Corcovado National Park

Many consider the Corcovado National Park to be the crown jewel of Costa Rica's national park system, with so many outstanding wildlife possibilities that it is one area that can guarantee plenty of sightings. Corcovado National Park, located on the Osa Peninsula in southwestern Costa Rica, is home to numerous primary ecosystems, including mangrove swamps, rainforest, palm forest, and cloud forest, as well as beaches and coastal habitats.

With multiple hiking paths meandering through the park, tourists have a higher chance of sighting some of Costa Rica's more elusive and uncommon species, such as red-backed squirrel monkeys, jaguars, harpy eagles, white-lipped peccaries, and Baird's tapirs, than they would anyplace else in the country. Visitors can reach Corcovado National Park via the nearest town, Puerto Jimenez, where they can book tours, rent bikes, horses, 4WD vehicles, or take a bus. There are four ranger stations on Corcovado that offer housing, food, and camping.

Location: Corcovado National Park, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Best time to visit Corcovado National Park: The best time to visit Corcovado National Park is during the dry season in Costa Rica, which runs from December to April. The rainy season begins in May and lasts until the beginning of December. The rainiest months are September and October.