Explore the most biodiverse place on the earth
Corcovado National Park
With 2.5% of the world´s biodiversity, National Geographic has called corcovado the most intense on the earth biogically specking. Corcovado has 2.5% of the planet’s biodiversity, and it was established in 1975 with an approximate land area of 45,914 ha. With its virgin beauty, visiting this park allows you to experience nature at its finest and promises an incredible adventure for those who dare to trail blaze their way through this amazing region.
Hiking is very popular here, and there are four ranger stations found at strategic locations from each other.
Corcovado Birdwatching Tour
The most recommended area for bird watching in Corcovado National Park are the trails in Sirena. There are 2 main ways to enter the park, from Puerto Jiménez or Drake Bay. Boat transfer is the most accessible way to visit the park. Sirena station is only 15 minutes’ walk from where you unload from the boat at Park.
They are five hiking trails in the surroundings of Sirena Ranger Station. As an aerial view all the thails makes a petals of a flower. The trail paths are easy walking. You will pass through little creeks on your way. Depending on the season they will be dry or flowing steadily. You will explore a secondary and primary forest. It takes about two hours to walk every trail, with the exception of Rio Claro Trail. It is the longest one and takes around 3 hours.
There are two main rivers that flow down by each side of Sirena Ranger Station. They meet with the Pacific Ocean and create two important deltas; Río Sirena and Rio Claro. Those important ecosystems are home to great variety of wildlife, and birds form part of this natural balance. An early bird watching walk in the morning to Rio Sirena will allow you to observe variety and vast quantity of bird species in the most diverse place on the earth.
We recommend to do at least one overnight tour for an ideal birding experience.
Waking up early in the morning and listening all the birds singing makes you feel like you are in an avia paradise.
Behavor and activitie of birds in the Tropical Rain Forest of the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica.
Lower temperatures during the first morning hours are the best time for birds to move without wasting much energy.
Fruit and nectar specialist are the first active birds moving into the interior forest.
From 4:45 am you start to hear the first bird vocalizations such as wood creepers, macaws, and tinamous.
Trees are full of fruits and flowers during the first hours of the mourning attracting an important quantity of nectar specialists and fruit eaters, thus allowing us to watch species such as hummingbirds, honeycreepers and Cotingas.
Insectivore bird species wait patient the two fist hours of day. They are more active from 6:45am to 8:45am.The reason for this behaviour is that insects are cold blooded, so they leave their hiding places only until the environment temperature gets higher allowing their bodies to function.
Birds have time for everything in the rainforest. Some activities are necessary during the day. For example, cleaning themselves is important to maintain a beautiful plumage. Reproduction will ensure the future of the specie. And of course resting to recover their energy. This natural behaviour occurs usually from 8:45am to 10:45 during the morning and from 3:45pm to 5:45pm during the afternoon.
We offer you three ways to enter the park.
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Starting and ending at Drake Bay
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Starting and ending at Puerto Jiménez
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Starting in Puerto Jimenez and ending at Drake Bay
Corcovado National Park offer clients food services at Sirena Ranger Station. In the kitchen they offer a varied menu where they use local ingredients of an excellent quality which result in Costa Rica's gastronomy as well as international.
The lodging is an wooded platform one meter above the ground and a metal roof and surrounded by a wooden railing. The lodging offer bunk beds in each platform. Every bunk bed has mattress, anti-mosquito, pillow and pillowcase, sheets and blankets. There are shared baths.
You will need to bring only your towel and personal things.
Opening hours:
• Every day from 7 a. m. to 4 p. m.
• In October the Sirena Park sector closes its doors to visitors, however the other sectors are open.
Rates:
• National and residents: ¢1.600.
• Foreign Non-residents: $ 15.
• Camping Zone: $ 4 (San Pedrillo and Sirena Stations) *.
• ¢ 500 nationals and residents (aged 2 to 12 years) children.
