As the crown jewel of Costa Rica’s national parks, Corcovado National Park attracts nature and wildlife lovers from around the world.
Visitors make it a point to tick Corcovado National Park off their bucket list, especially as it’s located in the Osa Peninsula which holds 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity.
Corcovado National Park is very big with five different sectors, and in this guide, we will talk about San Pedrillo Station, located on the northwest coast of the national park.
This post has affiliate links which we may earn a small commission from if you choose to purchase, at no extra cost to you. Listed prices are quoted in USD and are estimates. More info: Disclosure
Why Visit San Pedrillo Station?
San Pedrillo Station is best for hiking, rainforest, waterfalls and birding.
You can see wildlife at San Pedrillo station such as monkeys, birds, insects, reptiles and amphibians. There is also a puma that is sometimes seen around San Pedrillo station.
However, San Pedrillo is not always the best station for wildlife. It has fairly good birding though.
On our visit to San Pedrillo, we saw some animals, but we saw more wildlife at Sirena Station. Sirena Station in general, is known for more wildlife.
San Pedrillo is better for those who enjoy hiking and nature, without the main objective to see a ton of wildlife.
What to Know About San Pedrillo Station Tours
San Pedrillo station is the northernmost station in the park and is the closest one to Drake Bay, a 20 minute boat ride. From Uvita, it’s about a 1.5 hours boat ride.
If you book a day trip to Corcovado National Park from Uvita, the trip will visit San Pedrillo station since it is the closest.
Want to book this day trip from Uvita? Feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to assist you.
From Drake Bay, most day trips usually go to Sirena Station. You can check with your hotel or tour company if they can offer San Pedrillo if you want to visit both stations.
Day trips from Puerto Jimenez do not go to San Pedrillo station, they go to Sirena Station.
I have seen some tours that go to both Sirena and San Pedrillo in one day but I do not recommend these. That’s way too rushed. I recommend to book the 2 day tour if you want to visit both Sirena and San Pedrillo.
San Pedrillo Station – Corcovado National Park
The San Pedrillo ranger station has bathrooms and picnic tables. Day tours to this station include lunch and a couple hikes on the trails.
The beach is right in front of the ranger station and that is where the tour boats will disembark.
We did a Corcovado National Park one day trip to San Pedrillo Station from a nearby hotel , Corcovado Wilderness Lodge by SCP (we visited when it used to be Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge).
They actually have their own trail to San Pedrillo Station since their hotel property borders Corcovado National Park.
If you arrive there via boat, you’ll get off the boat, have some minutes to change shoes and freshen up and then begin your hike.
Hiking Trails
There are 5 different trails in the San Pedrillo sector. Most day trips will go to 1 or 2 of the trails, usually the ones that go along the river to a waterfall.
The total distance we hiked was around 8 kilometers or 4.97 miles.
The trail we took from the lodge connects to one of the main trails from the station, the Sendero Marco Reyes trail. This splits into two trails, with one along the beach and the other through the forest.
We stuck to the forest since we were nearing high tide.
Then we went to a waterfall that took us about 30 minutes.
The trails at San Pedrillo station are fairly well laid out, but there are some spots that get slippery and muddy when it rains.
I really liked this hike. It was so quiet and peaceful, all we heard were birds and the forest. There weren’t any other groups on the trails at the same time as us either, which was super nice.
This trail went along a river, crossing a bridge and a small plank. We continued walking along the riverbank.
There are a couple viewpoints, so you can stop and see if you can spot any crocodiles or other wildlife.
We stopped a lot during the hike to look for birds, as our guide said he could hear the calls and songs of some very particular birds. For a lot of the hike, we walked along the riverbanks.
There is a waterfall at the end of the trail but unfortunately, it was very strong from the previous rains so we couldn’t go in the water.
Normally, you can take a dip when the falls aren’t too full.
It’s not the prettiest waterfall but it was a nice spot to rest after hiking.
After we rested at the waterfall to get some water and take a break, we went back on the same trail to leave San Pedrillo and return to the hotel.
San Pedrillo Wildlife
As one of the most biologically diverse places in the world, there is a ton of wildlife at Corcovado National Park.
However, San Pedrillo doesn’t have as many mammals generally, as we mentioned earlier.
If you’re intent on seeing anteaters, tapirs and other mammals, it’s not as common to see them at San Pedrillo.
That doesn’t mean it’s impossible or that there aren’t mammals at San Pedrillo at all, just your chances of seeing them are slimmer.
We only saw two mammals: the spider monkey and an agouti for a fleeting second.
San Pedrillo Station Birds
However, if you like birds, we saw a ton of birds at San Pedrillo Station.
San Pedrillo is generally better for birding and we saw way cooler birds at San Pedrillo than Sirena. These are the uncommonly seen birds, the prized ones for birders to add to their lifer list.
We even saw the Black-cheeked Ant Tanager which is endemic to the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica!
