Corcovado National Park protects the last portion of Tropical Humid Forest of the Mesoamerican Pacific. Due to its geographical location, climate, soil conditions and topography, this area is home to an amazing diversity of biological species.
Blessed with such richness, this area has awakened great interest among Costa Rican and foreign scientists, and its resources are continuously being investigated. The genetical potential found in the living forms that find refuge in Corcovado could be of valuable benefit to agriculture, medicine and other equally important fields that seek the well being of humanity.

History and culture

There are clues that indicate that before the Spanish conquest, this region was inhabited by indigenous groups who probably settled here due to the abundance of wildlife. Arqueologist believe the area is important because of the information that could be discovered about the relationship these people maintained with Nature and the manner in which they made use of their resources. These expectations are based on evidence found to date and the fact that this area has been virtually unexplored.
Until 1978, there was no access by land to the Peninsula which caused the population in the region to remain very sparse. In 1975, when Corcovado National Park was created, the 300 farmers who lived in the area were compensated for their land and relocated in other areas.
Since then, the park has been exclusively destined to conservation purposes, scientific investigation, environmental education and the type of tourism suitable to a National Park.

Flora and fauna

Corcovado is made up of a unique combination of terrestrial and marine ecosystems which interact in harmony and whose origins, science has yet to fully understand.
This region posses thousands of species of flora, many only found in this area and others which have disappeared from other regions. We can cite the case of the "ajo" (Caryocar costarricense), the "ojoche" (Brosimun costaricanum) and the caracolito cedar (Ruptiliocarpon caracolito). This last tree discovered on November 1993, constitutes a new species for the world and established a new botanical family for the neotropic region.
Corcovado's diverse fauna is remarkable; many of the species of this region are in danger of extinction, despite the large numbers still found in the region. The red macaw or "Guacamaya" (Ara macao), the wild boar (Tayassu pecari), the jaguar (Felis onca) and the crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) confirm this fact.
Just as in the case of the caracolito tree, in the future, studies could reveal the existence of other unknown species, which if it were not for the conservation of the park, would be lost forever without ever having been described.

Services

Visiting Corcovado provides an experience in a primitive area that lacks the usual commodities of touristic sites.

Services: Nature trails, drinking water, camping areas, information
Recommendations

• For your security and the care of the area's resources, use only the authorized trails and do not wander off them.
• Even though accidents in the park are not common, we ask you to please be careful.
• The main goal of the National Parks is conservation. Hunting is not allowed, nor harming the flora, nor the extraction of any materials.
• A serene attitude and silence is ideal, in order to observe animals and better enjoy the area's resources.
• Before visiting the park, it is recommended that you make reservations at phone number 735-5440.
• The park rangers will help you

General information

Location: South Western sector of the Osa Peninsula, Puntarenas Province, South Pacific region of Costa Rica.

Legal aspects:
Creation: Decree No. 53 57 A, October 24, 1.975.
Addendum: Decree No. 11148 A, February 5, 1.980.
Ratification: Law No. 6794, August 25, 1982.

Surface Area: 41, 788 hectares

Maximum Altitude: 782 meters above sea level

Climate: Hot, rainy and very humid.

Dry season: mid-December to mid-April, with sporadic rain showers.
Rainy Season: mid-April to mid-December
Precipitation: 5.000 - 5.500 mm per year in mountainous zones. 2.500 - 3.500 mm per year on the coast.

Access:

Corcovado is located 368 km from San Jose, following the Pan American Highway south, taking the detour toward Puerto Jimenez at the community of Chacarita. It is also possible to enter by boat from Sierpe, located 15 km from Palmar de Osa.

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