The glacially eroded volcano is flanked by holocene cinder cones. Sirena station is an oasis in the corcovado national park jungle. This is chiles corcovado national park, one of the last great wilderness areas on earth. They are very strict at the entry to the park, you must be accompanied by a registered guide and they only allow a certain amount of. Encounter with a tapir on the beach, watching a herd of peccaries sainos and observe the fins of a bull shark when it enters the river seem to be scenes from an adventure film, but could be part of your reality if you visit the corcovado national park, it is 2. The osa peninsulas parque nacional corcovado hachette. At 164 square miles, its the largest national park in costa rica, the largest primary forest on the american pacific coastline, and one of the few remaining large areas of lowland tropical rainforests in the world. Our tour company is located in drake bay, near to corcovado, right in the heart of one of costa ricas most untouched ecological wonders the osa peninsula still holds many surprises. The park is over 163 square miles, covering nearly half of the osa peninsula, yet remains one of the most remote regions of costa rica.
Hi, myself and my girlfriend are looking to come to corcovado national park in july, we were planning to just turn up at puerto jimenez and book a. Corcovado is located in costa ricas south pacific region in the osa peninsula. From here, we went diving with cano divers, did a mangroves tour, the night tour with tracie the bug lady a must and a corcovado hike from sirena beach to the ranger station all fantastic tours. Logging here only began in the 1960s, so the land is relatively untouched by mankind and still contains types of vegetation. Flying into sirena station in corcovado, costa rica. The heat and humidity are often extreme, and frequent rainstorms can make trails fairly muddy. Besides the cleared field, there is a cluster of buildings linked by covered boardwalks so you never need to touch the ground once you arrive. Corcovado national park is located on the osa peninsula and was labeled the most biodiverse place on earth by a writer for national geographic magazine. My stupid mistake in corcovado national park, costa rica. Explore parque nacional corcovado holidays and discover the best time and places to visit. Until 1978, there was little access by land to the osa peninsula and the population in the region was scarce.
Gary hartshorns enthusiasm was only exceeded by the forests when he wrote in costa rican natural history that these forest are by far the most exuberant in. Goldwalker and the historical stories of the osa peninsula luna. Corcovado national park is one of the largest lowland tropical rainforests in central america and the best place in costa rica for wildlife watching. Corcovado national park is the backpacking experience of a lifetime. Located on costa ricas remote osa peninsula, corcovado national park has been referred to by national geographic as the most biologically intense place on earth in terms of biodiversity. A guide to visiting corcovado national park, costa rica. Corcovado national park preserves the last portion or fraction of the tropical rainforest in the pacific. Krugers revolutionary plan only fully came to fruition in. Corcovado national park is one of the most unique and biodiverse places on the planet and visiting the peninsula is a real treat for the nature lover. Corcovado national park is a national park on the osa peninsula in osa canton, southwestern costa rica, which is part of the osa conservation area. This was an added bonus for wildlife spotting and meant i didnt have to book a camp spot inside the park weeks in advance. History of the park the kruger national park was first established by the president of the transvaal, paul kruger, in 1898.
The series is intended to increase awareness of conservation history. Corcovado national park is the crown jewel of costa rica s national park system. Corcovado national park carate 2020 all you need to. Our epic guide includes tips on how to get there, when to go, where to stay, the wildlife youre likely to see, and how one lamebrained decision nearly sent me to the hospital in the remote osa peninsula. Corcovado national park the national park of the osa. Corcovado national park carate 2020 all you need to know.
Arrive to corcovado national park via drake bay drake bay is a popular hub for tourists who want easy access to corcovado national park, but also the convenience and affordability of staying in a small town. Located on the remote osa peninsula in southwest costa rica, corcovado protects the largest remaining expanse of primary rainforest on the pacific coast of central america. It was established on 24 october 1975, and encompasses an area of 424 square kilometres 164 sq mi. It is the largest park in costa rica and protects about a third of the osa peninsula. For a glimpse into the untold and mysterious history and stories of the osa. Corcovado national park is famous for holding 3% of the biodiversity on this side of the planet. The corcovado mountain is situated within the tijuca forest national park, enjoying a degree of protection. It is a 710metre 2,329 ft granite peak located in the tijuca forest, a national park. One of the most biodiverse regions in one of the most biodiverse countries on earth, the corcovado national park is a place.
Alas, the parks mammal populationnotably peccariesis under intense pressure from illegal hunting and logging. Designated in 1975, the largest park in costa rica also has the largest oldgrowth forest on the american pacific coastline. This great package trip includes transportation by boat from sierpe or drake bay to the lodge and back. Parque nacional corcovado travel costa rica lonely planet. Costa rica ecotourism is the countrys main factor for drawing in visitors each year. Visiting corcovado national park of the osa peninsula. My stupid mistake while hiking corcovado national park, costa rica. Corcovado packages tours, accommodations, and transportation. Encompassing more than 105,168 land acres and 8,288 marine acres, corcovado national park is the largest national park in costa rica and is considered the crown jewel of the countrys national parks and biological reserves.
It is the largest park in costa rica and protects about a third of the. Rising above it all is the corcovado volcano, whose striking form has been a landmark for travelers along the pacific coastline in southern chile for centuries. The most biologically intense place on earth is how organizations like the wwf or national geographic describe corcovado national park. The weather is the biggest obstacle to overnight backpacking trips through the park. The package also includes all meals, lodging in one of our tents, taxes and a guided tour to either cano island or corcovado national park sirena or san pedrillo.
