Wildlife Trekking in the Corcovado Forest

Trekking in the Osa Peninsula’s Shangri-La for the Best Wildlife Spotting and Photography

In the centre of the Osa Peninsula, on the sides of the highest mountains of the Corcovado, surrounded by the Land of the National Park that  the took the same name, there is the Shangri-la of the Wildlife Trekker.

In this enchanted Rainforest Area is possible to find and observe in their pristine habitat, most of the Animal and Vegetal Species that form the Osa Peninsula unsurpassed Biological Inventory, the same that motivate the People of National Geographic to declare that this is “ the most biologically intense place on Earth  ”

Here, we bring our Trekkers for to enjoy the Incredible Biodiversity while sharing the everyday Life, House and Food of the Local People, without all the hassles and the rigid formality of the National Park management.

Here, we bring our Explorers to Night Hikes in the Forest, thing absolutely forbidden inside the borders of the National Park, searching for the many, many species of Frogs, Mammals, Reptiles and Birds that intensively populate these Woods, in their eternal game of Life and Death.

Here, is the only place where is still possible to meet, the only snake in the world that could fight and win with a King Cobra…The Bushmaster…or better, and endemic separate specie of the Lachesis muta , the Osa Peninsula’s Lachesis muta melanocephala , locally know as the Plato Negro, the Black Dish, referred to the wide, black top of its head.

For to see and study this Animal, many Scientists and Natural Photographer flock here every year trying their luck in the search of the best specimen.

 

But if this one is the most coveted catch for a Wildlife Trekker, the abundance of all the other animals, compensate the reduced opportunity to spot it, for a Wildlife Photographer, there is, literally, the problem of the choice amongst the hundreds of encounters that a single day can offer.

From this Privileged location, we guide our Trekkers along several Forest, Creeks and River hidden Paths, so little used during the year that they need periodically operation of cleaning from the fast growing vegetation, Paths that can bring, crossing the whole Osa in a three days Trek, until the Pacific Ocean coast.

Or, after having walked the Mountain Cloud Forests around, the last day we can do a River Kayaking Descent from the Centre of the Osa, down to the Mangrove Forest and the shores of the Golfo Dulce, a route that we, for the first time ever, opened this Year, and are very proud to offer it to the Trekkers that really want to stay away from the beaten paths and the mass tourism.

This Part of the Forest Experience, is particularly interesting for the amount of River and Wetland birds that can be spotted along the descent, including flocks of Roseate Spoonbill, Herons, Ducks, Kingfishers, etc., until the elusive Yellow Billed Cotinga that lives and nest in the Mangrove Forests of the Estuary

What do we Offer?

First day – Starting from Puerto Jimenez in the Early morning, we reach, by truck, the base of the Mountains and we take local horses for a four hours hike that, part along the River and part in the dense forest, will bring us to the top ridge and the Forest Lodge/Camp, where we will have a typical lunch, we refresh and rest, prepare the tackle and cameras for the Night Forest Exploration.

At around 18.00 after the dinner, the exploration starts and for a three hours everybody will have many opportunities to shot great photos of every kind of night animals, plants and flowers.

The night will be spent in the simple but comfortable rustic cabins, listening the Night concert of the hundred of Voices of the Wild.

Second Day – After an early Breakfast we will start walking along a 13 km Forest trail that runs toward the west coast of the Osa Peninsula, cutting, for several kilometers, the Corcovado National Park Forest and reaching elevated points from where is possible to enjoy the view of almost  all the Peninsula.

During this Trek our guide will show us the most interesting details of the environment and how they interact with the wildlife that often will be possible to spot and take photography of it.

After a camp Lunch we will move toward the recovery point, where a truck will pick us up and return to the Forest Lodge for the evening lunch and sleeping.

Third Day- An great breakfast with a lot of organic food, famous Costa Rican Coffee and fresh fruits, will be the right way for to begin this day that will reserve a lot of emotions.

After a Trek that descend, mostly along the bed of a creek,  from the Forest Lodge to the River at the bottom of the valley, we will reach the Meeting point where a tuck will deliver the kayaks and all the related tackle.

From that point we will start paddling along the river, transported by the flow of the water, and  will have the opportunity to meet a lot of confident River, Forest  and Wetland birds, that will offer great opportunities for full frame pictures.

After an half way stop for to have some snack and fruit, we will continue until reaching the Mangrove Forest and Estuary Canals, observing Birds and other animals, and at the end of them, we will have a short paddling in the Golfo Dulce Water, until a beach  where we will take the Truck for to return to Puerto Jimenez.