• $ 5 nonresidents Children (aged 2 to 12 years)
• Children under 2 years of age do not pay entrance, as well as national residents and visitors older than 65 years.
IMPORTANT:
Currently the Sirena Sector is offering: lodging, feeding, store of nature and lockers.
These rates are daily for both, nationals and foreigners visitors:
Lodging: $ 30
Breakfast: $ 20
Lunch: $ 25
Dinner: $ 25
Rent of lockers: $ 4.
How to Arrive to the Osa Peninsula, Puerto Jiménez
By Air: Local or Private Flight
Route: San José – Puerto Jiménez
The fastest and most efficient way to visit the Osa Peninsula is by the local air service (Sansa or Nature Air) that connects San José with Puerto Jiménez, which takes about 50 minutes. Taking the local flight allows you to maximize your stay in the Osa by drastically reducing travel time. It also allows you the opportunity to enjoy an unique aerial view the beautiful landscape of Costa Rica’s Central Valley and the southern Pacific coastline.
Your experience starts the moment you land in our country. Taking a local flight will give you the feeling you are about to arrive to a magical and unforgettable destination. Let me tell you, you will be experiencing just in the air and on the ground in the Osa.
From the air, you will be able to see the rich nature and breathtaking views Costa Rica has to offer. At a geological level, you will be able to appreciate the the volcanic ridges where the volcano Irazú is located and the rolling hills of Puriscal. Passing through the mountains, you will experience Costa Rica’s South Pacific coastline which includes Manuel Antonio National Park, Marino Ballena National Park with it’s impressive natural, rocky formation of a whale tail, and the largest mangrove system in Central America. To top it off right before landing in Puerto Jiménez, you will be able to see the pristine Drake Bay, Violines Island, and lastly the impressive and unique tropical fjord of Golfo Dulce, or Sweet Gulf.
Duration of Flight: The direct flight takes about 50 minutes. In some occasions, the flight may make a quick stop at another local airport to pick up more passengers traveling to the Osa, otherwise expect a direct flight.
Local Airlines: There are two airlines that fly daily from San José to Puerto Jiménez: Nature Air y Sansa. Both airlines offer discounts from children under the age of 12.
Airport of Arrival and Departure: Both local airlines fly to and from the international airport Juan Santamaría. The airlines arrive to the small, local airport located in Puerto Jiménez. Here an Osa Experience representative will greet you upon arrival and accompany you to your respective Eco-Lodge.
Check-In: The Check-In should be made an hour or more in advance to the take-off of your local flight.
*Important Notice: You do not pay any exit taxes on a local flight.
If you are flying with Nature Air, please take into account that you will have to pass through immigration control at the Internacional Juan Santamaria airport. Because of this, it will take you more time to reach the boarding gates for Natural Air after landing at the international airport. It is recommended that you take this into consideration when you are planning your trip to the Osa and give yourself plenty of time in between your international and local flights.
Sansa on the other hand has its own boarding area located 50 meters (165ft.) west of the main building of the international airport.
Weight Restriction: Each person is allowed 30 pounds of baggage. Baggage over 30 pounds will be subjected to an extra charge. Typically, surfboards less than 7 feet in length are transported with no issue.
Reservations, Fares, and Schedules: It is important to reserve your flight in far enough in advance because the local flights fill up quickly. To make planning easier for you, Osa Experience can take care of your flight details by request.
For more information regarding fares, baggage regulations, and flight schedules for both local airlines please visit: www.flysansa.com & www.natureair.com
Private Flights:
At Osa Birders Tours we pride ourselves for providing a personalized and quality service to our guests. If desired, we can help you coordinate a small, private plane that will take you to closer to your destination and allows more flexibility with scheduling and baggage restrictions. Please just let us know your travel desires and we will take care of the details for you.
By Land Via Vehical:
Route: San José – Puerto Jiménez
Trip Duration: The highway route from San José to Puerto Jiménez can range between 7 to 9 hours depending on weather and highway conditions. San José to Golfito takes about 6 hours.