Hiking Corcovado National Park
The Corcovado National National Park named by National Geographic as “One of the most biodiverse places in the world” is a sanctuary for life of incomparable beauty. This National Park covers 40% of the Osa Peninsula, and is considered the most important of Costa Rica due to its virgin old growth forests which captivates visitors and envelopes them with the smells and sounds of the jungle.
The incredible variety of ecosystems that Corcovado National Park possesses includes forests, beaches, coral reefs, mangroves, rivers, and marshland. There are 375 species of birds of which 18 are native to this part of the world, 124 species of land based mammals (58 of these being bats), 61 species of sweet water fish, approximately 8000 species of insects, 71 species of reptiles, and 46 species of amphibians. This park is a bastion of biological diversity, as it is home to half of our countries animal species, one of these examples being the largest population of red scarlet macaws. There are also many other species present which are in danger of extinction, like the Baird tapir, the giant ant eater and the largest bird of prey the harpy eagle.
This tour departs by boat from Punta Uvita beach at 7:30 am, and arrives approximately 1.5 hour later to San Pedrillo Ranger Station in Corcovado National Park. A safety talk and a review of the itinerary will be held in the operation before departing, also there will be access to a coffee station (Coffee, Tea, fruit, toast, natural juice) . As soon the boat arrives at Corcovado the guide will lead the group to the ranger station, there are facilities like toilets and showers. The trails at San Pedrillo station are flat and easy for all types of people however the tropical forest is warm during the dry season December to April and rainy from May to November.
You would be able to hike in one of the most extensive trails of this sector of Corcovado with a duration of approximately 2.5-3 hours. The path is totally flat and crosses primary forest as well as income towards the beach where the guides will show very interesting coastal vegetation. Along this trail you might be able to see many mammals such as spider, howler, and white-faced monkeys, sloths, coatis, raccoons, and tapirs as well as a great variety of birds, plants, and trees with over one hundred years of existence and in danger of extinction.
Then you will return to the ranger station to get on board again and navigate 10 minutes to a beautiful beach named San Josecito beach where you will enjoy a delicious lunch in front of the ocean. After lunch and if there is enough time, the guide will offer a short hike to look for more wildlife or just a time for swimming or relaxing on the sand made of shells and corals. The boat will leave the beach at 2.30 pm and expected to arrive in Uvita between 3.30 and 4.00 pm.
During boat transit from Uvita beach to Corcovado National Park you may observe whales, dolphins, turtles, marine birds and fantastic views of the southern pacific coast of Costa Rica.