Corcovado National Park

 

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Corcovado National Park information
 

Corcovado National Park

Protecting 41,788 hectares of shallow lagoons, marshes, mangrove swamps, rivers, wet forests and low-altitude cloud forests, as well as 46 kilometers of sandy beaches, Corcovado is one of Central America’s most unique ecosystems—which is why naturalists from all over the world come to study its riches. Within its extensive territory, visitors can observe the rich biodiversity of the last virginal, natural area in all of Central America. Some 6,000 insect, 500 tree, 367 bird, 140 mammal, 117 amphibian and reptile, and 40 freshwater fish species live here in coexistence.

 

Summary:
Protected Acreage: 41.788 ha.
Founded: October 31, 1975.

The park has numerous hiking trails and rustic camping refuges. A guide is recommended. Less adventurous visitors can also enjoy the park on boat excursions or arrive by plane at the Sirena station.

Visitors who keep their eyes open, can see whales and macaws in Corcovado, as well as many other animals in danger of extinction.
Visitor services include information, a park ranger station, trails, signage, restrooms, drinking water, a landing field, camping area, radio communication and rustic lodging.

The Corcovado National park is one of the widest protected areas, and it has the biggest biodiversity of Costa Rica.
It occupies part of the occidental sector of the Osa Península.

Here 500 tree species find refuge, 140 mammals, 367 of birds -some of them endemic -117 amphibious and reptiles - including 33 snake species and 48 of frogs - 40 of fresh water fishes and more than 6,000 of insects.

Its landscape includes 46 km of coastline, bogs, rivers, and mangrove swamps. The forest here is low altitude, very humid and cloudy forest.

The altitude goes from sea level up to  745 m. at Rincón hill.

Flora and Fauna:

Forests are high and dense, spattered by yolillales and other palms on areas of scarce drainage. Some of the most important species are the espavel, cedro macho, the ajo, coconut palms, cedro amargo, gold fruit, javillo, monkey cocoa, poponjoche, sangregado, quebracho blanco, ceiba, nazareno, and guayabon.

An 80 m. high ceiba, located 2km from the coast, has roots that are 10 meters long and has a diameter of 3 meters. It is considered as the tallest tree in the country.

Mammals:

The danta, the puma, the jaguar, the gigantic anteater, the saino, manigordo or ocelote, the 4 species of monkeys of the country-congo capuchino, spider and titi sloths, scrub lions, deer, beehive bears, porcupines, the guatusa, tigrillo, tepezcuincle, cusucos or armadillos, the otters, squirrels or chisas, pizoiesand martillas.

 

Reptiles:

9 species of iguana, cocodrilos, coral and terciopelo snakes, the constrictor boa or béquer -which can reach the 6 m length- the matabuey snake, bocaracá and the green turtle; carey, parrol and paula which go to the Llorona beach to spawn.

Amphibians:

Poisonous toads, and the glass frog, whose translucent skin permits you to see it's internal organs

 

Birds:

The harpies eagle -biggest in the world- the largest colony of red limpets of the country -this macaw is the most beautiful bird in the park because of the red, yellow and blue colors- mount chicken, the joribu or "galán sin ventura" fisher eagle, pelicans, white spam hawk, the zopilote rey, frigate bird, purple dove, the bicolored peak toucan, gran curre negro, water little cock, the sargento and others.

Visiting:

Due to the extensiveness  and nature of the park, travelers have several options open to them:  by foot, by boat from the lodges situated in Drake Bay, or in Puerto Jiménez (see the Hotel Section), or by a light airplane -one day tour- to Sirena or Playa carate aerodromes.

In addition, travelers more adventurous, and with enough time, go along the paths which link the forest rangers stations in Corcovado, San Pedrillo, Los Planes. Los Patos, Sirena and La Leona.

For those who want to walk through low- land jungle, Corcovado is the ideal place.

Information is supplied by the administrative office of Puerto Jiménez (Tel. (506)735-5036-735-5282-Fax(506)735-5276. Email; corcovado@ns.minae.go.cr)

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