Anteater Corcovado

Corcovado National Park Tours: What to Expect

In Costa Rica, Hiking, Tours, Wildlife by Erik @ DIY Travel HQ5 Comments

Corcovado National Park tours are not cheap so we’ve done the research for you – from wildlife & flora to food & accommodation find out what to expect on the 3 day hike from Carate to Sirena Station in Costa Rica!

Contents

Choosing Between Corcovado National Park Tours

There are many operators in Puerto Jimenez offering Corcovado National Park tours – we chose to go with Surcos Tours as they offer a variety of transportation & hiking options.

If you haven’t chosen a tour option yet, check out our post where we cover all the options to arrive at Sirena Station from a day trip to a 3 day adventure.

Whatever you choose, make sure you spend at least one night at Sirena Station for optimal wildlife spotting.

* Don’t forget to purchase travel insurance before any trip to . We’ve been using World Nomads for over 10 years – it’s the best-value provider we’ve found but there are important things to consider. Check out our post & find out which of our claims were successful or denied.

 

Coati Costa Rica

You are almost guaranteed to see Coati on all Corcovado National Park tours!

Meeting Our Corcovado National Park Tours Guide

Surcos Tours has fully embraced the digital age and has a very responsive staff.

In order to save time we here at DIY Travel HQ arranged everything via email so that the permits were ready when we arrived in Puerto Jimenez.

It was great having to give only our name & have everything else taken care of. Obtaining the permits yourself would easily add an extra day & is very bureaucratic in Costa Rica.

Surcos Tours has a policy where your guide for the Corcovado National Park hike meets you the day before at 6 pm.

This helps alleviate any confusion the following day when meeting at Monar Bakery.

It also gives you a chance to find out the itinerary & discuss any issues you may have when visiting Corcovado National Park, one of the top destinations in Costa Rica.

Surcos Tours Gude meeting

Meet your guide the night before your Corcovado National Park tour to discuss your trip

  • What Food Can Your Bring Into Corcovado?

For us, the main concern was what food we were allowed to bring on Corcovado National Park tours.

Since Costa Rica has recently partnered with a private community company, they have been implementing new policies gradually.

The most recent requirement is that Surcos Tours, along with every tour company, can no longer offer camping.

Instead, everyone staying overnight at Sirena Station has to sleep in dorms at $30 per night.

Corcovado National Park tours accommodation

Clean & comfortable dorm rooms at Sirena Station, Corcovado National Park

In terms of food, the private community company highly discourages bringing any food into Corcovado National Park in favor of their meals that cost $20 for breakfast, & $25 for both lunch & dinner.

You can bring snacks & prepared food, but no cooking is allowed within Corcovado National Park.

All this was explained in the Surcos Tours emails, but our guide clarified all the minute details with enough time to still visit the supermarket that closes at 9 pm for last minute items.

Corcovado National Park tours breakfast

Start the day with a hearty & delicious breakfast at Sirena Station

Puerto Jimenez to Carate Shuttle

Most Corcovado National Park tours start from Puerto Jimenez before sunrise.

We met our guide, Pablo, at Monar Bakery at 5:30 am for a shared shuttle to Carate.

The other group from Surcos Tours was doing a two day hike to Sirena Station & back, but we recommend an extra day around the ranger station.

Along the way, we stopped for sunrise over a cow pasture.

The sunrise was beautiful, but it had a surreal color through the van’s tinted glass.

The entire journey took about 90 minutes as we forded a few streams along the dirt road.

Carate to La Leona Station

Once we arrived in Carate we were given the opportunity to put on sunscreen & take care of any last minute preparations before we started our hike.

It would be 3.5 km before we reached La Leona Station & the official entrance to Corcovado National Park.

The trail follows the Pacific Ocean through secondary forest filled with banana trees with the possibility of spotting Coatis.

Towards the end of this section of trail you have to skirt a private lodge & continue walking on the beach until you reach La Leona Station.

