Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica
Corcovado National Park is a remote environmental reserve inwards Coast Rica amongst bully hiking past times deserted beaches, waterfalls, pristine rainforest, too plenty of wildlife.
UPDATE: The rules changed inwards 2014, too unfortunately yous tin no longer hike Corcovado alone. Visitors must live accompanied past times a professional person guide.
Costa Rica has many dissimilar National Parks. While Corcovado isn’t just the easiest of them to visit, it’s easily been my favorite thus far.
There’s no route access to the park’s boundaries. You either cause got to hike inwards or teach inwards past times boat or small-scale bush plane.
I opted for the most exhausting too to the lowest degree expensive option. My ain 2 feet!
A physical challenge for certain — but it turned out to live a wonderful choice. After 4 days of solo-trekking through Corcovado, I was able to encounter a broad multifariousness of wild animals I’d never seen before.
Click hither for bully accommodation deals…
Corcovado National Park
My journeying into Corcovado began inwards the hamlet of Puerto Jimenez. Camping inwards the reserve is only allowed at ranger stations, too the few spots available tin live booked upwards for weeks inwards advance.
After securing the proper documents for entry, I was forced to hold off approximately town for v days earlier I could commence my take away a opportunity into Corcovado every bit all the camping ground spots were full.
A small-scale cost to pay for what I was virtually to experience.
When it was fourth dimension to leave, I jumped into the dorsum of a livestock truck filled amongst local families for a bumpy 3 threescore minutes crusade over a rutted jungle route towards the hamlet of Carate.
Hiking Along The Beach
Once I arrived at Carate I re-checked my gear, food, water, too laid out for the source twenty-four threescore minutes catamenia of hiking on a beach through pouring rain. Arriving the La Leona Ranger Station common entrance virtually an threescore minutes later, the tempest continued to pound downwardly every bit I laid upwards camp.
A moisture afternoon was spent wandering approximately nearby trails inwards the pelting watching spider monkeys teach angry at me, gangs of scarlet macaws flying overhead, a toucan, too some frogs.
There’s something exceptional virtually hiking nether the rainforest inwards pouring rain!
Halloween Crabs & Coatis
After a comfortable night’s slumber inwards my camping ground hammock, I rose earlier sunrise on the 2d twenty-four threescore minutes catamenia to railroad train for the long trek ahead. H5N1 ix threescore minutes hike over secluded beaches too through winding rainforest trails to the Sirena ranger station.
Right away to a greater extent than animals came out to greet me on my travels. The source was a large household unit of measurement of virtually 20 Coatis earthworks for a delicious breakfast of Halloween Crabs.
While those colorful crabs looked kinda tasty, I had a long trip ahead of me too couldn’t bring together them. But the heaven was finally clear too I was off to a bully start.
Wild Animals Everywhere!
As the Sun rose higher, Spider Monkey families continued to angrily squawk at me piece shaking the trees & branches over my head. I eventually spotted some White Faced Capuchin monkeys too. They were non nearly every bit pissed-off amongst my presence…
Spider monkeys involve to accept some anger administration classes.
Hiking farther into the jungle, a chocolate-brown serpent of some sort darted out from nether the leaves nigh my feet. Luckily it wasn’t inwards a striking kind-of mood!
The black & humid rainforest trail eventually led dorsum to the beach where the Sun proceeded to relentlessly trounce me into submission. Trekking for miles over soft sand nether the burning Sun amongst a pack total of food, water, camping, too photographic television camera gear is pretty exhausting…
I secretly hoped the pelting would come upwards back!
Sections of beach were absolutely covered inwards hermit crabs, making it hold off alive. Beautiful groups of Scarlet Macaws were having conversations amongst each other every bit they flew depression over my head.
Alone In The Wilderness
Eventually I stopped for lunch. Resting nether the shade of a large palm tree, I went for a quick swim inwards the pounding waves. H5N1 mutual frigidity waterfall dorsum nigh the border of the trees served every bit my fresh-water shower.
I could teach used to this.
The residuum of the trip was spent crossing rivers, wading through tide-pools, losing the trail, running after Jesus Christ Lizards, climbing palm trees, too having a blast. Finally after a long & exhausting (but scenic) ix threescore minutes twenty-four threescore minutes catamenia on the trail, I arrived at Sirena Ranger Station inwards the pump of the reserve.
Throughout the hike I hadn’t seen a unmarried mortal until I laid upwards campsite too made dinner amongst 4 others on a platform at Sirena. Howler monkeys roared at us from the trees inwards the twilight every bit I chop-chop brutal soundly asleep.
Poaching In Corcovado
The morning time of the tertiary twenty-four threescore minutes catamenia I rose too prepared a hardy breakfast of canned tuna too refried beans wrapped inwards tortillas. Yum! Refreshed too ready to explore Corcovado’s network of trails, I marched into the dense jungle yet again.
While shooting images of giant vine-entangled trees along the muddied banks of the Rio Claro, I was surprised when a grouping of armed local men came trudging by. I said howdy every bit they took off their boots too began to cross the river.
Only thus did I notice that 2 of the men were inwards handcuffs!
Unfortunately poaching & illegal gilt mining inwards Corcovado is a constant problem. The common rangers had arrested 2 immature men too were leading them out of the forest. It was comforting to consider that Costa Rica’s laws were existence enforced to protect the area.
