Corcovado National Park, also known as Parque Nacional Corcovado, covers much of the Osa Peninsula on the Pacific side of Costa Rica, in Puntarenas Province. The park is reached most often through Puerto Jiménez, the town that serves as the main gateway to the peninsula.
The park is known as one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. It protects 13 ecosystems within a remote setting, and visitors who come here are usually drawn by the chance to see wildlife in a largely undeveloped landscape. Among the animals associated with the park are jaguars, tapirs and scarlet macaws.
What a visit is like
Because the park is remote, a trip here tends to feel more like an expedition than a short outing. Most people plan their time around the park's trails and around the wildlife that moves through them, and they approach the visit with some patience. Spotting animals in dense forest takes time, and a guide can make a real difference in what you notice.
- Plan for a remote, lightly developed setting rather than a town-centre experience.
- Allow time for walking and for watching quietly along the trails.
- Bring the basics for a day in tropical forest, and check current conditions before you go.
Around the park
Puerto Jiménez offers a base for travellers who want to stay nearby, with services and a practical starting point for trips into the peninsula. The park's location on the Osa Peninsula means that a visit here can fit alongside other time spent exploring the wider area's coast and forest.
For questions before you travel, the park can be reached by phone at +506 2735-5580.