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An Insight into Corcovado National Park

"Flying in to Drake bay"

This park is pretty hard to get to but well worth the trip - about 8 to 10 hours by car/boat (there is no road access to the north). If this is your second trip to Costa Rica, Cocovado will become a must see once you learn a little about it.

In the south you can enter through Carate by road. There are a few nice hotels on the southern end of the peninsular of Osa (near Pueto Jimenez) and along the southern tip aswell. You will also find some lodges at the northern end accesible primarily by the Drake Bay air strip.

Covering one-third of the Osa Peninsula this forest is barely disturbed by human presence thanks to the access and distance from San Jose.

Unquestionably, Corcovado is a spectacular virgin rain forest.

"Coatis foraging for coconut"

The reputation of this huge forest is totally justified. For us, our trips to Corcovado were almost life changing experiences and not to be missed. Many of the largest trees can grow to heights of 50 meters or more sport enormous buttresses around their bases. Upon close inspection, a botanist could discover as many as 100 different species of trees on any given hectare in this habitat. Consider all of the varied kinds of vines, shrubs, and epiphytes and you've got an incredibly diverse flora.

"Just another Buttress"

Did we mention the insect population? For example, the Osa has been estimated to be home to as many as 10,000 insect species, and researchers have identified 42 species of frogs, 28 species of lizards, 123 species of butterflies, and 16 species of hummingbirds. All six species of cats found in Costa Rica are known to exist in this wilderness area, as are the four native species of monkeys.

Additionally, Corcovado supports the country's largest populations of White-lipped Peccaries and Scarlet Macaws, both greatly endangered species due to loss of habitat and hunting. This great biological diversity still exists in Corcovado because the park has suffered relatively little disturbance by humans in the past. We suggest this trip on your second visit to Costa Rica as it requires an appreciation of what Costa Rica is all about (in our opinion anyway). If you want a wildlife experience let us not deter you from this beautiful place.

If you'd like to visit Cocovado National Park email us at: InsightCostaRica for information or ideas?