What to expect when visiting Corcovado
Standing proud on the southwest coast of Costa Rica is the gem of its natural parks, Corcovado National Park. It is said to hold 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity and is home to a wide variety of animal species, many of which are considered rare elsewhere.
Tapirs are a common sight on the Corcovado shores, scarlet macaws brighten its trees, bull sharks inhabit its rivers, and jaguars roam its forests.
Corcovado is the largest of Costa Rica’s national parks and is a traveller’s dream destination. It’s important to know that there are several entrances and each will lead you to different hiking trails.
Another thing you should know is that you can only enter Corcovado through a guided tour. These tours can be booked from any of its base camps in the Osa Peninsula. The most popular basecamps to visit Corcovado National Park are Puerto Jimenez and Drake Bay.
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
A permit costs €13.80 per day. But technically, you won’t have to worry about securing it because your guide will do it for you.
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 check out 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. Food is often not included, though. And it’s worth noting that food is quite expensive inside Corcovado.
See below an indication of the rates (per person):
- Day tour – from €90 per person
- 2-day tour – from €255
- 3-day-2-night adventure – from €370
Now you have an idea of how to enter the park from Puerto Jimenez, let’s find out how to get there.
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!
4 ways to get from Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado
There are 4 ways to travel the distance of 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado by colectivo via La Leona Ranger Station (2 hours), Taxi via Los Patos (1 hour), flight via Sirena (15 minutes) and Day Trip via Sirena (8 hours). The journey duration ranges between 15 minutes - 8 hours and the quickest way is by flight via Sirena. The lowest priced tickets start from €9.20 for the colectivo via La Leona Ranger Station.Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado by Colectivo via La Leona Ranger Station
The cheapest way to get from Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado National Park is with a colectivo to La Leona Ranger Station. By colectivo, we mean a pick-up 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 €9.20. Travel time is about 2 hours, including the hike to La Leona Ranger Station.
La Leona Ranger Station is a popular entrance to Corcovado National Park when coming from Puerto Jimenez. The cheapest way to get there is through a 2-hour colectivo ride, but hold on, this doesn’t bring you all the way.
You can only travel by vehicle up to Carate, a town 30 km southwest of Puerto Jimenez. From here, you’ll have to hike around the jungle, adding another 45 minutes to the journey. For most of the hike, you will be walking by the beach, but be prepared that it will be hot!
Colectivo schedule from Puerto Jimenez to Carate
Colectivos depart from across Supermarket 96 in Puerto Jimenez town centre. They arrive at the remote village of Carate after around 2.5 hours.
If you prefer a more comfortable and private journey from Puerto Jimenez to Carate, you can also take a taxi. Rates start from €73 and travel time is a bit faster at around 2 hours.
What to expect in the trail starting from the 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.
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 €73.
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 also 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 €120 per person, while you can rent a boat with prices from €360.
This option is a great choice if you’re travelling with family, especially with young kids.
Option 1: Day trip from Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado
A great way to travel by boat from Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado via Sirena is with a day tour. You can book this for €120 per person with Osa Wild, a popular tour operator in the region.
A day tour with Osa Wild includes roundtrip boat transfers, park entrance fees, and a nature guide. This normally takes 8 hours, already including the 2-hour-20 minute boat rides to and from the park. You can book your day tour through the Osa Wild website.
Tour availability depends on the number of participants, so contact Osa Wild before booking your day trip!
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 €360. 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 already 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 €330 for a small plane that can accommodate up to 5 people.
Taking a plane will allow you to see Corcovado National Park in its full glory from a bird’s eye view. You will also be able to explore Corcovado without going through a long hike like the previous options from La Leona and Los Patos.
Alfa Rome Air offers private rides daily. For reservations, you can e-mail them through reservations@alfaromeoair.com 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 bunk beds in dormitories 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.
Frequently Asked Questions about Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado
What is the distance from Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado?
The distance from Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado is 30 kilometers (19 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado?
The fastest way to get from Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado is by flight via Sirena and takes 15 minutes.
What is the cheapest way to get from Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado?
The cheapest way to get from Puerto Jimenez to Corcovado is by colectivo via La Leona Ranger Station with ticket costs starting from €9.20.
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!
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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.
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.
Gracias magnífico
We’re glad we could help Marino!