Corcovado National Park tours Carate

Walk across this beautiful beach to La Leona Station

La Leona Station

La Leona Station is a large visitors complex and the entrance to Corcovado National Park.

Besides facilities for park rangers, there are also the last functional toilets until you reach Sirena Station.

Hikers on Corcovado National Park tours can also refill their water bottles with filtered water.

La Leona Station

All Corcovado National Park tours must sign in at La Leona Station

Don’t forget to sign into the guest book while your Surcos Tours guide handles the paperwork with the ranger.

Pablo then went over the plan for tackling the remaining 16 km hike to Sirena Station.

The key points were that we needed to cross two rivers & a section of beach near low tide.

It was also preferable to avoid the Point of No Return beach during the heat of the day.

We also recoomend Lonely Planet’s Costa Rica Travel Guide to help you plan your trip.

La Leona Station

Signing in to Corcovado National Park with Surcos Tours

Day #1: La Leona Station to Sirena Station

Depending on your fitness level, the La Leona Station to Sirena Station can be a ‘walk in the park’ or grueling with relentless heat.

We found it to be relatively easy since the trail is largely level & we were protected from the sun from the jungle canopy.

Our guide from Surcos Tours also had a few shaded spots he liked to take breaks along the path.

Surcos Tours guide

The one & only Pablo! Our fun & loveable Surcos Tours guide knew it all!

The first small river crossing was a great place to stop & try to spot sloths that frequent the area.

The one we spotted was high up in the trees with grey fur that resembled a nest.

We also spotted a spider monkey swinging branch to branch in a tree across the river.

Spider monkey

Swinging spider monkey in Corcovado National Park!

By far, the most abundant wildlife were Coatis. You would occasionally see a lone adult male, but a pack of females with juveniles were more common.

We also got very lucky & saw 7 anteaters along the trail – see the cover photo for our best shot! This was one of the animals on our wish list & were delighted to spot so many.

We even saw one poo in a stream where they prefer to have their feces wash away instead of lingering.

Who said wild animals weren’t potty trained & didn’t know how to flush?!

Corcovado National Park tours

Anteaters go to the toilet in the river

Pablo, our Surcos Tours guide, was very knowledgeable about the numerous birds we spotted along the way as well.

Some of our favorites were Macaws seen flying overhead, along with Great Corasal Turkeys found near Sirena Station.

We also saw a Toucan, Wren, Heron, Hawk, Vultures, Cherry Tananin, Golden Naped Woodpecker, Black Throated Trogon, Great Tinamou, & plenty of Pelicans.

All guides on Corcovado National Park tours should be proficient birdwatchers.

Bird in Corcovado

One of many fascinating birds we saw with Surcos Tour at Corcovado

Our hike from La Leona Station to Sirena Station was pleasantly being interrupted by wildlife every 30 odd minutes. Pablo had an eye & ear for spotting animals well before we even knew they were there.

Whenever they weren’t there he would take time to explain some of the vegetation along the Corcovado National Park trail.

One such plant that stands out is a white flower that attracts moths, where pollen explodes onto its wings when touching the stigma. Another wonderful example is a red flower shaped perfectly for the beak of a hummingbird.

It’s beautiful how nature is symbiotic & works together to create a sustainable ecosystem.

Flower Corcovado

Learn about the beautiful flowers in Corcovado with Surcos Tours

At one of the break points, we ran into a couple from our hotel La Chosa del Manglar that started their tour the day before us. They were very fortunate to spot a Puma near Sirena Station. The search for the elusive Puma would be a consistent theme throughout the next two days.

At one point another guide saw Puma prints in the sand & spent 15 minutes trying to follow them. It wasn’t until we heard howler monkeys sounding an alarm that several guides branched off to see if a Puma was hunting them.

What our Surcos Tours guide found was a mother & baby pair of Tapirs. By the time our several groups got to the location, only the baby was to be found.

Corcovado National Park tours

First of many Tapir sightings with Surcos Tours – this is a baby Tapir!

