During our trip to CR we will have the option to take a day tour to Corcovado Nat Park from Dominical. This will be a very long trip which we don't mind, with 3 hours hiking in the park.
My only concen is the boat trip from Sierpe, I've read that it can get very rough at the entrance to the ocean. Has anyone experienced this?

What time will you be arriving at the park? The best time for wildlife and birding is in the early morning. You may still see some things but it might not be as much.

I haven't done the small boat into the ocean but a lot of people stay at Casa Corcovado which does go in. Haven't heard of any mishaps. The mangroves on the Sierpe are interesting.

The tour leaves Dominical at 6.00am. I think we will be in the park before 10.00am. We are particularly interested in seeing the scarlet macaws and other colourful birds. Is this too late to arrive for any good viewings?

Don't be too concerned with the ocean/river entrance unless you go during the rainy season after a deluge. It wasn't a problem for us.

I saw alot of critters during mid day hours so I'd take the journey. The biggest problem for me would be the l- o- n- g travel to the park and back. Macaws and monkeys can be seen throuh out the day as well as other critters.

Suzie 2 knows her birding and is righton about the best time being early. Hacienda Baru just north of Dominical would be another good place to venture to get in some early morning birding. They offer guided tours as well as accomodation options.

Have a wonderful journey!

We saw some wonderful birds in the Dominical area while at Pacific Edge. Didn't get to Hacienda Baru but we will soon have a home about an hour or so from there so I hope we do.

Goodness, that will be a long day. The road to Sierpe will be smooth going so you won't have to add a rough bouncy ride on bad roads to the adventure. I wish you good sightings. The only experience I had in a small boat going into the Pacific was one time when heading out to go fishing with Fred a well known expat in the DB area. It was uneventful. The other time was in a larger boat.

Earthtraveler, glad to read that the Macaws are more plentiful in that area. We haven't been to the DB area recently. We have seen a huge growth in the population further south. I used to get so excited when one would fly over Iguana Lodge. Now they just hang around there! Thanks for the nice mention on the birding. After 35 years of tagging along with my husband I guess I have absorbed something. You are a much more accomplished birder than I though.

I took the same tour to Corcovado about 10 days ago. We were very disappointed, because we saw very little wildlife in Corcovado. We arrived at approx 11:00 am and hiked for 2 1/2 hours. The boat ride was fine. No problem at the entrance to the Pacific. If you can, it would be better to stay in Sierpe or Drake Bay and go to Corcovado in the morning.

I did the boat trip down the Sierpe about 2 years ago. It was a little tricky entering the ocean, but not terrible. I was impressed at how well the boat operator was able to "read" the waves and get through it. I heard it was worse a day or two before during high tide. I will be doing it again in about 2 months.

My guide had alot to do with my succesful Corcovado experience. In the afternoon, after lunch, it was just him and I and he picked up on the monkey sounds in the forest and took me off trail where we saw a couple groups feeding. We smelled the peccaries but didn't get any sightings like the tour the day before. Alot has to do with being in the right place at the right time.

Thanks everybody for your input.
I'm thinking of changing my plans as this trip is so long and it will be a matter of luck if we see anything, and we could be disappointed.