Each one of the thee days that are packed in this Unique Wild Treks, are possible to be enjoyed separately

Contact us for prices and availability at : info@corcovadoringadventurekayaktrek.com 

or Call : + 506 8 997 46 21

Hiking in the Forest of the Corcovado Park and Osa Peninsula

 

 

Several options for to Explore the Wild Forest of the Osa Peninsula inside the Corcovado National Park and the areas around it that present the same conditions and Wildlife Populations.

 

TREKS INSIDE  THE CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK

      4-day tour

Day 1:  Be invited to the local bakery by the fabulous smell of oven-fresh pastries and freshly brewed coffee before sunrise. If you wish, choose from a selection of sandwiches and cold drinks to go. Start your adventure with a taxi transfer to La Tarde around 6 am.  As you leave the charming little village of Puerto Jimenez, you will pass by beautiful palm plantations and gaze at the misty mountains on the left lit by the golden sunrise. After a 50-minute ride you arrive at your first destination, just in time for a delicious cup of coffee as you wonder at the old-growth forest around La Tarde. Treasure the rich cultural history of the first settlers of the rugged wilderness with a live demonstration of gold panning.  Embark on the night tour to look for frogs, snakes, opossums & kinkajous followed by well-deserved bedtime at the comfortable accommodation. This is an enchanting place inspiring a rural tourism project with which Osa Aventura has collaborated with since March 2008. It was a small farm, close to the eastern entrance to Corcovado National Park. It kept losing livestock to pumas and jaguars. The owner, a former gold miner, petitioned the Park authorities to grant permission for a rural ecotourism project, and the Park invited Osa Aventura to accompany this initiative. This is a success story with a happy ending, turning a potential environmental conflict into harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife.

Day 2:  Embark on a 4×4 trip to Los Patos to undertake the 20 km (12 mile) hike to Sirena Biological Station. It is a beautiful trail that meanders through the Park´s luxuriant and majestic rainforests. Marvel at the transition of all the different types of ecosystems that give home to the animals we can normally catch a glimpse of, such as monkeys, agoutis, coatis, colorful birds and variety of reptiles. And, as an added bonus, sometimes we encounter herds of up to fifty or more white-lipped peccaries. Enjoy a relaxing evening on the verandah of the Sirena biological station and fall asleep to the lullaby of night forest followed by the wake-up call of howling monkeys and toucans announcing the arrival of the third day of your adventure. Sirena Biological Station is the focal point for visitors to the Park, situated on the Corcovado plain and close tgo the coast, where wildlife is at its most dense. Tasty meals are served catering for a wide range of dietary requirements and comfortable dormitory accommodation is provided. It has flush toilets, showers and potable water.

 
Day 3:  Fall in love with the world renowned wildlife-rich forests, called as the most biologically intense place on earth by National Geographic, stroll on the pristine beaches of the Sirena area and enjoy a refreshing swim in the Rio Claro. We regularly encounter tapirs, red brocket deer, pacas and opossums. Recently we saw a female puma and her two cubs playing on a beach!  
 

Day 4:  At the first ray of light plunge into the return 20-km hike south, along the coastal trail and sandy beaches to La Leon/Carate.  Experience the thrill of crossing a 50-meter wide river followed by enjoying spectacular turquoise sea. Be seduced by the musical sound of waves as you walk the last segment of your hike on the sandy beach and drink the refreshing liquid of a coconut upon arriving at Carate, the last station of your trip.  After taking the taxi to Puerto Jimenez, you will arrive around 4 pm, enriched by your delightful experiences from this trip.
 

The cost of the tour is 745 USD (2 PAX). In this itinerary all meals at La Tarde are included plus sandwiches for the hike to Sirena.  On day 2 it includes dinner at Sirena.  On day 3 it includes breakfast & dinner at Sirena, and on day 4 it includes a breakfast to go. 

       3-day tour: 552 USD (2 PAX).

Taxi transfer around 5.30 from Puerto Jimenez to Los Patos. The return trip starts around 6 am leaving Sirena. The following options are available:

·         Hike in via Los Patos and hike out via Carate (arriving at Puerto Jimenez around 4 pm).

·         Hike in via Carate and hike out via Carate (arriving at Puerto Jimenez around 4 pm).

·         Boat in via Drake and hike out via Carate (arriving at Puerto Jimenez around 4 pm).

·         Boat in via Drake and boat out via Drake (arriving at Drake around 7.30 am).

       2-day tour: 350 USD (2 PAX).

The following options are available:

·         Hike in via Los Patos and hike out via Carate

·         Hike in via Carate and hike out via Carate

·         Boat in via Drake and hike out via Carate