Other birds we saw during our walk were male Slaty Tailed trogon, female Black Throated Trogon, the male Red Capped manakin aka Michael Jackson bird, a female blue capped manakin, Crested Caracara, Summer Tanager, Black Hawk, Yellow Throated Toucan and Scarlet Macaws.
Overall San Pedrillo Thoughts
For a quiet walk in the rainforest to enjoy nature, San Pedrillo was wonderful. We really enjoyed our small group hike, especially as we were with two other fellow birder and wildlife photographers.
Our guide was great. He was a bit quiet but he was really focused on listening to the sounds of the birds and rainforest, sharing information about Corcovado National Park and the animals we heard.
I especially loved walking along the pristine river. Though the waterfall was not impressive, it was still nice.
San Pedrillo is definitely more for hiking, nature and birding. Though we saw a handful of animals that were not birds, it wasn’t a ton compared to other places we’ve been to in Costa Rica.
What To Know About Visiting San Pedrillo
Good hiking shoes required. Rain boots or waterproof hiking shoes best for the rainy season. In dry season, you can wear hiking shoes or good sturdy walking shoes.
Must be comfortable for hiking through the rainforest at least 5-10 kilometers.
Read more about best shoes for Costa Rica.
This area is super humid! Wear clothing that wicks away moisture and dries fast. Nike dri-fit, UNIQLO AIRism, that kind of clothing.
If you visit in the rainy season (May through November), bring your rain jacket. Even if it’s sunny and dry when you begin your hike, it can perfectly pour rain any time during the day.
Lots of mosquitoes and bugs. Get insect repellent clothing if possible. If not, stock up on insect repellent.
Must have a telephoto zoom lens for wildlife. We’ve used a combination of a 100-400mm Canon lens, a Tamron 150-600, Sony 200-600 mm and Sony 300 mm with 2.0 TC.
If you are not a photographer, bring a pair of binoculars.
Use sunscreen. Even though you’re walking under the canopy, the sun is still intense. Bring at least SPF 30.
Should You Visit Sirena Station Instead?
If you main goal and sole purpose of visiting Corcovado National Park is to see wildlife, then it may be better to book a visit to Sirena Station.
Sirena Station is the biggest station in the park and this is where visitors can stay overnight or visit for the day.
Day trips from Puerto Jimenez and Drake Bay generally go to Sirena Station.
In case you’re wondering what Sirena Station is like, you can check our full detailed guide in the link or continue to read a quick overview below.
Hiking Trails
There are several trails from Sirena Station which loop around the area. We walked along the Sendero Rio Claro, along the beach and one of the loops.
The trails are really well laid out and easy to walk. You’ll walk around 5-10 kilometers total on a day trip, similar to San Pedrillo.
We walked through both secondary and primary forest and it was a really nice hike.
For the day trip from Drake Bay, we walked for about 5 hours. Then those who stay at the station overnight have the advantage of spreading the hikes out during optimal wildlife viewing hours.
Wildlife at Sirena Station
Since Sirena is in the Corcovado Basin, there is a larger diversity and concentration of wildlife.
That is why majority of people who spend the night have great possibilities to see tapirs, anteaters, peccaries, coatis, monkeys and more mammals.
For our day trip, we saw a tapir taking a nap in the river.
For our second Sirena Station trip, we stayed one night. During these 30 hours, we actually saw FIVE tapirs. Four of them were walking on the trails as they are more active at dusk and dawn.
As for other wildlife, we saw spider monkeys and howler monkeys and three coatis fighting over territory with a troop of spider monkeys right above us.
We also saw bats, squirrel, white face and howler monkeys, scarlet macaws, an osprey, Black-mandibuled toucan, a Great Curassow and a deer.
San Pedrillo vs Sirena Station in Corcovado National Park
Both stations obviously offer wonderful opportunities to experience Corcovado National Park.
The important thing is managing your expectations.
Remember, Corcovado National Park is NOT a zoo. There is wildlife, but nature is unpredictable and never guaranteed!
A lot of people get disappointed in their visit to San Pedrillo Station because they think it’s like a zoo. They see videos of pumas napping in front of tourists, huge families of peccaries crossing rivers next to tourists and tapirs strolling right next to tourists on the beach.
They see these videos and think that this occurs in Corcovado National Park. But they don’t even realize there are five different sectors in the national park and that events like these may happen, but it’s not every single day. It’s actually not even THAT common!
Plus, there is more to the biodiversity than pumas and tapirs. There are endemic birds, unique trees and flowers, interesting insects and cool reptiles.
Though when it comes to mammals, there are considerably more of them at Sirena than San Pedrillo, in general.
San Pedrillo is better for enjoying nature, hiking, rivers and birding. If you see more wildlife, awesome! If not, just enjoy it and appreciate the nature.
