2-Day Corcovado National Park Tour: Sirena Biological Station

Two days hiking Corcovado's primary forest and river trails, sleeping at the research station in the heart of the park.

A 2-day private tour of Corcovado National Park centers on Sirena Biological Station, where you hike multiple trails through rainforest holding 2.5% of the planet's biodiversity. Park entry and a qualified naturalist guide are included. Boat transport departs from either Drake (1 hour) or Puerto Jimenez (1.5 hours), and you overnight at the station. The guide speaks English or Spanish, and children from age 7 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Full-day hike at Sirena Station

• Meet guide at Rancho Corcovado or Puerto Jimenez
• Boat trip to Sirena Biological Station
• Arrive and register at Sirena Station
• Hike trails around Sirena
• Lunch at Sirena Station (not included)
• Afternoon hike on Mermaid trails
• Dinner at Sirena Station (not included)
• Overnight stay at Sirena Station (not included)

Day 2: Second day hike and departure

• Early morning hike to Mermaid River (optional)
• Breakfast at Sirena Station (not included)
• Hike trails around Sirena
• Pack and head to the beach
• Boat pickup at Mermaid Beach
• Arrive at Rancho Corcovado Drake or Puerto Jimenez
• End of tour

The experience

Corcovado National Park sits on the Osa Peninsula in southeast Costa Rica and holds the largest primary forest of the American Pacific. The park's 13 ecosystems shelter tapirs, scarlet macaws, squirrel monkeys and white-lipped peccaries: species found nowhere else in the region. A qualified guide is required to enter. You cannot walk the park alone. The tour is built around Sirena Biological Station, a research outpost deep inside the park where you sleep overnight and spend two full days on the trails.

Day one starts before dawn. You meet your guide at Rancho Corcovado in Drake or at Puerto Jimenez's public pier, then board a boat for the journey into the park. The Drake route takes about an hour. The Puerto Jimenez route runs 1.5 hours and passes through open water where dolphins and seabirds are common. You arrive at Sirena by mid-morning, register at the station, and begin hiking. Seven different trails branch from the station. Your guide chooses based on conditions and what wildlife is active. You return for lunch (not included, $12 at the station), then hike again in the afternoon. Dinner and a bunk at the station close the day (accommodation and dinner not included, $30 and $25 respectively).

Day two begins with an optional early-morning hike to the Mermaid River before breakfast (not included, $20). The rest of the morning is spent on the trails around the station. By midday you pack and walk to the beach for pickup, arriving back at Drake or Puerto Jimenez in the early afternoon. The boat ride back mirrors the journey in: calm water and open sky after two days under the canopy.

What’s included

• Park entry to Corcovado National Park and Sirena Biological Station.
• a qualified naturalist guide speaking English or Spanish.
• boat transport from Drake or Puerto Jimenez to Sirena and back.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (13 to 75 years) · Youth (7 to 12 years) · Under 7: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 834

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Maikol Salas Sanchez Day Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this if you're based in Drake or Puerto Jimenez without a car: boat pickup from your town eliminates transport logistics, and staying at Sirena gives you multiple full days exploring trails instead of a rushed same-day return.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 12 years). Children under 7 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the boat ride like from Drake to Sirena?

The boat departs Rancho Corcovado beach at dawn and takes about an hour to reach Sirena Biological Station. The route crosses open water where you may spot dolphins and seabirds, and the ride is considered ideal for families and non-experienced hikers.

Can I choose which trails to hike at Sirena?

Seven different trails branch from Sirena Biological Station. Your guide selects which ones to walk based on the time of year, current conditions, and where wildlife is most active on the day you visit.

What animals am I likely to see in Corcovado?

Corcovado holds an estimated 2.5% of the planet's biodiversity across 13 different ecosystems. The park is home to tapirs, scarlet macaws, squirrel monkeys and white-lipped peccaries, along with many other species found in primary tropical rainforest.

Is accommodation at Sirena included in the tour price?

Park entry and the naturalist guide are included. Accommodation at Sirena Biological Station, meals at the station, and the naturalist guide's fee are paid separately: accommodation costs $30 per night, and meals run $12 to $25 each depending on the meal.

Do I need hiking experience for this tour?

The boat-based route to Sirena is suitable for all fitness levels and is ideal for families and non-experienced hikers. Children are welcome from age 7. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnant travelers.