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'{{for|the park FUCK THIS ShIT in Chile|Corcovado National Park (Chile)}} {{More footnotes|date=December 2013}} {{Infobox protected area | name = Corcovado National Park | iucn_category = II | photo = Parque Nacional Corcovado.JPG | photo_caption = Corcovado National Park | location = [[Osa Peninsula]], [[Costa Rica]] | nearest_city = | embedded = {{Location map | Costa Rica | caption = Location in Costa Rica | border = none | width = 300 | relief = 1 }} | image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|type=shape}} | coordinates = {{coords|8|33|0|N|83|35|0|W|display=inline, title}} | area_km2 = 424 | established = October 24, 1975 | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | governing_body = National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) }} '''Corcovado National Park''' ({{lang-es|Parque Nacional Corcovado}}) is a [[National Park]] on the [[Osa Peninsula]] in [[Osa (canton)|Osa Canton]], southwestern [[Costa Rica]] (9° North, 83° West), which is part of the [[Osa Conservation Area]]. It was established on 24 October 1975, and encompasses an area of {{convert|424|km2|sqmi}}. It is the largest park in Costa Rica and protects about a third of the Osa Peninsula. It is widely considered the crown jewel in FUCK THIS SHIT IM OUT FUCK FUCK FUKC UFKC FUCK FUCKU FUCK FUCK FUCK extensive system of national parks and biological reserves spread across the country. The ecological variety is quite stunning. [[National Geographic (magazine)|National Geographic]] has called it "the most biologically intense place on Earth in terms of biodiversity". Not only is the park very popular with tropical [[ecology|ecologists]], a visitor can expect to see an abundance of wildlife. The park conserves the largest [[primary forest]] on the American Pacific coastline and one of the few remaining sizable areas of ''lowland'' [[tropical forest]]s in the world. Historically, logging has taken place in lowland areas because those areas are more easily accessible and contain the largest and most economically valuable trees. But those habitats, which feature diverse vegetation, are also usually the richest in [[biodiversity]]. So even though approximately half the tropical forests on Earth remain, what is left of the originally rich lowland forests is usually in too small an area to support the original natural biodiversity. Larger animals, especially, need a large habitat free of human activity. Unfortunately this means that even tourism, the economic incentive for Costa Rica and other developing nations to preserve and protect parks such as Corcovado, actually threatens the long-term biodiversity of the park. Waters of the park are calm and rich in biodiversity. ''[[Isla del Caño|Cano Island]] Biological Reserve'' is one of featured reserves along the coasts. These coasts, such as at Drake Bay, are wintering and breeding grounds for the [[humpback whale]]s that come each winter. '''Ballena National Marine Park''' is specially designed for this species. Other baleen whales also migrate through the area such as [[Bryde's whale]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cascadiaresearch.org/reports/rep-cr00.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-03-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908190607/http://www.cascadiaresearch.org/reports/rep-cr00.pdf |archive-date=2015-09-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Dolphin]]s such as [[Spinner dolphin|spinner]] and [[Rough-toothed dolphin|rough-toothed]], and smaller [[cetacean]]s such as [[false killer whale]]s and [[killer whale]]s are seasonal residents/migrants to these areas.<ref>[http://www.costacetacea.com/ Costa Cetacea (retrieved on 12-05-2014)]</ref><ref>ANNIE. 2012. [http://www.costarica-scuba.com/false-killer-whales/ False Killer Whales]. Costa Rica Scuba.com. Retrieved on August 25, 2017</ref><ref>ANNIE. 2012. [http://www.costarica-scuba.com/orca-whales/ Orca Whales]. Costa Rica Scuba.com. Retrieved on August 25, 2017</ref> [[Whale watching]]s for these species are also available. [[Manatee]]s have been hunted historically in Costa Rica, resulting in today's small numbers left. These gentle mammals can be observed occasionally at areas like Manzanillo Beach, [[Talamanca (canton)|Talamanca]], and [[Limón Province|Limon]]. ==Visiting== [[File:whatisthis costa rica.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Coati]]]] Corcovado National Park is open to the public and can be visited on day trips and for overnight visits, as of February 1, 2014 all Corcovado visitors must be accompanied by certified professional guides. As of August 2014, admission is $15 per person per day for non-Costa Rican residents. Reservations for overnight visits in the park can be made in [[Puerto Jimenez|Puerto Jiménez]] on the east coast of the peninsula. One may camp (for a maximum of four days)<ref>[https://horizontravelpress.com/guides/costa-rica-national-parks-018/corcovado-national-park The National Parks Of Costa Rica (Horizon Guides, 2017)]</ref> or stay indoors at one of several ranger stations equipped with bunks. If one wants basic meals served, reservations should be made about a week in advance. Take note that researchers get preference over other visitors (though there is usually enough room for self-catering campers). One can make