One day hike in Corcovado

Old Feb 28th, 2012, 10:17 AM
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One day hike in Corcovado

My husband and I are leaving on our first trip to Costa Rica on Friday. We have a very ambitious plan: 3 days in Arenal/Monteverde, 1 day in Puerto Jimenez, 3 days in Uvita/Manuel Antonio.
After 3 days in Arenal, we are a taking an early morning flight from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez and should be there by 7:30am. We are getting a rental car and driving the rest of the way from there.

Do you guys think we'll be able to do a day hike in Corcovado on the day when we arrive in Puerto Jimenez? How long does it take to get park passes? Do you think we'll be better off getting a guide?

I have contacted the hotel in Puerto Jimenez were we'll be staying, asking for advice and they pretty mush said that it doesn't make sense, but I would really like to find a way to make it work.

I must mention that my husband doesn't mind driving at night, so we could hike until 5-5:30.

Any advice is greatly appreciated,
Inga
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Old Feb 28th, 2012, 11:23 AM
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I wouldn't go to the park when you're so rushed for time. It's a 2 hour drive to Carate, a 30-45 minute walk on the beach to the park entry, and then return. You'd probably have to be out of the park by 5pm. Less rushed would be to drive half way, out to Cabo Matapalo and walk around the area, enjoy the beaches. Plus you won't have to worry about getting park passes (which you have to get in PJ, not at the park). Not long before you get to the turn-off for Matapalo, you'll pass Matina's, nice place for lunch and a drink. You can contact Marijana at osa corcovado tour and travel for info if you want to hire a guide http://www.soldeosa.com/matapalo.htm
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Old Feb 29th, 2012, 01:03 PM
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With due respect, that itinerary is simply not workable.

The Osa peninsula is a minimum three night destination, due to its remoteness. If you only have one night available, save it for another trip.

Another possibility would be to skip Uvita and Manuel Antonio and then spend 4 days in the Osa. Then you could do either Puerto Jimenez or do Drake Bay, from which you can do a day hike at La Sirena ranger station.
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Old Feb 29th, 2012, 01:45 PM
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"3 days in Arenal/Monteverde"; do you realize that Costa Rica map distances are very deceiving? The drive from Arenal to Monteverde might be 70 miles or so, but can take at least 3 hours (and you must have a 4WD):
http://www.arenal.net/tour/monteverde.htm
The same time from Monteverde to San Jose airport.

It seems like a waste to go all the way to southern Osa for one night; if you kept to the Uvita area, you could get a lot of the scenery, incredible beaches, and many activities bordering the Osa (there's even a zip line at Osa Mountain Village; http://www.osamountainresort.com/).
From Uvita, you could drive to Sierpe (about an hour drive) to take a day hike in Corcavado or a trip to Cano Island: both start on boats that leave from Sierpe, and both go through the mangroves (gorgeous).
Best of both (beach and national park) worlds!
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Old Feb 29th, 2012, 01:46 PM
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p.s. Sirena station was closed "temporarily" in Jan-Feb this year.
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Old Mar 1st, 2012, 11:16 PM
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That is one trip report I would really like to read!
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Old Mar 12th, 2012, 06:58 AM
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Cano Island is currently closed due to public toilet/sanitation issues...
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Old Mar 12th, 2012, 09:48 AM
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Boy, that doesn't surprise me. One of the foulest bathrooms I've ever seen (and wondered where the waste went...)
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