Corcovado National Park

Costa Rica’s Wildest Rainforest Frontier

Cocos Island sits off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, a remote protected area recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park covers the island and surrounding waters, covering roughly 100 square kilometers of land and sea. Its volcanic origins created steep cliffs, dense rainforests and rich marine habitats that support diverse wildlife such as scarlet macaws, tapirs and numerous shark species. Access requires boat travel from mainland ports, making it a destination for adventurous travelers seeking untouched nature and unique ecosystems.

Add to list Map view

National Park in Costa Rica

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

See price details

Safety: 6.2

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	4
Accessibility:	3
Tap water:	3

Read details

3/5

English is spoken at most lodges, tour operators, and by guides, but less so in remote villages. Communication is generally easy for travelers, though some Spanish can be helpful in rural areas.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

* We earn a commission from some links on this page.

Corcovado National Park Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

World-class for rainforest wildlife. Hike jungle trails, watch monkeys and birds, explore remote beaches and experience dense tropical nature.

Place score

8.2

Best at:

Forests

Natural sites

Guided tours

Wildlife

Birdwatching

Personal score

Suited for

👶 6

Families

🧓 5

Seniors

❤️ 9

Couples

♻️ 9

Sustainability

Costa Rica – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	120 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Costa Rican Colón (CRC) £1 ≈ CRC 605.44
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Costa Rica has a well-developed cashless payment system, and credit and debit cards are widely accepted in urban areas. However, it is still useful to carry cash in rural areas. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory. In restaurants, a 10% service charge is often included, but it is common to leave an additional tip of 5-10%.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is not commonly allowed in Costa Rica. Alcohol consumption is generally confined to licensed venues such as bars, restaurants, and resorts.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public spaces and enclosed areas, including restaurants and public transport.

Independence Day (15 September)	National holiday with celebrations and parades
Christmas (25 December)	Family-centred celebration

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 911
Taxi apps:	Uber
Other:	Costa Rica is famous for its biodiversity, eco-tourism, and commitment to environmental conservation. It is a popular destination for nature lovers and adventure travellers.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

🔥

Jan

🔥

Feb

🌦️

Mar

🌦️

Apr

⛈️

May

⛈️

Jun

⛈️

Jul

⛈️

Aug

⛈️

Sep

⛈️

Oct

⛈️

Nov

🌦️

Dec

High season:	Jan. - March, Dec.
Shoulder season:	April, July - Aug.
Crowdedness:	6 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Entry only with a licensed guide and prior reservation; permits for the park's ranger stations (Sirena, La Leona) sell out in high season

Dry season, December to April, is best for hiking; heavy rain from September to November can flood rivers and close trails

Boat transfers from Drake Bay and Sierpe can be cancelled in rough seas

Don't miss

🥾 Hike Corcovado’s diverse trails through rainforest and coastline
🌌 Camp under the stars at La Sirena Ranger Station
🐢 Watch endangered sea turtles nesting on remote beaches
🤿 Snorkel vibrant coral reefs near Caño Island reserve
🦜 Spot wildlife like tapirs, jaguars, and scarlet macaws

You've been here?

Why travel to Corcovado National Park?

If you dream of seeing wildlife in its purest form, Corcovado is the place. Home to tapirs, scarlet macaws, jaguars, monkeys and over 400 bird species, the park’s untouched forests and remote beaches are a paradise for explorers. Guided hikes reveal hidden waterfalls, ancient trees and rare animals you won’t find elsewhere. But be ready: it’s wild and rugged. Trails can be muddy, humid and challenging and you’ll need to be comfortable with basic facilities and the occasional mosquito swarm. Still, the sense of remoteness and raw nature makes every effort worthwhile – this is Costa Rica at its most untamed.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Calle Playa Rincón
2 Sirena Biological Station
3 Playa Llorona
4 Old Los Patos Ranger Station

🎡Places for activities

1 Isla del Caño
2 Drake Bay Airport

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Río Claro
2 Río Sirena
3 Playa Carate

🎈Events

Sea Turtle Nesting Season
Whale Watching Season
Bird Migration Peaks
Park Anniversary (October 24)
Local Conservation Festivals

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Mandatory certified guide required for all park entries.
Book permits early due to daily visitor caps and limited overnight stays at ranger stations.
Access from Drake Bay or Puerto Jiménez; boat to Sirena Station offers prime wildlife viewing opportunities.
Cross rivers at low tide only; watch for crocodiles, sharks and venomous snakes along coastal trails.

How to travel to Corcovado National Park

Most travelers reach Corcovado via Drake Bay or Puerto Jiménez, accessible by domestic flights from San José or long bus rides followed by boat or 4x4 transfer. From these towns, arrange guided tours or transport to park entrances. Advance permits and guides are required for entry.

Access summary

From Puerto Jiménez Airport: 1–2 hours by 4x4 plus boat or hike.
From San José: Domestic flight to Puerto Jiménez or Drake Bay, then boat.
From Drake Bay: Organized boat tours to park ranger stations, about 1–2 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Corcovado National Park

Accommodation ranges from rustic camping at ranger stations (like Sirena) to eco-lodges in Drake Bay and Puerto Jiménez. Facilities in the park are basic-think bunk beds, mosquito nets and shared bathrooms-while nearby towns offer more comfort and amenities.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Danta Corcovado Lodge

9.8

Corcovado Wilderness Lodge by SCP

Casa Drake Lodge

La Leona Eco Lodge

9.8

Cabanas Bajo Bosque Drake

9.6

Drake Bay Greenleaf

TERRAZAS DEL GOLFO

Ventanas en Corcovado

Villas Arena y Sol

Ocean Forest Ecolodge

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Corcovado National Park

Getting around the park is by foot – there are no roads inside. Well-marked trails connect ranger stations, but terrain is rugged and distances are long. Guided tours are highly recommended for safety and wildlife spotting. Access points like Drake Bay and Puerto Jiménez are the main gateways, with boat or 4x4 transfers to trailheads.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-55 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 55% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

+24 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to CRC) is 24% worse than in recent years. That means travelling now is considerably more expensive compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for David, Panama - 127 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£38	£87	£244
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£19	£53	£135
🍝 Food per day	£17	£29	£82
🚕 Transportation per day	£3	£5	£26

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£12
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£4
🍟 Fast food combo	£5.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£6.50
☕ Cappuccino	£2.40
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£1.60

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.55
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£17
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.75

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£3.10
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£25
🤧 Cold medication	£5
💇 Basic haircut	£6

Safety information overview

General safety

Corcovado is generally safe, but its remoteness and wildlife require caution. Always hike with a guide, respect animals and be prepared for challenging terrain and weather. Petty theft is rare, but watch valuables in towns.

Health & Medical

Medical facilities inside the park are minimal — basic first aid only. Bring personal medications and be aware of risks like heat exhaustion, insect bites and dehydration. The nearest clinics are in Drake Bay and Puerto Jiménez.

Accessibility

The park is not accessible for those with limited mobility; trails are rugged, muddy and can be physically demanding. Facilities are basic and access requires hiking or boat travel. Not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs.

Tap water

Tap water is not safe to drink in the park. Bring enough bottled or filtered water or use purification tablets. Water is available at ranger stations but should be treated before drinking.