Crocodiles & Sharks
There are several river crossings on the means to Sirena, too they tin live unsafe to cross at high tide. Not only tin the H2O live upwards to your neck, but 12 human foot (4m) long Crocodiles too aggressive Bull Sharks are oftentimes works life inwards the rivers feeding on schools of fish.
This is why proper timing of your hike amongst tidal charts is thus important, as I was virtually to uncovering out.
I decided to follow a trail that led me to the Rio Sirena. The tide was starting to rise, but at that spot seemed to live plenty fourth dimension to cross it, explore the other side for a bit, thus teach dorsum earlier the river monsters came out to feed.
So after removing my boots too finding a tree branch to assist back upwards me inwards the deep water, I started across.
Suddenly a brace of eyes broke the surface inwards front end of my legs!
River Crossing Danger
A large Crocodile was staring me downwardly less than 3 feet (1m) away. After freezing for a 2d non certain what to do, I tardily backed out of the water, pulled out my camera, too took a photo.
Unfortunately my river crossing effort had been canceled.
I waited for high-tide to consider if I could spot some bull sharks swimming into the oral fissure of the river looking for fish. It wasn’t long earlier I saw fins darting over the H2O inwards the expanse I had been planning to cross!
What the #%@$ is That!?
The Sun had started to set, which meant it was fourth dimension to caput dorsum to the ranger station for the night. Secretly hoping to consider a Puma or Jaguar earlier I left the adjacent day, my senses were on high-alert.
Without warning something came crashing through the jungle behind me.
I turned simply inwards fourth dimension to consider a giant beast disappear towards the beach…
Running dorsum out the means I came, I works life the foreign animate existence eating on the border of the sand. It looked similar a crazy combination of pig, donkey, too anteater rolled into one.
Baird’s Tapir
The animate existence is called a Tapir, too I was surprised at how large it was. At almost 4 feet tall, too at to the lowest degree half dozen feet long, it’s the largest Earth mammal inwards Central America.
It’s also inwards danger of extinction due to hunting & loss of habitat.
I watched this guy munch on leaves for a while, too before long it wandered correct upwards adjacent to me. It’s snout moves approximately independently similar an elephant’s trunk, which looks quite funny upwards close.
I recollect he was trying to chat amongst me. Another novel rainforest animate existence friend!
Amazing Corcovado!
Finally on the quaternary twenty-four threescore minutes catamenia it was fourth dimension to purpose amongst the animals too provide to civilization. But at that spot were yet plenty of things to consider along the trip back. This is a consummate listing of all the animals I saw after 4 fun days of trekking through Corcovado National Park:
- Coati
- Spider Monkey
- White-Faced Capuchin Monkey
- Squirrel Monkey
- Mantled Howler Monkey
- Bull Shark
- American Crocodile
- Northern Tamandua Anteater
- Tayra
- Collared Peccary
- Scarlet Macaw
- Boa Constrictor
- Blue Morpho Butterfly
- Pale-Billed Woodpecker
- Toucan
- Bare-Throated Tiger Heron
- Jesus Christ Lizard
- Halloween Crab
- Hermit Crab
Not included inwards the listing are other frogs, snakes, fish too birds that I couldn’t identify.
After an seven threescore minutes trek dorsum to the hamlet of Carate, I greedily slurped downwardly a few tasty beers too fired-up my finally Nicaraguan cigar piece waiting for the dreaded 3 threescore minutes truck-ride-from-hell dorsum into town.
Making novel friends amongst the rainforest animals inwards Corcovado National Park was definitely a unique backpacking sense that I volition non before long forget. ★
UPDATE: The rules changed inwards 2014, too unfortunately yous tin no longer hike Corcovado alone. Visitors must live accompanied past times a professional person guide.
Watch Video: Corcovado In Costa Rica
(Click to sentinel Hiking Corcovado National Park – Republic of Costa Rica on YouTube)
Accommodation: Cabinas El Perezoso
Cost: $93 USA inwards common fees, camping, & nutrient for 4 days.
Packing Guide
Check out my travel gear guide to assist yous start packing for your trip. Pick upwards a move backpack, photographic television camera gear, too other useful move accessories.
Book Your Flight
Book inexpensive flights on Skyscanner, my favorite airline search engine to uncovering deals. Also read my tips for how I uncovering the cheapest flights.
Rent H5N1 Car
Discover Car Hire is a bully site for comparison machine prices to uncovering the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.
Book Accommodation
Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent local apartments on Airbnb ($35 discount!). Read my post for tips on booking inexpensive hotels.
Protect Your Trip
Don’t forget move insurance! I’m a large fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read to a greater extent than virtually why yous should ever bear move insurance.
Recommended Guidebook: Lonely Planet Costa Rica
Suggested Reading: Monkeys Are Made Of Chocolate
READ MORE FROM COSTA RICA
How Much Does Republic of Costa Rica Cost?
15 Epic Photos From Costa Rica
Fairytale Magic At Rio Celeste Waterfall
Tips For Visiting Monteverde Costa Rica
Have whatever questions virtually hiking Corcovado? Are yous planning a trip? Drop me a message inwards the comments below!
Sumber lksmadrasah.blogspot.com
