RAC

http://www.corcovadoguide.com/rangerstations.htm

http://www.corcovadoguide.com/images...tionssmall.jpg

http://www.soldeosa.com/images/parquesmap.jpg

hipvirgochick

Thanks RAC!

plumboy

The site where those maps are is the site I mentioned in my first post. It's excellent! Very thorough. It's what convinced me I can do this.

hipvirgochick

Thanks plumboy. I thought since the day trip is very reasonable from Drake Bay I might at least have a taste of it. I see that Pedrillo is closed Apr-Nov though, so I'm not sure what that means. I will contact Caletas directly to see if they go to Sirena instead. There's a recent post on TA from someone who said the guide from Caletas took them through Sirena and thye seemed very happy with him. Then, who knows, maybe I'll return for the full meal deal!

Got all your gear?

plumboy

Yeah, I think I pretty much have everything. Thanks to shillmac for helping with that. Got my toilet paper and blister pads. Bought a new hiking backpack with hip supports and a mesh back to help with the sweating. Can't get much into it though -- I guess that's the point. I will be packing SUPER light for this trip, that's for sure. I'll pick up the suggested black rubber boots in PJ -- I think 8 bucks a pair.

Maybe it's not safe for a boat to land at Pedrillo during the rainy season? Maybe too rocky or something. Might as well make it to Sirena while you're at it, I guess.

shillmac

Plum, what we didn't talk about was water, did we? If you are doing ANY hiking, in or out, you need about 2 liters. It's critical, and will make your pack heavy as heck. Lighter as you go, though. You might want to look into a Camelback system. Are you familiar? We just used a couple of larger sized hiking bottles each and managed.

En route back to Carate, there is a clean water flow where you can fill your water or get a drink if you are running empty on the water. Our guide hiked without water until he got there and then filled his bottle. That was on the way into the park, though, as the place is close to the La Leona station, close to Carate.

plumboy

I have a couple Camelback water bottles. One is 750ml and the other 500ml. Sounds like I'm going to need bigger ones? Maybe I'll just pick up a couple of bottled waters in PJ and reuse those too.

What's the system? Is that the thing that includes the hose you can use as a straw? Gosh, I'm so not a hiker!

plumboy

Just to update. I've identified a guide: Dionisio "Nito" Paniagua Castro (GREAT name!).

Nito was initially referred to me by Cindy from El Remanso. It turns out he was one of the guides at Lapa Rios for six years until this past March (http://bit.ly/R0RjT), when he went to work at his family's tour company in San Vito, Surcos Tours. Here is the link to his mention there: http://bit.ly/3A63b

I also found a blog of someone who hired him for a Corcovado hike, and they have nothing but praise: http://bit.ly/2QzIXP

He's been great over email, and I really can't wait to meet him. He seems very passionate and excited about what he does and seems to have a real love of wildlife (particularly ants and birds, it seems).

Nito also participated in a volunteer program in Washington state North Cascades National Park in the last year. http://bit.ly/O9jf1 (you have to click on the PDF and then search for his name)

All that for $100/day.

Any takers? Can I tempt ya?

shillmac

Yeah, that's the "system"--it's built into the backpack. Pretty cool if one does a lot of hiking. We have the camelback water bottles, too, and those are what we took in as well as a couple of larger water bottles. It was enough.

The guide details sound good. Hope that works out great! Awww, I LOVE San Vito! Great for birds. I'm jealous you are taking a BIRD guide in with you (sounds like). Ours had a little knowledge, but wasn't an expert by any means.

plumboy

Oh, okay, thanks. Yeah, that system sounds great, but maybe too involved for this one time. Maybe if it becomes a regular thing for me -- who knows?

When I started reading about this guide, I actually thought, "Jill would like this birder." I'm not much of a birder myself, but maybe I'll be a convert after this. Other than the occasional, "Ooh, look at that yellow bird", and my excitement at seeing a toucan and scarlet macaws for the first time, I don't really know much. But, there are so many birds out there -- and sometimes that seems to be the only visible wildlife in some places -- maybe it's an interest to cultivate. I have a feeling I'll come back with a deeper interest in birds. And in ants.

shillmac

It IS an interest to cultivate. Honestly, I had no interest until I went out with one of the top guides in the country a few years ago, and his enthusiasm was contagious. I was an instant convert!

We thought the same thing about "the system"--we're not hard core enough, and likely won't be.