Explore one of the wildest parks in Costa Rica: Corcovado

Have you ever imagined going to a place where you can explore 13 different ecosystems, see up to 140 mammal species, 400 bird species, 116 amphibian and reptile species, 40 different types of fish and at least 500 species of trees? Well, this place exists! Corcovado National Park is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, and easily one of my favorite places to visit. Located along the Osa Peninsula, Corcovado National Park features a lowland rainforest, highland cloud forest, jolillo palm forest, mangrove wetlands, coastal and marine habitats. I have many friends that live here, so I've visited Corcovado plenty of times! I'd love to share my experiences along the way.

A bit of Background

Corcovado National Park spans much of the Osa Peninsula, and half of the animal and plant species in the country thrive here. Each of the diverse habitats in the region are home to a distinct amount of flora and fauna, so taking a trip through the park is like walking through 13 different parks! As a frog, I like to take advantage of my size and hop through the trees and along the small paths to get an inside look into each ecosystem. On your trip here, make sure to always keep your eyes and ears alert because animals are great hiders! And don't forget to look down as well small creatures like myself may scamper at the ground level of the forests from time to time.

How to Explore

Hiking may be one of the most popular activities in Corcovado, but there are plenty of other ways to explore this massive park. Kayaking offers a truly unique perspective of the park because you're able to swiftly move through the mangroves, leaving no trace of disturbance to the wildlife around you. You'll get to go through the rainforests and to the beaches. Kayaking is also a great way to explore the stunning Drake Bay.

Don't forget about the waterfalls! There are a few waterfalls in Corcovado that make for the most perfect place to rinse off from the hot and humid weather. Or just take a walk along the sprawling sandy beaches of this park, which span 23 miles. Although this park is visited frequently by travelers, you can roam along this beach for hours and see very few people it's as relaxing as going to a spa! You can even go in the water for a quick dip - just be aware of your surroundings, including aquatic life. You may find yourself in a small pocket beach depending on how far you walk, or you'll find beautiful cliffs or a marine cave located at the southern point of the beach.

Would you like to stay the night in Corcovado? You're in luck, because camping is allowed here! Not all national parks in Costa Rica allow camping as an option, but for those that do, I'd recommend doing it. At the San Pedrillo, La Leona and Los Patos stations, you're allowed to hitch a tent and sleep underneath the stars. It may just be me, but that is the perfect place to spend the evening. You'll hear noises throughout the night of the many animals living here, and you may just wake up to the sound of howler monkeys in the forest!

There are plenty of places to find all inclusive resorts in Costa Rica, but there's only one place like Corcovado National Park. Tell me about your favorite adventure through this park I'd love to hear all about it!