Corcovado National Park

Established in 1975 and extended in 1980, the 43.735-hectare Corcovado National Park encompasses 13 major ecosystems, ranging from sea level to 745 meters. Its rainforests are by far the most exuberant in Central America, and its trees are comparable in grandeur to the best that the Amazon Basin and the South East Asian forests have to offer. Indeed, Corcovado Park holds the largest tree in Central America, a giant Silk Cotton tree (Ceiba pentandra) 77 meters tall. The Park embraces the largest remaining tract of Pacific Tropical Wet Forest in Central America.

The park is patrolled from six ranger stations, four of which host visitors. La Leona on the southern coastal boundary of the Park; San Pedrillo on the northern coastal boundary; Los Patos to the east. La Sirena is the largest Rangers Station and is the nucleus of Corcovado. It is also a research station.

The journey into the most dramatic area of the park (La Sirena Ranger Station) can be long and strenuous – we recommend flying into La Sirena for a one day journey in and out. This makes it easy to experience the heart of the Corcovado National Park for the day. From Puerto Jimenez (40 min from Encanta La Vida) the station is a 10 minute flight. The flight itself is a short but impressive journey over the virgin rainforests of the Osa.

Alternatively you can drive or taxi one hour to Carate, at the edge of the park, and walk 4 km to the park entrance. La Sirena is a 5 hour hike from the park entrance.