Discover the beauty of the tropical rainforest: The Corcovado National Park has been called “the most biologically intense place on earth” by National Geographic. There are 500 species of trees, 140 species of mammals, 367 species of birds, 40 species of freshwater fish, 117 species of amphibians, and four species of sea turtles nesting on the beaches. All four species of monkeys, the six cat species, and the endangered Tapir inhabit this area. At least thirteen distinct vegetation types can be seen in close proximity, including mangroves and palm swamps.
For the day tour, you will leave Encanto Lodge at 5:30 a.m. to catch the boat at the main beach which will take you to the Sirena or San Pedrillo ranger station. It is possible that you will see dolphins, sea turtles or even whales (mid July to end of October) on the boat ride. A local tour guide will lead you through the park, point out animals and teach you about the wildlife. You will have a chance to see scarlet macaws, spider monkeys, howler monkeys, white face monkeys, squirrel monkeys (Sirena), peccaries, crocodiles, tapirs, coatis, sloths, anteaters or other animals. Lunch is served at the ranger station, before you return to the beach where you hop on the boat to get back to Drake Bay main beach. There you will arrive around 2pm, where we will pick you up and bring you back to the lodge where you will arrive around 2:30 p.m..
San Pedrillo or Sirena Ranger Station?
San Pedrillo Ranger station is closer to Drake Bay (less than an hour by boat). Sirena Ranger station is a little farer. Generally spoken, people usually can observe a higher diversity of wildlife in Sirena than in San Pedrillo and the animals in Sirena are less shy and more used to people. Sirena Ranger Station is generally more crowded, especially in high season (christmas time until eastern time). In high season, Sirena may also be booked out a few weeks in advance as there is a limited number of visitors for each day. If you want to reserve with us for a Corcovado tour, please specify which Ranger Station would be your preference.
One day trip or Overnight stay?
An overnight stay in the National Park gives visitors more chance to observe wildlife. Walking along the uncrowded trails when the day visitors have already left gives you feeling of more tranquility and wilderness. There is less of a rush and you might be able to explore other trails. However, overnight stays are much more expensive than one day trips.
Our Corcovado overnight tours are usually organized to Sirena, going there both ways by boat. Leaving here at the lodge at 5:30 a.m., as for the one-day tours, and returning the next day around 2:30pm to the lodge. Why do we recommend to travel by boat to Sirena? The walking trails from Sirena to Los Patos and La Leona are very exhausting (some travellers reach their limits during the hike) and you often have to hurry due to tides and public transport, which does not really give you the possibility to stop and take the time to observe wildlife. Furthermore, wildlife is more concentrated and less shy around Sirena station. At night, you will sleep at Sirena Ranger Station in a room shared with other visitors.
| One day tour | Overnight tour | |
| Duration: | 5:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., including: – 2 x 30 min taxi ride – 2 x 1 – 1,5h boat ride – Lunch break | 5:30 a.m. – 2:30p.m. the other day, including: – 2 x 30min taxi ride – 2x 1-1,5h boat ride – 2 lunch breaks, dinner and breakfast |
| Includes: | – transport from Encanto Lodge to the boat station and back – boat trip – entrance fees – local guide – lunch | – transport from Encanto Lodge to the boat station and back – boat trip – entrance fees – local guide – 2 lunchs, 1 dinner and 1 breakfast – accommodation in a shared room at Sirena Station |
| Rate per person: | San Pedrillo: $105 Sirena: $120 | $385, minimum 2 persons |
For a Corcovado Tour reservation we require:
- date(s) you wish to go on the tour
- Name of the Ranger Station you prefer to visit
- Full names of all the participants
- Nationalities of all the participants
- Passport numbers of all the participants
- Prepayment of 50% of the total tour cost + 8% commission via paypal to info@encantolodge.com for all participants. The other 50% of the tour cost must be paid upon arrival at the lodge.
Please note:
- Tours reserved with us include free transportation to the tour starting point. We do not offer transportation for tours reserved directly with other tour operators.
- Park entries are limited and can only be reserved and bought by local tour operators via email. This is why we recommend reservation in advance.
- Park entries are only valuable for the person(s) mentioned in the reservation and cannot be resold or transferred to another person. For that reason, payments are non-refundable.
- Park entries are valid either for tours starting at 6 a.m. or 8 a.m. (high season). In the latter case all the times above would be 2 hours later, leaving at the lodge at 7:30 a.m..
- In the worst case scenario if we cannot find a spacie we refund the payment.
- Tours can be cancelled by the tour operator or park administration if they decide that the realization of the tour is too dangerous or in case of any unforseen cirunstances that impede the realization of the tour.
- Weather is usually very unpredictable for Corcovado National Park (weather forecast for the area is usually about 50% true). Generally the weather is quiet sunny in the dry season (January to March).
- Smoking is prohibited in the park.
- Knives are prohibited in the park.
- It is prohibited to bring any kind of food and to dispose any kind of rubbish in the park. Exceptions for food are snacks for diabetics (with receipt from the doctor) or small kids.
- Only reusable drinking bottles are allowed in the park, common water or juice plastic bottles from the super market are prohibited in the park, even if you reuse them.
Please bring with you:
- Re-usable drinking bottle.
- Rubber boots, especially in raining season due to muddy trails, water crossing and because they offer more protection. If not possible, please wear at least (high) hiking boots.
- You need to walk through water to get in and out of the boat so please bring short pants or long pants that you can zip the legs off for example.
- In Sirena, you need to walk over a rocky zone in the waves, so we recommend to bring sandals (flip-flops are not useful).
- Long pants and/or insect repellent serve as protection against insect bites in the park.
- Solar protection
- Rain coat (mainly in rainy season from April to December).