How to Get From Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado
Taxi via Los Patos · Day Trip via Sirena · Flight via Sirena · Colectivo via La Leona Ranger Station
Permits and Guide into Corcovado National Park
There are two things you must have when entering Corcovado National Park (apart from drinking water):- a permit
- an accredited local guide from a certified tour operator
How to find a guide?
The easiest way to find a good guide is through the assistance of your accommodation in Puerto Jimenez. They already know the best operators and the most trusted guides. But if you want to check out other options, you can also visit some of the many local tour offices in town. Rates for a tour guide include the entrance fees and permit to enter the park. Accommodations are also normally included for multiple-day tours. It’s worth noting that food is quite expensive inside Corcovado, so we suggest choosing tours that include meals. See below an indication of the rates (per person):- Day tour – from 50,000 CRC ($110) per person
- 2-day tour – from 161,000 CRC ($355)
- 3-day-2-night adventure – from 253,000 CRC ($560)
New to Drake Bay/Corcovado? Our compact Drake Bay/Corcovado guide shows you the best areas to stay, restaurants you don’t want to miss and many more tips for your visit to Drake Bay/Corcovado!
What are the 4 ways to travel from Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado?
There are four ways to travel the 30 km distance from Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado. You can choose between the private, ferry, flight, and minivan.
The journey takes between 15m–8h and the quickest way is by flight (15m). If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by minivan with tickets starting at 8,000 CRC ($18).
1 hour
36,000 CRC ($80)
8h
81,000 CRC ($180)
15 minutes
452,000 CRC ($1000)
3h 15m
8,000 CRC ($18)
Or, before you go
More routes from Puerto Jimenez
Still planning your way to Corcovado? Explore other routes from Puerto Jimenez — 1 researched option.
Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado by Taxi via Los Patos
Los Patos is another entry point that you can reach from Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado. The only way to get to Los Patos is by a 1 hour taxi via the town of La Palma. Rates start from 36,000 CRC ($80).
What to expect in the trail starting from Los Patos Ranger Station?
You can find Sirena about 20 km southwest of Los Patos Ranger Station. The main difference of this trail compared to that from La Leona is that it’s mostly hilly, making it more physically challenging.
We recommend this 8 to 9-hour hike only for experienced hikers. The jungle here is thick and beautiful, but there may be fewer sightings of wildlife.
Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado by Day Trip via Sirena
You can also reach Sirena by a 1 to 1.5-hour boat trip from Puerto Jimenez. It’s not a common option, though. So if you want to take this route, you’ll have to either join a day trip or rent your own private boat.
Costs for a day trip start from 81,000 CRC ($180) per person, while you can rent a boat with prices from 176,000 CRC ($390).
This option is a great choice if you’re travelling with family, especially with young kids.
With a day tour, you will travel by boat from Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado via Sirena.
Osa Wild, a trusted local operator, offers this experience for 81,000 CRC ($180) per person. Their tour includes roundtrip boat transfers, lunch, park entrance fees and a nature guide to help you spot wildlife. The tour takes around 8 hours, including the 3-hour boat rides to and from the park.
You can book directly through the Osa Wild website, but check availability beforehand since tours depend on a minimum number of participants.
Alternatively, you can book a Corcovado National Park Day Tour through GetYourGuide. This option costs 50,000 CRC ($110), but you’ll need to pay an extra 29,000 CRC ($64) for the boat transfers the day before your trip.
Like the Osa Wild tour, it includes park entrance fees and lunch. The meeting point for both day trips is at the public pier in Puerto Jimenez.
Option 2: Private boat from Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado
There is also an option to rent a private boat from Puerto Jimenez to Sirena Ranger Station. You can ask your hotel to help book this for you. Rates for a private boat start from 176,000 CRC ($390). Note that this may not yet include park entrance fees or the local guide.
The great thing about taking a boat is that you will see a lot of marine life on the way. So even the boat transfers will be a fun ride for the whole group.
Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado by Flight via Sirena
For the fastest option from Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado, you can take a 15-minute flight. Alfa Rome Air offers private plane rides that will take you straight to the heart of the national park, which is Sirena Ranger Station. Rates start from 452,000 CRC ($1000) for a small plane that can accommodate up to 5 people.
Flying gives you stunning aerial views of Corcovado National Park’s lush rainforest and saves you from the long hikes required for other routes, like La Leona or Los Patos.
Alfa Rome Air offers private rides daily. For reservations, you can e-mail them through [email protected] or visit the Alfa Rome Air website.
The trail from Sirena Ranger Station
As the heart of Corcovado, Sirena is where you’ll spot the most variety of flora and fauna. From here, the trails are beautiful and easy. We recommend heading straight to Sirena, especially if you’re not into long hikes or if you’re travelling with kids.
It’s possible to visit Sirena on just a day trip, but you can also stay overnight at the ranger station for the ultimate experience! This will allow you to explore Corcovado at night and in the early morning when fewer people and more animals are roaming the grounds.
A note on accommodations at Sirena Ranger Station: don’t expect luxury. They provide basic amenities like dorm-style bunk beds and clean toilets. The food is good too! But if you’re looking for private rooms and hot baths, this may not be the place for you.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado by Colectivo via La Leona Ranger Station
The cheapest way to get from Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado National Park is by taking a colectivo. By colectivo, we mean a pickup truck with benches on the back. It’s a shared transport so expect to join the ride with a few other people.
A seat costs 8,000 CRC ($18) and travel time is a little over 3 hours. That includes the hike to La Leona Ranger Station, the park’s entry point.
Below, we explain how you can reach the park step by step.
Step 1: Colectivo from Puerto Jimenez to Carate
La Leona Ranger Station is about a 2h 30m colectivo ride from Puerto Jimenez. But here's the catch: the ride only goes as far as Carate, a small town 30 km southwest of Puerto Jimenez.
There are two colectivo trips daily: one at 06:00 and another at 13:30. You can catch the colectivos across Supermarket 96 in Puerto Jimenez town centre.
A ticket costs 8,000 CRC ($18).
Booking Tip
Step 2: Hike from Carate to La Leona Ranger Station
Once you reach Carate, you’ll need to hike for about 45 minutes through the jungle to get to La Leona Ranger Station.
For most of the trail you will be walking by the beach, but be prepared that it will be hot! Keep an eye out for wildlife, you'll most likely spot a few of them along the way.
What to expect in the trail starting from La Leona Ranger Station?
From La Leona, it’s a 15 km hike northwest to Sirena, the centre of Corcovado. The trail is mostly flat and dry, making it a great route for beginners and occasional hikers.
A great thing about this route is the wildlife sightings. Dry weather equals thin forest, which gives plenty of opportunities to spot various animals along the way.
The hike from La Leona to Sirena takes around 8 hours.
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Frequently Asked Questions
The distance from Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado is 30 km.
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Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she's not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines. Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she'll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
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Based in Bali, Maarten's passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you'll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
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Ferry Schedule Notice
Ferry schedules can change due to weather, sea conditions, or seasonal adjustments. We recommend confirming departure times directly with the operator, especially during monsoon season.
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