As we tried to circle around the adolescent Tapir for a better view, it started to charge in our direction before realizing there were 10 odd people crouching in the jungle vines.

Thankfully, it quickly diverted & we were able to watch it from a safe distance before moving on.

We later saw two more Tapirs resting in a mud hole that Surcos Tours guides know to check.

What we loved about the wildlife in Corcovado National Park were that most of the animals were used to human interaction to a certain degree.

They were not fed & interaction was not allowed. But they have become used to tourists from the many Corcovado National Park tours taking pictures of them without any fear.

This is what makes the park such a tremendous place to observe wildlife in their natural setting.

Corcovado National Park tours

Our Surcos Tours guide spotted this Tapir in the mud!

  • Sirena Station Wildlife

Even from the start, Sirena Station had an abundance of wildlife.

Once we got to the grass clearing we saw Titi & Capuchin Monkeys cruising through the trees.

On the ground, a large herd of Peccaries strolled across.

It was strange how we walked all day spotting new animals & there were three new species to add to the list even after we arrived.

Corcovado National Park tours

Peccaries crossing the field in front of Sirena Station

  • Sirena Station in Corcovado National Park

Sirena Station is an oasis in the Corcovado National Park jungle.

Besides the cleared field, there is a cluster of buildings linked by covered boardwalks so you never need to touch the ground once you arrive.

In fact, there is a shoes off policy upon arrival to keep the property clean for all guests on Corcovado National Park tours.

Sirena Station

Sirena Station offers food & lodging in the heart of Corcovado National Park

The main areas include:

  • Porch to observe stragglers & wildlife
  • Room with lockers ($4 per day)
  • Two large pavilions filled with roughly 18 bunk beds each
  • Dining area ($20-25 per meal)
  • Bathroom facilities with cold showers

Similar to La Leona Station, Sirena Station has filtered drinking water as well.

Corcovado National Park tours

Relax on the porch while looking for wildlife at Sirena Station

All beds have mosquito netting with your guide positioned next to you to concentrate noise at early hours, even though everyone gets up roughly the same time.

Lights are only on from 6-8 pm so make sure you have a headlamp for bathroom trips & packing in the morning.

Another tip is to take advantage of the lockers if you have food that is not factory sealed.

I had to fend off a male Coati in the middle of the night that wanted our PB&J sandwiches!

Normally, we would have kept the ingredients in jars until we needed it, but the new regulations require you to prepare all meals in advance.

This meant that the sandwiches were sweating all day in the sun & must have smelled delicious to the scavenger.

If you aren’t purchasing the hot meals, make sure you discretely eat in the dorm area.

Bathroom Sirena Station

Sirena Station has clean & modern restrooms for Corcovado National Park tours

Day #2: Hiking around Sirena Station

The best chances to spot wildlife on Corcovado National Park tours is to live by the adage, “Early to bed, early to rise.”

We got up at 5 am & set off from Sirena Station just before sunrise.

The first thing Pablo did once we got deep enough into the jungle was pause, have us turn off our headlamps, & listen to the birds waking up.

He then had us compare the abundance of sound with our hike in during the heat of the day.

Hawk Corcovado

A beautiful hawk spotted the day before

Along the trail to where Sirena River meets the Pacific Ocean, we ventured slightly off-trail to see if a known mud pool had any Tapirs.

There were three resting there that morning, but our best Tapir experience came later that morning.

One of the first things we saw after making it to the beach were a pair of Coatis fighting over a nest of Turtle Eggs with a vulture taking advantage of their squabble.

Apparently, a battle could last for many hours.

Coati & vultures

Coati digging up turtle eggs on the beach, watched over by vultures

We then took a seat on a washed up log to see the tide force the river back & swell the inlet.

Depending on the timing of the tide & time of day, it is possible to see both Crocodiles & Bull Sharks in these waters.

Failing to see either at this point of our Surcos Tour, we headed back to Sirena Station for breakfast.

Corcovado National Park tours

Sunrise on the beach near Sirena Station

Our long excursion for the day would take us back along the Corcovado National Park trail to La Leona Station. Pablo was determined to find a Puma for us.

