Destination: Corcovado National Park

The ultimate destination of this trip was Corcovado National Park which was accessible by boat.

The area, situated by Drake Bay in Osa Peninsula, became a national park protected by the Costa Rican government on October 1975.

This massive jungle is as large as 425 km² (=105,020 acres) and is teeming with rich biodiversity. Approximately 4% of all the species in the world thrive within the confines of Corcovado National Park.

The atmosphere is quite distinctive.
It awakens all five senses and somehow induces a feeling of nostalgia.

From San Jose to Drake Bay, it is only 45 minutes away by plane.
Sansa Airlines and Nature Air Airlines operate between two airports.
(approx. US$８０ per round-trip)

It would be a quick plane ride, but we dared to take the long way and traveled by land and boat. Getting to Corcovado National Park was an adventure by itself, and we wanted to enjoy the course.

After a walkabout and breakfast, we left Sierpe at around 11 am.
We took a boat that the owner of the lodge in Corcovado arranged.
For about an hour, we were on the water, on the way to Drake Bay.

The boat sailed down the mangrove river, cutting through the wind.
The rain pelted down in my face, hindering my vision.

Mangroves are forests that grow in saline tidal areas in tropics and subtropics. Shrubs and trees usually thrive by reaching the roots long down into the saline river water. These particular aerial roots are called pneumatophores, and they stick up like straws to absorb oxygen and hold firm efficiently in mud.
Mangroves are mother forests that harbor many living organisms such as crabs, shrimps, and clams. They also sustain rich biodiversity and improve water quality.

Suddenly the boat stopped, and life jackets were handed to us.
Soon after, the boat began tilting back and forth.

Then I realized.

We were floating on the vast expanse of ocean.

Before I knew it, Sierpe river came to its estuary, and our small boat was sailing into the ocean.

The rain caused troubled waters.
The boat slowed down and moved forward by riding along the wave.
I was nervous thinking that it would tip over, but our guides were skillful enough to make me feel safe.

A 4x4 truck was expecting our arrival at Drake Bay.
People there call it a taxi.
(It costs approx. US$20.00 and needs an advance arrangement through a hotel/lodge.)


The truck drove through muddy rough paths. Due to the heavy rain a few days before, the depth of the river had increased. We slowly crossed the river by truck. Some section of the paths were so muddy and unstable that we had to walk through instead of driving.




When we finally arrived at Corcovado Jungle Eco Lodge, where we stayed for the next 3 days, it was already past 4 pm.

This lodge was built by the owner, Carlos.
There is not a single glass window.
Screens replaced the walls so that the sound of nature can be heard well.
He built the house, trying to use as many fallen trees and leaving as little environmental impact as possible.

It was a simple place, but such simplicity made me feel home.

The sun was already setting, and it was becoming lively outside with the sound of nocturnal animals, insects, and trees swaying in the breeze.


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