Sleep

Lodging

• Beds are available at the Sirena ranger station with advance reservation. You will need to bring your own bedsheets.
• La Leona Eco-Lodge, 1 (http://www.laleonalodge.com/). A tent-camp lodge offering packages with or without meals. Located at the La Leona station at the southeast border of the park.

Camping

• Camping is possible only at the ranger stations at the entrances and at the central ranger station. The central ranger station is a series adjoining structures connected by covered walkway. A covered platform next to a kitchen area and restroom provides needed shelter for pitching free standing tents and mosquito nets.

Backcountry

• Backcountry camping is not permitted within the park due to the fragile ecosystem.

Respect

The reason Corcovado is so amazing is because it has been so remote and a conscious decision to keep it beautiful is required.

• Carry out all trash and waste and leave no mark.

• Please pick up any trash you see that was left inside the park.

• Encourage others to do the same.

Stay safe

Basic considerations

• Drinking water. The water at the ranger stations is supposedly potable, but it is advised to bring in all of your own water.
• Sunscreen. The walk from La Leona to La Sirena is very exposed and it is very ill-advised to not wear proper protection.
• Bugspray. Malaria is a possible threat in this region.
• Buddy or Guide. Stay safe, walk as a team.

Other precautions

• Avoid swimming. The ocean tides in this area are strong and there could be parasites, aligators, and bull sharks in the rivers.
• Snakes. There are Fer de Lance and various other poisonous snakes here.
• Nature's defenses. Be careful of trees covered by thorns, spines, or ants.
• Wild pigs. There are two different species of wild boars in Corcovado. They run in packs and can be very aggressive. If surrounded by wild boars, climb until you are six feet or higher off the ground.

• Emergencies. Park officials all own short wave radios and there is a pilot on-call. There are landing strips at Drake, La Sirena ranger station, and in Puerto Jiminez. There is also a local doctor in Drake.

Get out

External links

• http://www.osanatural.com/Corcovado/corcovado_national_park..htm

• http://www.costaricanexpions.com/

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