Corcovado National Park

Hystorical Background

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, the area has awakened great interest among Costa Rican and foreign scientistis, and its resources are continuously being investigated.

The genetical potencial found in the living forms that find refuge in Corcovado could be of invaluable benefit to agriculture, medicine and other equally important fields that seek the well being of humanity.

Before the Spanish conquest, the region was inhabited by indigenous groups who probably settled there 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 even though the area has been virtually unexplored.

Until 1978, there was no access by land to the Península and the population in the region was 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 destined exclusively to conservation goals, scientific investigation, environmental education and the type of tourism suitable to a National Park.

Location

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.

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.
The area as a whole posesses 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).

Corcovadoºs 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

Nature trails, drinking water, camping areas, information.

Interest facts

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

Regulations

* For your security and the care of the areaº 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 areaºs resources.

The Costa Rica National Park System protects more than 25 % of Costa Rica