day visits into the park from several lodging options on both the north and south entrances to the park, as well as through organized excursions that fly into the park. One can get to the Corcovado National Park via Puerto Jimenez or Drake Bay. These two towns serve as the main entry points to the park. There are two tracks, one coastal and one inland, and four ranger stations in the park where one can stay overnight; three at the park entrances and one at the intersection of the two tracks. One track runs Northwest to Southeast along the coast to La Leona ecolodge, with the Estación Sirena roughly in the middle. The second track runs inland from Estacion Sirena to Estación Los Patos at the Eastern end of the park. One can fly into the park (via chartered aircraft) to Estación Sirena, from where one can follow relatively short loop-trails. Carate (near Estacion La Leona), also has an airstrip and road access from Puerto Jimenez. To walk through the park one needs a reasonable fitness, at least two or three days (except on El Tigre trail which is a one-day hike), good planning and caution. During the wet months (July to November) parts of the park may be closed. On February 5, 2015 a new trail into Corcovado was opened in Dos Brazos de Rio Tigre. Sendero El Tigre is the most accessible trail into Corcovado as it is possible to travel to and walk in one day. The trail is 5 miles/8 kilometers long and takes between six and eight hours; depending upon walking speeds and time taken to stop to view wildlife. On the coastal track there are several rivers that need to be forded. These rivers can all be very dangerous if forded at high tide or if one is inexperienced in this kind of an environment. Rio Sirena is commonly regarded as the most dangerous of crossings, primarily because it flows directly into the massive Laguna Corcovado in the isolated heart of the park. [[Bull shark]]s are present within the river and can sometimes be seen at the river mouth during high tide. [[American crocodile]]s are also present within the river, but most are small and recent surveys indicate that the population may be much smaller than initially believed. [[Spectacled caiman]] are present further up river and within Laguna Corcovado in larger numbers. Rumors that large American crocodiles are present within Laguna Corcovado are false. The Rio Claro, which is approximately 40 minutes south of Rio Sirena, is said to be safer, although both appear to the naked eye as very similar in size. Small American crocodiles and spectacled caiman are also present within the Rio Claro, albeit in smaller numbers than Rio Sirena. Bull sharks are not believed to be present within the Rio Claro. Despite the presence of these predators, by far the greatest risk you will face while crossing any river is the strong current. Upstream Rio Claro is a popular night swimming spot amongst guides and their groups, therefore it is doubtful that attacks by crocodiles or sharks in this river are a concern. The Rio Madrigal, just north of the park entrance, is much smaller and may be home to spectacled caiman. The inland track to Estación Los Patos goes through [[secondary growth]] for much of the way, but it is still a beautiful walk with a little more variation and it is easier walking with no sand and no sizable river crossings. ==Biodiversity== [[File:Margay cat.jpg|thumb|200px|A [[Margay]] in Corcovado.]] [[File:Tapir in Costa Rica.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Tapir]] [[File:Pacific spotted dolphin Costa Rica.JPG|thumb|200px|[[Pantropical spotted dolphin]]s off Osa Peninsula]] Corcovado is home to a sizable population of the endangered [[Baird's tapir]] and even a small population of the very rare [[harpy eagle]]. The park's rivers and lagoons are home to populations of both the [[American crocodile]] and [[spectacled caiman]], along with [[bull sharks]]. Corcovado is also one of the final strongholds of the [[jaguar]] within Central America and several other [[felidae|felines]] are also present, including [[ocelot]], [[margay]], [[jaguarundi]], and [[Cougar|puma]]. All four [[List of Costa Rican monkey species|Costa Rican monkey species]] can be seen within the park, including the endangered [[Central American squirrel monkey]], [[white-faced capuchin]], [[mantled howler]], and [[Geoffroy's spider monkey]]. Other mammals present include [[Hoffmann's two-toed sloth|two-toed]] and [[Brown-throated three-toed sloth|three-toed]] [[sloth]], [[collared peccary]], [[northern tamandua]] and [[silky anteater]]. [[Poison dart frogs]] and several species of snake (including the venomous fer-de-lance and [[Lachesis (genus)|bushmaster]]) are also common within the park. The elusive [[Jaguar]] is a large, beautiful and potentially intimidating feline but is generally regarded as shy and harmless. They are capable of taking down prey as large as [[Tapir]] but appear to be reclusive and uninterested in human activity. [[File:Tamandúa.JPG|thumb|200px|left|[[Tamandua]] anteater]] Most animal sightings can be expected on the coastal track, with [[scarlet macaw]]s (the largest population in the country) flying overhead, [[hermit crab]]s on the beach, [[pelican]]s fishing in the sea and, on the sections that go slightly inland, [[spider monkey]]s (take care not to get urinated on when they are in a tree overhead), [[tamandua]] anteaters, pumas, [[white