Osa Peninsula & Corcovado
★★★ Corcovado National Park — The Most Biodiverse Place on Earth
National Geographic called Corcovado the "most biologically intense place on Earth" — and that's no exaggeration. On the remote Osa Peninsula in southwestern Costa Rica lies a piece of untouched rainforest that hosts more species per square kilometer than any other place on the planet.
Here live all four monkey species of Costa Rica (howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys, squirrel monkeys, spider monkeys), tapirs (Costa Rica's largest land mammal), jaguars, pumas, scarlet macaws, crocodiles, and all venomous snake species of the country. Corcovado is not a tourist attraction — it is real wilderness.
The park can only be visited with a certified guide (mandatory since 2014). The most popular route is the day hike from Estación San Pedrillo or Estación Sirena. Multi-day tours with overnight stays at the Sirena ranger station are the ultimate adventure — but must be booked months in advance.
Osa Peninsula. Entry: 15 USD + guide (from 80 USD/person for day tour). Arrival: Flight to Drake Bay or Puerto Jiménez, then boat. Or by 4×4 to Puerto Jiménez (6h from San José) and boat to the ranger station.
★★ Drake Bay
The gateway to Corcovado and a magical place in itself. The small settlement is only accessible by boat or plane and offers spectacular snorkeling and diving at Isla del Caño — one of Costa Rica's best diving spots with manta rays, sharks, and sea turtles. From July to October, you can see humpback whales with their calves here.
Achtung
Corcovado is NOT a walk in the park! The hikes are demanding, hot, and humid. Poisonous snakes are real. NEVER go without a guide. Book tours at least 2–4 weeks in advance, months ahead in high season. And bring enough water — at least 3 liters per person.
Drake Bay — The Gateway to the Wilderness
Drake Bay (Bahía Drake) is one of the most remote and magical places in Costa Rica. The small village on the northwest edge of the Osa Peninsula is only accessible by boat (from Sierpe, 1.5h) or by Sansa flight. There are no proper roads, no ATM (bring cash!), and the power occasionally goes out. That's precisely the charm.
★★★ Isla del Caño — Snorkeling & Diving
The small island 20 km off the coast offers the best underwater world in Costa Rica: crystal-clear water with 20+ meters visibility, whitetip reef sharks, manta rays, sea turtles, moray eels, and schools of tropical fish. From July to October, you regularly see humpback whales and dolphins here.
Snorkeling tour: 85–100 USD (full day, incl. boat transfer, 2 snorkeling spots, lunch on the beach).
Diving: 110–150 USD (2 dives). PADI Open Water certification possible (4 days, 450 USD).
★★ Night Tour on the Beach
Drake Bay offers spectacular bioluminescence — under certain conditions, the sea glows in ghostly blue-green when touched. The cause: dinoflagellates, single-celled organisms that produce light when moved. Particularly strong at new moon and in warm months.
Accommodation in Drake Bay
Pirate Cove — Comfortable lodges with sea views, private beach, and excellent restaurant. Packages from 180 USD/night incl. meals and tour.
Drake Bay Backpackers — One of the few budget options: Dorms from 18 USD, private rooms from 50 USD. Simple, but the location by the water and the community make it special.
Copa del Árbol — Luxurious treehouse lodge in the rainforest, built without cutting a single tree. Sustainable tourism at its best. From 300 USD/night all-inclusive.
Puerto Jiménez — Cowboy Town by the Rainforest
Puerto Jiménez is the only "town" on the Osa Peninsula (3,500 inhabitants) and the main starting point for Corcovado tours from the La Leona or Sirena ranger station. The town has the charm of a former gold mining settlement — which it actually was: Until the 1980s, gold was mined here before nature conservation took precedence.
Today, Puerto Jiménez is a charming village with jungle access: Scarlet macaws fly over the main street, capuchin monkeys raid fruit trees in the gardens, and occasionally a tapir wanders through the town.
Dining
Restaurante Monka · Main Street — The best restaurant in town: fresh fish, creative salads, and an ambiance that hovers between backpacker hangout and upscale dining. Catch of the Day from 8,000 CRC.
Soda Doña Berta · Main Street — Most authentic soda on the Osa: Casado for 3,500 CRC, huge portions. The owner knows everyone in town.
Pizza Mail.it · Near the airstrip — Wood-fire pizza run by an Italian expat. The "Osa Special" with local ingredients is a hit. 6,000–9,000 CRC.
Corcovado Tours from Puerto Jiménez
| Tour | Duration | Price/Person | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day Tour Sirena | 12–14h | 90–120 USD | Boat + 10 km hike, best wildlife chances |
| Day Tour La Leona | 10h | 80–100 USD | Beach hike, monkeys, macaws, possibly tapirs |
| 2-Day Sirena Overnight | 2 days | 200–280 USD | Night tapirs and cats, lagoon, waterfall |
| 3-Day Traverse | 3 days | 350–450 USD | La Leona → Sirena → San Pedrillo, the ultimate adventure |
Achtung
For overnight tours in Corcovado (Station Sirena), there are only 30 beds — in high season, they are booked out MONTHS in advance. Book through your tour operator in Puerto Jiménez as early as possible. Independent booking via SINAC is theoretically possible but complicated.