For my second week in Costa Rica, I headed down to the Osa Peninsula, which is the southwest part of the country, and more rustic and undeveloped than other parts of the country.
The primary reason to come here is to explore Corcovado National Park, the largest park in the country and one of the most bio-diverse places in the world!
I don’t usually allow this dorky hat in photos, but was too lazy to take it off and try to make my hair look decent!
Puerto Jimenez
After a quick and scenic 45 minute plane ride from San Jose, I arrived in the morning and had a day to kill in the town of Puerto Jimenez.
This is the entire Puerto Jimenez airport!
I didn’t have much of an idea of what to do, but I checked in at Cabinas Jimenez, where Annie at the front desk helped me plan a great afternoon.
First I needed to eat breakfast, so grabbed a bite at Monka Cafe. Appropriately fueled up, I rode one of the hotel’s free bikes to a beautiful beach about 45 minutes away. The beach feels super secluded, but is actually attached to a hotel, so there are some hammocks and chairs - yet I had the entire place to myself! After some relaxing with a book and a beach stroll, I had lunch at the restaurant on the beach, Pearl of the Osa and then hit the (bumpy) road back into town.
Not a bad place to spend the afternoon!
I grabbed a kayak, also free to use from Cabinas Jimenez, and headed out to some mangroves. I didn’t really spot much wildlife, but it was nice to be on the water and see a new landscape.
Corcovado National Park
That evening, I went to “orientation” for my hike that would begin the next day. We didn’t actually get that much new information, most of it had been communicated to us via email already, but I did meet Marie, a nice German woman also joining the hike solo, and we grabbed a bite together at Marisqueria Corcovado before turning in early for our 4:30 AM wakeup!
Our little hiking group and a cool tree!
Our hike to Corcovado spanned 3 days. The first day, we began in Carate, and hiked 12.5 miles into Sirena station, which would be our accommodations for the next two nights. The terrain itself isn’t all that strenuous, but the trek is made much more difficult by the extreme heat and humidity, plus the weight of a heavy pack (mostly water for the hike, but also clothes, etc for the 2 night stay).
Along the way we saw TONS of animals, which is why you do the hike in the first place! Our guide, Carlos, was a bit salty at times, but was able to spot even the smallest of creatures, quickly set up his telescope, and give us a great view. Steven, the other member of our group, had a great camera, so most of the photos you’ll see below are from him!
Toucan Sam
White faced monkey
Coati, like a raccoon but cuter
Tapir mom and baby
Ant eater!
Spider monkey
Not sure what this bird is, but it’s pretty!
Sirena station is basic, but actually very impressive for being located in the middle of nowhere- they even have Wifi (and it even sort of works!). We slept in dorm-style accommodations and the meals there are plentiful and served by friendly local staff. The experience felt a bit like summer camp; the guides from the different companies all know one another, and we got to know them and the other trekkers around meals or just hanging around the station. I already miss my Corcovado crew!
Our home base, Sirena Station
The second day was for some easy strolling right around the station. Unfortunately my stomach started hurting pretty badly the first night, so I was a no-show for the 4:30 AM nature walk (and slept in until the luxuriously late hour of 5:30 AM). I did join the group for the afternoon hiking where we saw more bird and animals and even a crocodile! But, I still wasn’t feeling great so didn’t enjoy myself 100%.
The guides and their scopes! Our guide, Carlos, is on the far left.
OMG look at this insane crocodile!!
Sloth sighting!
Pensive spider monkey
Luckily I felt much, much better the next day. We hiked out via a different route than we came, a longer and more hilly 14 mile trail. We started at 5 AM- a little later than you begin the Carate route, because of a HERD OF WILD BOAR who might attack you if you go in the dark. Totally cool. At this time of morning, it was still dark, with a thunderstorm visible in the distance and the calls of howler monkeys in the air (they sound like terrifying monsters). It was all a bit apocolyptic, but it was time to get back to civilization!
There weren’t as many animals to see on this trail, which I didn’t really mind since we’d seen so much already in our first two days. We made good time and were back in Puerto Jimenez by 1 PM.
I did my trek via Sucros Tours. Overall the company was very well-organized and super helpful before the trip. The three of us in the group agreed that our guide was not the best. He seemed kind of annoyed with us and our questions, and on the last day, hiked VERY fast, at times leaving one of us (ahem, me) far behind the rest of the group- not cool when there are natural hazards all around!
I cleaned up, took a nap, ate a quesadilla, and then met up one last time for dinner with Marie and Steve at PizzaMail.it for some post-trek cabo-loading and….WINE!
