Corcovado National Park lies on the remote Osa Peninsula, about 50 miles south of Uvita by sea. The journey there is an experience in itself. We depart early morning from Playa Uvita, where the famous Whale Tail sandbar meets the Pacific. The boat ride takes roughly 90 minutes along one of Costa Rica’s most scenic coastlines, passing jungle-covered cliffs and hidden beaches that most tourists never see.
This stretch of ocean is alive with marine life. Dolphins frequently appear alongside the boat, sometimes in pods of 20 or more. During humpback whale season (July through October and December through April), these gentle giants often breach right in our path. Sea turtles surface for air, and frigate birds circle overhead. You haven’t even reached the park yet, and you’re already deep in wildlife territory.
Our full-day Corcovado tour from Uvita includes everything for a complete jungle adventure: boat transportation along the Pacific coast, park entrance fees, a certified bilingual naturalist guide, two guided rainforest hikes, and a picnic lunch at San Pedrillo Station. We keep groups small (maximum 10 people) so everyone gets close wildlife sightings without crowding the trails. The guides carry professional spotting scopes because some of the best animals hide high in the canopy.
Your tour covers round-trip boat transportation from Playa Uvita to San Pedrillo Station, all national park entrance fees, two guided jungle hikes along El Pargo and La Catarata trails, a bilingual naturalist guide with spotting scope, light breakfast before departure (coffee, fruit, pastries), packed lunch at the ranger station, drinking water throughout the day, and safety equipment on board. We recommend bringing sunscreen, a reusable water bottle, quick-dry clothing, and sturdy shoes that can get muddy.
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The boat journey alone makes this trip worthwhile. You will cruise along the southern Pacific coastline for about 90 minutes, passing the dramatic cliffs of the Osa Peninsula and beaches accessible only by sea. The ocean here teems with life. Dolphins race alongside the boat, sea turtles pop up for air, and during whale season (July through October or December through April), humpback whales breach and spout within viewing distance.
Once you arrive at San Pedrillo Station, the jungle takes over. The air feels thick and alive. Howler monkeys announce your presence from the treetops while scarlet macaws flash red and blue overhead. The trails wind through primary rainforest where trees tower 150 feet above you and every branch seems to hold something worth watching.
Monkeys steal the show for most visitors. Four species live here: howler monkeys with their unforgettable roar, white-faced capuchins clever enough to watch you back, squirrel monkeys traveling in chattering groups, and the endangered spider monkey swinging through the canopy.
Tapirs are the gentle giants of Corcovado. These 600-pound herbivores often appear near rivers and trails in the early morning hours. You will also spot coatis sniffing through the undergrowth, two-toed and three-toed sloths hanging motionless in cecropia trees, agoutis darting across the path, and anteaters probing for their next meal.
San Pedrillo Station offers two main trails suited for day visitors. El Pargo trail stretches through dense primary forest for about two hours of easy walking on mostly flat terrain. This is where you will find the highest concentration of wildlife, especially in the early morning when animals are most active.
Weather and time permitting, we hike the second trail to La Catarata, a refreshing waterfall where you can cool off after the jungle heat. This shorter trail takes roughly an hour and features slightly more varied terrain. Our guides adjust the pace based on wildlife sightings because sometimes the best moments happen when you simply stop, and stay quiet.
Uvita offers the most convenient starting point for visiting Corcovado National Park without the exhausting drive to Puerto Jiménez or Drake Bay. From our base near Marino Ballena National Park, the boat ride to San Pedrillo Station takes roughly 90 minutes along a coastline that most tourists never see. You skip hours of winding mountain roads and arrive at the park’s coastal entrance feeling fresh and ready to explore.
The journey itself doubles as a wildlife tour. Dolphins frequently escort our boat through these rich Pacific waters, sometimes in playful pods of a dozen or more. During humpback whale season (July through October and December through April), these magnificent creatures breach and spout within clear viewing distance. Sea turtles surface for air, pelicans dive for fish, and frigate birds circle overhead. By the time you step onto the beach at San Pedrillo, you have already checked off half your Costa Rica wildlife wishlist.
Choosing San Pedrillo Station over other Corcovado entrances makes sense for day visitors who want maximum wildlife exposure with manageable hiking. The trails here wind through primary rainforest on mostly flat terrain, suitable for families and travelers of varying fitness levels. This sector consistently delivers sightings of all four monkey species, tapirs near the riverbanks, scarlet macaws overhead, and the occasional sloth hanging motionless in cecropia trees. Guides who know these trails can spot animals that untrained eyes would walk right past.
The full-day Corcovado tour from Uvita fits naturally into a South Pacific Costa Rica itinerary. You can combine it with whale watching in Marino Ballena, diving at Caño Island, or waterfall chasing in the nearby mountains. The tour returns by late afternoon, leaving time for a sunset dinner in Uvita or Dominical. For travelers staying anywhere between Manuel Antonio and the Osa Peninsula, Uvita provides the logical launching point for experiencing what National Geographic called “the most biologically intense place on Earth” without turning a single day trip into a multi-day expedition.