It contains over five percent of the worlds animal population just within that small area, making it a popular ecotourism destination. The corcovado national park is one of costa ricas most wild and beautiful areas. Changes to corcovado national park regulations the following are changes to the regulations governing corcovado. Every year, more than six hundred thousand people are taken to christ the redeemers statue through the almost hundredyearold corcovados railway, the oldest tourist excursion in the country. Corcovado national park is located on the osa peninsula in the puntarenas province of southern costa rica. The 417squarekilometer 161squaremile corcovado national park could be described as costa ricas amazon given its remarkable biodiversity. Sometimes the best places on earth are the hardest to get tothis is definitely the case with costa ricas famous corcovado national park. The number of visitors allowed per day is regulated and reservations fill up quickly. See why you should visit costa rica, from the stunning orosi valley, wet tapanti national park, panoramic osa peninsula, lush tropical corcovado national park to escapism at places like chayote lodge along with all the best ecotourism activities costa rica has to offer. Recommended books, films and music in costa rica frommers.
For us it was our best national park in costa rica great for seeing the widest variety of wildlife compared for manuel antonio, monteverde and santa elena. The wildest area of the park was sirena ranger station, and i wanted to get there as quickly as possible. Corcovado national park is a hard nut to crack said my prospective guide as he outlined to me the various options for getting into this amazing national park in costa rica. Almost all the hotels in the area offer guided day trips to corcovado national park. Located in the southwestmost corner of costa rica on a large peninsula, the park is accessed only by foot, boat, or small charter plane. National audubon society field guide to north american. The corcovado national park is located in the osa peninsula, in the south pacific of costa rica. Parque nacional corcovado is a national park on the osa peninsula in osa canton, southwestern costa rica 9 north. Corcovado national park visit costa rica costa rica. Corcovado national park osa peninsula, costa rica the skinny.
Corcovado also has a large population of peccaries. This was the first national park we visited and it was very early into our trip and it was the highlight. Exploring corcovado national park is not something to be undertaken lightly, but neither is it the expedition that some people make it out to be. Vizcaino, antonio, lagos, ricardo, tompkins, douglas, butler, tom. Corcovado is also the largest national park in costa rica, as well as the most remote. Thats when his son, cody roman dial, 27, walked alone into costa ricas corcovado national park, a barely mapped rainforest along the pacific coast. It encompasses the only remaining old growth wet forests on the pacific coast of central america, and major ecosystems including lowland rain forest, highland cloud forest, jolillo palm forest, and mangrove swamps, as well as coastal marine and beach habitats. Drake is an excellent destination to get a true feel of the rich biodiversity of the osa peninsula. A corcovado national park tour is a wonderfully experience. Corcovado national park is a breathtaking site no matter how many times your tour its vast unspoiled beauty. Drake bay town w ac, gateway to corcovado national park. A very bold statement for a place that represents less than 0. Corcovado national park tour drake bay cano island. Corcovado national park was established in 1975 with an approximate land area of 45,914 ha.
The 10 best corcovado national park hotel deals apr 2020. See more ideas about corcovado national park, national park tours and national parks. At 164 square miles, its the largest national park in costa rica, the largest primary forest on the american. In fact, there is a shoes off policy upon arrival to keep the property clean for all guests on corcovado national park tours. The best place to full explore it is staying in a lodge near drake bay, the northern part of the park. Natural history tropical nature by adrian forsyth and ken miyata is a wonderfully written and lively collection of tales and adventures by two neotropical biologists who spent quite some time in the forests of costa rica mario a. Corcovado national park costa rica costa rica guide.
The park is home to one of the largest primary rainforests on the pacific coastline and extends over 103,000 acres. The trees here can soar higher than 75 meters 246 feet in. Realising that the lowveld animals needed to be protected, the area between the sabie and crocodile rivers was set aside for restricted hunting in 1884. However, this mountain is notable, not only for its natural beauty and prime positioning, but also because it is the foothold of the globally recognised statue called christ the redeemer. Located on top of corcovados mount, in the tijuca national park, the monument is the bestknown brazilian image, famous all over the world. Guide associations on the osa peninsula are trying to reverse these change, but for the time being they hold. The parks lowland tropical rainforest hosts many endangered species, like bairds tapirs, squirrel monkeys and jaguars. Located on the osa peninsula, corcovado national park was named by national geographic as one of the most biologically intense places on earth. There are two versions about the origin of the name corcovado, the first talks about the shape of a rock located on the beach, which has a shape similar to a hump curvature, hence people started referring to the site by that name.
Corcovado national park is the best place to see wildlife in costa rica when you consider that costa rica is one of the best places in the world for wildlife watching, thats saying something corcovado is located on the remote osa peninsula in southwest costa rica. It is widely considered the crown jewel in the extensive system of national parks and biological reserves spread across the country. A guide to the best national parks outside the usa. Hiking corcovado national park day tour bahia aventuras. Bozas beautiful costa rica national parks has been reissued in an elegant coffeetable edition. This lush natural paradise is located on the remote osa peninsula and is home to an extensive variety of flora and fauna some of which found no other place on the planet. It was established on 24 october 1975, and encompasses an area of 424 square kilometres.
Wildlife in corcovado national park, costa rica photos. Corcovado national park in puerto jimenez frommers. The volcanos base has likely prehistoric lava flows that are densely vegetated. Protecting 41,788 hectares of shallow lagoons, marsh, mangrove swamps, rivers, wet forest and lowaltitude cloud forest, as well as 46 kilometers of sandy beach, corcovado is one of central americas most unique ecosystems. The corcovado national park is one of costa ricas best nature spots for ecotourism. The corcovado national park was names by national geographic as one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet and when.
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