The Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica is home to the mesmerizingly beautiful and biologically rich Corcovado National Park where many adventures await visitors.

Denizens of Corcovado are as varied as it gets biologically speaking. Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica has been named one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet by the illustrious National Geographic magazine. Some of the animal life on the land and in the sky in the park consists of the Baird’s Tapir (endangered), Tamandua Anteater, Central American Squirrel Monkey, white-faced capuchin, mantled howler, jaguars, two and three-toed sloth and a large variety of species of birds. In the rivers, lagoons and surrounding ocean waters can be found Humpback Whales, Bull Sharks, American Crocodiles and Spectacled Caiman among many others.

Corcovado was declared a national park on the 24th of October in the year of 1975 by then president Daniel Oduber capping off a logging industry that was building up at the time in the area. Oduber received the Albert Schweitzer Award from the Animal Welfare Institue because of this act, and the world has benefitted from having access to the diverse park ever since. Tourism, however, is viewed as a threat to the park in some degree, so it is important to be a conscientious traveler when visiting the area.

The Osa Peninsula is not the easiest place to get around. You may want to reserve a four wheel drive vehicle from one the rental car agencies, or find a knowledgeable guide to take you through the area. The land itself is a primal jungle, and so you should pack accordingly for the trip. Some of the items you may want to consider bringing are a good backpack, hiking gear, a flashlight, sunscreen, binoculars, a camera and some snacks. There is so much to do that you will need to recharge your batteries with some trail mix or other such snacks. There is also a great deal of wildlife and rainforest flora that you’ll want to capture on film to remember.

Along with the thousands of species of fauna in Corcovado, the plant life is expansive and intense as well. There are more than 500 tree species in the park including purple heart, poponjoche, nargusta, banak, cow tree, espave and crabwood. The park consists of lowland areas that branch out into the sea with forested mangroves and swamps, cloud forests and other higher range forests, alluvial plains forests and prairie forests amid many other types of topographical features.

The park is close to Puerto Jimenez which operates a small airport that can be reached via Nature Air and Sansa Air. Other locations which would be good spots to find accommodation and to make your way into the park from include Drake Bay, Cabo Matapalo and Playa Pan Dulce. The routes of travel to and from these places might consist of private mini bus, taxi, rental car (4WD preferably), plane and boat.

Location: Corcovado National Park
Items to bring: backpack, hiking gear, a flashlight, sunscreen, binoculars, a camera and some snacks
Species of fauna: Baird’s Tapir (endangered), Tamandua Anteater, Central American Squirrel Monkey, white-faced capuchin, mantled howler, jaguars, two and three-toed sloth, Humpback Whales, Bull Sharks, American Crocodiles, Spectacled Caiman
Species of flora: purple heart, poponjoche, nargusta, banak, cow tree, espave, crabwood
Cities nearby: Puerto Jimenez, Drake Bay, Cabo Matapalo
Ways to get here: private mini bus, taxi, rental car (4WD preferably), plane, boat