Corcovado National Park

World-famous Corcovado National Park is a beautiful hour’s drive away. You can:

v Go on your own

· If you have a vehicle you can drive to Carate, at the edge of the park and hike in;

· If you don’t have a vehicle, you can hire a taxi to Carate for the day;

· OR take the collectivo (public transport – truck with bench seats), which passes by the Matapalo entrance each morning at around 6:45 AM and leaves you back at Matapalo between 4-5 PM. (about $3 one way).

v Go with William as guide

You can hire William, our manager, to accompany you to the park and serve as your guide for the day. He has been visiting Corcovado since he was a small boy and knows it intimately. He also has an eagle eye and spots animals that you would never see otherwise. We highly recommend this option.

$75/day per group plus transportation costs and $8/per person park charge.

Arrange when you get there

The Corcovado trip with William is tremendous!

Greg – Campbell, CA

This time we got to Corcovado. What an adventure. And, believe it or not, thanks to William’s eagle eyes, we saw a tapir and even got a few pictures. Also saw other animals with his guidance. A hike with him is an absolute must-do when here; he’s the best guide around, not to mention he’s a love of a guy!

Terri and Jeffrey – Tucson, AZ

Rainforest Hike

You don’t have to go as far as Corcovado to see amazing wildlife. Primary forest is all around the house and every foray reveals natural wonders. Just strolling down the road to Matapalo Beach is a rich experience. Or you can take off on one of the area’s many hiking trails leading up from the beach through dense rainforest, some to cliffs overlooking the spectacular Golfo Dulce. Either way, you are likely to see monkeys, all kinds of tropical birds, maybe a sloth, anteater or iguana. You just never know! There are various ways to do this, any or all of them rewarding. First, you can go on your own. (We supply you with an area map). Other options include:

v Hike with William

William can guide you through towering stands of primary forest to pristine waterfalls. He does not speak English, but is very knowledgeable about the area and an expert at spotting wildlife. In addition, he is an absolute pleasure to be with.

Waterfall hike: $25 per group, or more with large groups

Arrange when you get there

William is a real gem.  He took us on a hike to the waterfall and on another hike to show us all of the "mucho animales".....it was great fun to speak in Spanish to him and to try and teach him a few words in English.  He is a great asset and his wife too. 

Fran and Peter – Quebec, Canada

A walk with William to the waterfall was great. I swear the man has radar eyes. We would have missed a lot of animals he pointed out to us.

Lambert & Carol – Denver, CO

v Hike with English Speaking guides

There are knowledgeable guides, available through Everyday Adventures and Lapa Rios, who can take you on fascinating and informative tours of the area by day or night.

Prices vary.

Arrange when you get there

Horseback Riding

Dilver Chavarria, owner/guide of Elcaballero Tours, grew up in the area and knows the forest intimately. His horseback riding tour is a great way to see the whole Matapalo area in three unforgettable hours. It is a spectacular ride on well-trained horses through pristine rainforest, along beautiful beaches, and up to a magnificent view of the Golfo Dulce.

During the tour Dilver shares stories of the rainforest and is great at spotting wildlife. (Lyn saw her first moving sloth on this tour). It is common to see many monkeys, scarlet macaw, toucan and lots more. Just be prepared to be a bit saddle sore the next day!

$40/person

Arrange with Lyn in advance

We went for a ride along the beach, into the forest and to the point where the Gulf and Pacific meet. It was splendid and Dilver is an excellent guide.

Elizabeth, Jose & Cathy – Feb., 2003

Bird Watching

If you’re on the Osa, you’ll be bird watching, whether you like it or not! As one of our guests said, “For a birder, this is paradise!” You don’t even need to leave the house to see an amazing number of exotic birds: hummingbirds, toucans, Amazon parrots, parakeets, scarlet macaw and hundreds more species. With more than 850 species within a tight geographic area Costa Rica, and the Osa in particular, offers an unrivaled bird watching experience.

Dilver Chavarria, the above mentioned caballero, is also an ornithologist who can mimic the calls of over one hundred local birds and has a skilled eye for spotting and identifying them.

You can share the cool early morning with Dilver and many of the 319 bird species inhabiting the immediate rainforest in Matapalo. Dilver supplies a shorouski telescope and recommends bringing binoculars for this species-rich tour.

$35/person

Arrange with Lyn in advance

Tree Climbing

The Cathedral is a 200-foot tall fichus, aka the largest jungle gym around! Using top-of-the-line climbing gear, Everyday Adventures takes you up this massive tree for a unique perspective, and then back down for an adrenaline rush! 3-6 hours.

$55/person

Arrange when you get there

Waterfall Rappelling

Not only do you get to hike up to King Louis falls, one of the area’s most beautiful waterfalls (with nature education along the way) but you get to descend it, backwards, often through rushing water), over 110 feet. During the drier months it is more like a trickle, but the wilderness amphitheater is no less dramatic. 3-5 hours.

$75/person

Arrange when you get there

We decided to rappel the 110-foot waterfall in the jungle. What a rush!

Jack & Lisa – Prescott, AZ