CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARKThe Most Biologically Intense Place on Earth?
The Osa Peninsula, containing Corcovado National Park, has been described as "the most biologically intense place" on earth. Hmmm. Is this just some hyperexaggerated claim by a travel company, or a big Costa Rica resort, or Costa Rica's Ministry of Tourism, aimed at separating you from a few dollars when you visit Costa Rica? Nope. It's from the National Geographic Society.
. . . or Europe . . . or Asia . . . or Africa. The last Eden on the planet. Never heard of Corcovado National Park? Click for maps!     Yellowstone vs. CorcovadoTo get an idea about the size of Corcovado, I'd like you to imagine an egg-shaped park about 20 miles long and, at its widest, maybe eight miles and, for more perspective, I'll compare it to Yellowstone National Park.It's TINY, only 104,900 acres (2,116,000 fewer acres than Yellowstone) or 165 square miles (3,307 fewer square miles than Yellowstone). But within its confines there are more than 400 kinds of Costa Rica birds (the entire United States has just 925 bird species). Including the largest remaining concentration of
scarlet macaws in all of Central America, some 1200, click to learn more
At least 140 different kinds of mammals (Yellowstone has 59) including the mighty jaguar (biggest cat in the Western Hemisphere), pumas, ocelots and, in all,
five kinds of Costa Rica wild cats! click to see them
6,000 species of butterflies, moths, spiders, and other bugs 116 different species of reptiles and amphibians, including 2/3 of the world's
sea turtle species, click
It's mind-boggling. And it's nowhere else on the planet. Waiting for your Costa Rica adventure when you travel Costa Rica.
Here's a Corcovado video courtesy of Current.com, click and enjoy!
Things You Should Know
The park has a healthy population of crocodiles and jaguars and you'll probably see their footprints--and even the animals themselves--close to the Corcovado Lagoon.The best time to visit Corcovado on your Costa Rica vacation is from December through April because the rest of the year the park often has torrential rains (400 centimeters, nearly 200 inches a year). Expect very hot, humid conditions most of the year. Hiking is very popular here. It's recommended that you hire a Costa Rica tour guide from Drake Bay or Puerto Jimenez. Inland you'll find dense forestation and one of the last remaining primary forests in Central America. Go to the coast to find mile-after-mile of stunning beaches. You can get to Corcovado National Park either by way of Puerto Jimenez or Drake Bay. Charter airflights are available from San Jose or you can drive to Puerto Jimenez or Sierpe (where you can catch a boat to Drake Bay). However you travel Costa Rica, consider the Osa Peninsula. Hike it on your Costa Rica vacation or enjoy some great Costa Rica fishing off its coast. Want To Help Preserve Corcovado?Help save the rain forest one day at Corcovado National Park or anywhere else by responsible Costa Rica eco tourism or volunteering at the Corcovado FoundationGo to Costa Rica National Parks, Vol. 3, click here Go from Corcovado National Park to Costa Rica Vacations homepage click here
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