Parque Nacional Corcovado

Parque Nacional Corcovado, located on the Osa Peninsula (southern Pacific), protects one of the most biodiverse humid tropical forests in the country. It is the national park with the most restricted and regulated access in Costa Rica.

Mandatory guide: since 2014, it is strictly required to enter with a certified naturalist guide — no exceptions, neither for national nor foreign visitors. Self-guided entry is not allowed.

Reservation: prior reservation is mandatory and is handled by email at acosa.reservaciones@sinac.go.cr. The park has limited capacity, so during peak season it is recommended to arrange the visit (guide, transport, and entrance) well in advance — usually through an organized excursion from Puerto Jimenez or Bahia Drake, which already includes these arrangements.

Cost: the entrance fee to the park itself is about $18 (official SINAC rate), but a full-day tour that includes guide, transport, and entrance costs between $80 and $150 per person depending on the operator.

Hours: Monday to Sunday, from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm; closed on public holidays.

Note: given the level of regulation of this park, in practice almost all visitors enter through an authorized tour operator that already handles the guide and reservation — confirm the list of authorized operators and the current exact cost on sinac.go.cr.