Along the way we saw some of the Sirena Station resident foraging birds, but the highlight of the day came when other groups alerted us to a Tapir near the boat landing.

The Tapir had disappeared into the foliage, but we found a large opening after venturing around to the beach side.

It was magnificent watching the Tapir use its flexible snout to grab & strip the leaves off branches. It didn’t mind us watching at all.

Corcovado National Park tours

The Tapir in all its glory!

Watching tapir

Corcovado National Park tours offer the chance to get up-close & personal to wildlife

Just as we were about to leave, Pablo spotted a Caiman in the freshwater with a handful of babies sunning on a log.

This was our first time spotting a Caiman in the wild as it starred us down & made sure its babies were well protected.

The other amazing aspect was having the Caiman, Tapir, & a Coati all with 15 meters of one another & us.

Caiman crocodile

Can you spot the Caiman crocodile?

Continuing on our Surcos Tour guided hike, we took a more isolated trail through the jungle in search for the Puma. Things heated up when we heard a Spider Monkey going crazy in a nearby tree.

They typically only sound an alarm for a big cat, or Tapir.

We didn’t have any luck finding what caused the monkey’s distress, but we did learn about Lion Ants.

Along the trail, there were countless cylindrical holes in the sand. We found out that a Lion Ant lives in each one.

They wait for passing bugs to fall into the ‘quicksand’, then use their tail to splash more sand on them, & ultimately pull them beneath the surface for a meal.

Corcovado National Park tours

Searching for Lion Ants in the quicksand

On the way back, Surcos Tours guide Pablo found a drawing in the sand indicating the Puma was seen on the beach recently.

We then started searching the scrub lining the beach since they frequent these areas to enjoy the cooling sea breeze.

Thankfully, Pablo was armed with a stick from Puma searching as he scattered a Crocodile hiding in the seaweed as we crossed the river on our return to Sirena Station.

It cautiously watched us before swimming away & venturing under the water.

Corcovado National Park tours

Our Surcos Tours guide spotted a Crocodile while we were crossing the river! Close call averted!

The last animal we saw on our day hike was an Onide Snake.

They are harmless despite being very long & move incredibly fast. It was difficult to keep up with as we followed it through the jungle.

I don’t think Sheena even got a chance to see it.

One of the hints to tell if a snake is poisonous is if it runs (not poisonous) or stands its ground (poisonous).

On our evening walk, departing Sirena Station at 4 pm, we covered the Guanacaste Trail.

What makes the paths surrounding Sirena Station special is the abundance of wildlife, & the primary jungle that the animals call home.

The Guanacaste Trail generally loops around a stream as well for increased chances of spotting wildlife that need a drink of water.

Surcos Tours Guide

Many trails around Sirena Station are excellent for wildlife spotting on Corcovado National Park tours

The first animals we spotted were another, or perhaps the same, group of Peccaries from the day before.

They reminded us of Pumba from The Lion King. It was great to see so many foraging through the forest together.

As we walked along the path, we heard some rustling in the stunted vegetation.

We never did find out what it was, but we did find a bat hiding underneath a large leaf.

Bat Corcovado

Tiny bat under a huge leaf found by our Surcos Tours guide

Our Surcos Tours guide timed the end of our walk perfectly so that we ended at where we started in the morning, but in time for sunset.

Like magic, a lonely Tapir happened to stroll along the beach at this precise moment.

It defecated in the river & went for a series of swims before we had to return to Sirena Station.

It was the perfect way to cap off the day.

Corcovado National Park tours

Watching a tapir in the water at sunset was a magical moment

Later that night after we had gone to bed, the Mexican film crew were testing their infrared camera on the deck when they spotted two Pumas interacting with each other for half a minute.

We had searched all day to no avail, and they got on tape a Tapir crossing a river at sunset & two juvenile Pumas at the Guanacaste Trailhead across from Sirena Station!