faced capuchin]] monkeys, [[lineated woodpecker]]s and [[coati]]s (to name just a few). With luck one might even spot a tapir, even though they are [[nocturnal]]. Corcovado is also a good place to spot the red-eyed tree frog, as well as the glass frog with its transparent skin, and the enamel-bright poison-arrow frogs. From Estación Sirena one can follow many short tracks, on which one can also take short night-strolls into the forest with a good chance of running into a tapir. They are impressive to see but harmless if left in peace. Jaguars are present and some individuals frequent the beach near Madrigal at night. One is very likely to see their tracks, sometimes very fresh and frequent, but very unlikely to see the actual cat. The most common animal in the park is by far the [[white-nosed coati]], which one can expect to encounter dozens of times on the beach hike between La Leona and Sirena, digging for and feeding on the abundant [[Halloween crab|moon crab]]s. Other animals in the park include [[Central American squirrel monkey]]s, [[mantled howler|mantled]] [[howler monkey]]s, both [[Hoffmann's two-toed sloth|two-toed]] and [[three-toed sloth|three-toed]] [[sloth]]s, [[agouti]]s, [[giant anteater]]s, [[great curassow]]s, [[Common black hawk|black hawk]]s, [[spectacled owl]]s, [[hummingbird]]s, 220 species of [[butterfly|butterflies]], [[Golden silk orb-weaver|golden orb spider]]s (who build huge webs), [[otter]]s and [[raccoon]]s. Four species of [[sea turtle]] ([[Green sea turtle|green]], [[Pacific ridley]], [[Hawksbill turtle|hawksbill]], and [[Leatherback sea turtle|leatherback]]) nest on the beaches. The abundance in wildlife can in part be explained by the variety of vegetation types, at least 13, including [[montane forest]] (more than half the park), [[cloud forest]], [[jolillo]] forest ([[palm swamp]]), [[prairie forest]], [[alluvial plains forest]], [[swamp forests|swamp forest]], freshwater [[herbaceous swamp]] and [[mangrove]], together holding over 500 tree species, including [[Peltogyne|purple heart]], [[poponjoche]], [[nargusta]], [[banak (tree)|banak]], [[cow tree]], [[espave]] and [[crabwood (tree)|crabwood]]. Another reason for the diversity (as with all of Costa Rica) is that it lies on a north-south corridor for flora and fauna; part of the "land bridge" and [[wildlife corridor]] that links the large continents of North America and South America.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogXjeBcP3AY|title=Especial Areas Silvestres Protegidas: tierra de todos y de nadie. El caso de Corcovado}}</ref> Corcovado has been merchandised worldwide as one of the places with greatest biodiversity on the planet. In 41800 hectares, Corcovado houses 3% of the world's biodiversity. Two decades ago the [[National Geographic Society]] defined it as the most biologically intense place in the world. ==Creation and threats== [[File:Playa Llorona.JPG|thumb|200px|[[Beach Llorona]]]] Because of the remoteness of the peninsula, logging started only in the 1960s. By 1975 there were plans for a major international logging operation. Researchers petitioned President [[Daniel Oduber]] to protect the area, which he did by making it a [[National Park]]. For this he received the [[Albert Schweitzer Award]] from the [[Animal Welfare Institute]]. The already present goldminers were allowed to stay. By 1986 their number had increased to about 1,000 (not counting their families), who also hunted the wildlife. It was decided to evict them. There is, however, still some illegal mining going on (using more destructive modern mining methods), considered the second invasion, there are about 400 miners currently. It is estimated that 38% of the park (16.000 hectares) have been exploited by gold miners.<ref name=":0" /> [[Illegal logging]] is not frequent, but the trees that are removed are scarce and essential to the ecosystem. Increased tourism has led to an increased presence of humans in the park, which may threaten the long-term survival of the park's larger mammals. To help combat the threat of over-exposure, many agencies and other groups (including [[Conservation International]], The [[Nature Conservancy]], [[World Wide Fund for Nature|WWF]]&ndash;U.S., rain-forest conservation groups in several countries, [[Catholic Relief Service]], [[Organization of American States]], and the Costa Rican, Danish, Dutch, Swedish and United States governments) have come together to provide aid to the conservation cause. [[File:Claro River. Corcovado National Park. Costa Rica.jpg|center|thumb|657x657px|Claro River exiting the park.]] [[File:Corcovado National Park coast.jpg|thumb|600px|Corcovado National Park coast between Sirena and La Leona ranger stations.|alt=]] ==References== {{Reflist|35em|refs= }} ==External links== {{Wikivoyage|Corcovado}} *[http://www.worldheadquarters.com/cr/protected_areas/parks/corcovado/ practical information for visitors] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20051025165406/http://www.nmnh.si.edu/botany/projects/cpd/ma/ma18.htm extensive background information] {{National Parks of Costa Rica}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:National parks of Costa Rica]] [[Category:Protected areas established in 1975]] [[Category:Geography of Puntarenas Province]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Puntarenas Province]]'