Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
transportation, lunch and guided hikes. Indeed, if you came all the way to the Península de
Osa, it's hard to pass up a visit to the national park that made it famous.
Some travelers, however, come away from these tours disappointed. The trails around
San Pedrillo station attract many groups of people, which inhibit animal sightings. Further-
more, most tours arrive at the park well after sunrise, when activity in the rainforest has
already quietened down.
If you're here to see wildlife, taking the time to spend a night in the park is the way to
go, as many animals are at their most active around dawn and dusk. All park visitors are
now required to be accompanied by a guide certified by the ICT (Costa Rica Tourism
Board), so exploring the beaches and jungles with an eagle-eyed guide will reveal much
more than you would likely discover on your own.
If you'd prefer to hike independently, the easiest and most obvious route is the long
coastal trail that heads south out of Agujitas and continues about 10km to the border of the
national park. A determined, reasonably fit hiker could make it all the way to San Pedrillo
ranger station in three to four hours (though visitors intending to enter or spend the night
in the park must have secured reservations in advance and must be accompanied by a
guide). Hikers along this narrow, muddy trail should remember that sunset descends
swiftly at around 5:30pm.
Other popular day hikes along this trail include
Playa Cocalito
,
Playa Caletas
and
Playa San Josecito
, a stunningly remote beach. Other nearby options include
Punta Río
Claro Wildlife Refuge
(also called the Marenco Rainforest Reserve), which can be ac-
cessed from the Río Claro trail or from Playa San Josecito.
Swimming & Snorkeling
About 20km west of Agujitas, Isla del Caño is considered the best place for snorkeling in
this area. Lodges offer day trips to the island (from US$80 per person), usually including
the park fee, snorkeling equipment and lunch on Playa San Josecito. The clarity of the
ocean and the variety of the fish fluctuate according to water and weather conditions: it's
worth inquiring before booking.
There are other opportunities for snorkeling on the coast between Agujitas and Corco-
vado. Playa San Josecito attracts scores of colorful species, which hide out among the cor-
al reef and rocks. Another recommended spot is Playa Caletas, just in front of the Corco-
vado Adventures Tent Camp, and Playa Cocalito, a small, pretty beach near Agujitas that
is pleasant for swimming and sunbathing.