Unfortunately we didn’t get to spot them, but hopefully other Corcovado National Park tours will have better luck since they are definitely around.

Parque Corcovado

The wildlife possibilities are endless on Corcovado National Park tours

Day #3: Sirena Station to La Leona Station

Our return hike to La Leona Station & Carate with Surcos Tours was different than our venture in.

Instead of postponing our arrival at the beach & river crossings to coincide with low tide, we had to depart at 5 am to try to beat the tide.

This was earlier than the other groups on Corcovado National Park tours.

Corcovado National Park tours

Walking along wild beaches on the way back to La Leona Station

There were only a few spots that became tricky on the return Corcovado National Park hike.

At one point, we had to climb up a small & slippery landslide where waves were crashing into a massive tree blocking the beach route.

Another time we had to round a rocky headland in between waves.

Overall, it seemed that there were always alternative jungle paths in case the tide wasn’t cooperating.

Corcovado landslide

Parts of the beach are rocky, depart early from Sirena Station to cross at low tide

The pace returned to normal once we cleared the time sensitive sections of the Sirena Station to La Leona Station trail.

There wasn’t much wildlife this time, but we did manage to see a group of Peccaries where the Tapirs had been on the first day, & there was still an abundance of Coatis around.

Another Corcovado National Park tours group walking with us also saw a Boa Constrictor & type of Weasel on the hike, but that is the luck of the draw when spotting wildlife.

Instead, we took the time to pose with bones from a whale that was stranded on the beach, & in a natural frame formed by a Strangler Fig.

Corcovado National Park tours

Whale bones washed up at Corcovado & brought into the forest

Corcovado National Park tours

Be sure to take a photo at this natural tree frame!

It was also nice to observe the smaller creatures in the jungle.

Two examples were the Orb Spider that spins an insanely strong web, and Leaf-Cutter Ants that clear a highway on the ground to transport specific leaves back to their nest.

After returning to La Leona Station, we signed out of Corcovado National Park & ate our packed lunch.

We then hiked the remainder of the way back to Carate for our 2 pm shuttle before parting ways in Puerto Jimenez.

We couldn’t have asked for a more enjoyable or better organised trip than with Surcos Tours!

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Surcos Tours Guide

All smiles at the end of a successful Corcovado National Park tour!

Know Before You Go

Surcos Tours Location: Puerto Jiménez, Golfito 60702, Costa Rica

Corcovado Tour options: 1-3 day tours available

Corcovado National Park Tours include: Permits, bilingual guide, transportation & accommodation (food is extra

What to Bring: Food/snacks, water bottle, sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, camera and binoculars. Pack a towel & toiletries for overnight tours

Contact Information:

Read Surcos Tours’ Tripadvisor reviews here

 

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***The Final Word – Corcovado National Park is less budget friendly with the new regulations from the private community company, but Surcos Tours offers a range of options to help you enjoy & spot all the wildlife on your wish list ***

Please let us know if you have any questions about Corcovado National Park tours as the few websites we found before our tour don’t take into consideration all the new policies.

* We received a complimentary Corcovado Tour with Surcos Tours, thank you to Niko for hosting us. We only recommend fun, value for money activities & experiences that we believe our readers would enjoy. As always, all opinions & photos are our own.

* This post contains affiliate links, which means that we receive a small commission if you click on a link & purchase something that we have recommended, at no extra cost to you. 

Visited in January 2017

Comments

  1. We spent a month in Costa Rica and fell in love with it. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it down to Corcovado National Park. It looks amazing! Saving this post for when we return.

  2. What’s not to like. Beaches, jungles and wildlife. I could like this. That film crew got luck spotting those Puma. I’d love to see something like that.

  3. Very thorough article! It’s great.
    Bunks with mosquito nets – innovative and also hope it does its work!
    Happy hiking!

  4. Wow it seems like you saw a ton of wildlife! And looks like your guides had a great sense of humor.

  5. I was just in CR two weeks ago but on the Pacific side. This looks right up my ally!

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