Plan Your Trip to the Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park With Our Other Guides
Osa Peninsula: How to Visit, Towns, Where to Stay and More
Puerto Jimenez: Guide to the main tourism hub in the Osa Peninsula
Drake Bay: Guide to this small bay near San Pedrillo Station
How to Get to Puerto Jimenez: Boat, plane, car and public bus
Sirena Station: Plan your trip to Sirena Station
Costa Rica Vacation Checklist
- First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
- Not sure how to move around Costa Rica? Read our How to Get Around Costa Rica guide to find the best transportation method for you.
- Click the link to get our detailed Costa Rica Packing List so you know what essential items to bring.
- Check our Costa Rica destinations map and Costa Rica restaurant map
- Do not forget to purchase Travel Insurance for your trip to Costa Rica.
- Stay connected by purchasing a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica.
- Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels and our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.
Sarah says
Hi I am planning on staying in Drake Bay for one night and then want to have an overnight trip into Corcovado national park. Can you recommend a tour operator for this trip?
Many thanks
Sammi says
From Drake Bay overnight, I’d check with maybe Pachcho Tours, they’re based in drake Bay. Most overnight in Corcovado NP tour operators are based in Puerto Jimenez but they may be able to help you. Osa Wild is another one but not sure if they go from Drake Bay
Susan Davis says
Hi, hoping to get some of your great insight for a day trip to Corcovado. We’ll be in Uvita for 5 days in July. Plenty of options for a tour to the San Pedrillo Station, which includes 3 hours (round trip) ocean boat ride. This is our 3rd trip to Costa Rica in the green season. We’ve experienced a lot of rain, and a lot of sunshine, it’s all good. I’m a little hesitant about an ocean boat ride in the rain. I’ll have meds for motion sickness, but I also worry about the choppiness and constant bumps. I’m looking at options for the Sirena Station, we could drive to Sierpe from Uvita (unless you don’t recommend that drive for the unexperienced) But I’m only finding vendors from Drake Bay. Do you have any recommendations? Thanks as always, Susan
Sammi says
You can drive to SIerpe from Uvita, that is actually a nice easy drive as it is just down the main highway, we do have a partner that runs a San Pedrillo day trip from Uvita, it does require a 1.5 hour boat ride however. In the green season, it really depends as rainy season weather can be a bit more unpredictable, some days can be beautiful with no wind, some days can be clear and dry but choppy and stormy out in the ocean and it also depends on which month. July tends to have what we call a “little summer” so the weather dries up a bit like dry season, but this is variable and not always 100%. July should normally be OK though, in the mornings it tends to be less windy and the tour departure time is at 7 AM. It just does tend to rain in the afternoons so you do need to be prepared for any rain on the way back.
Emily Marie says
Hello we are looking to stay in Drakes Bay and visit the Sirena ranger station, I was looking to book with someone on Airbnb who says you need to book this place 30 days in advance and they are welcome to do it for us but need our passport numbers and full names. Does this sound accurate to you?
Sammi says
Hi Emily all visitors have to go with a guide to Corcovado National Park and purchase tickets in advance, the SINAC national park ticket system requires the passport number, country, birthday, and full name of each guest as there are different ticket prices for foreigners and nationals
Mel says
Hello!! Your blog has been immensely helpful for getting our bearings with planning a 2-week trip to Costa Rica. We’ll be going in early Feb 2025 and Corcovado National Park has been on my bucket list, so I’m super excited to finally be able to go.
Do you have any recommendations for tours or guides that would include an overnight stay at Sirena Station?
Sammi says
Hi Mel, check with Sucros!
Liv says
Is there any way to access Corcovado without a boat by parking and walking? I have a prior back injury that has me worried about getting into a small boat on big choppy waves. I’ve looked all over the internet but still cannot find a clear answer. I have found a few hotels in Drake that arrange park tours for you, but I’m concerned they depart by boat. Thank you in advance!
Sammi says
Yes there is, but you will need to book a hotel close to the station in order to visit the national park by land. We stayed at La Leona Lodge before and it was literally right next to the Leona station so we just walked out of our hotel with our guide right to the park to do a guided walk in the park.
Silvia Siren says
Hello – you are great ambassadors for Costa Rica! We’ve been there two times and your site has given us a ton of information and helped make our trips fantastic. Have you visited the Finca 6 to see the round rocks? I’ve been doing some reading and it sounds like they are near Corcovado. We will be visiting again next year and are starting to look at places we want to visit.
Thank you for all you do@
Silvia
Sammi says
Hi Silvia, I’m glad the website is helpful. We have been to Finca 6 but many years ago, so I would check for updated information on roads, hours and the ticket price, it’s in Palmar Norte. Here is our post from back then: https://mytanfeet.com/activities/stone-spheres-in-costa-rica-finca-6/
Silvia says
Thank you! What are the places to stay if we want to go there?
Sammi says
Anywhere in the South Pacific is close by
sally says
I would like to take a day trip to Sirena Station from Uvita. I’m reading that this isn’t an option. How can I arrange transportation to Drake Bay so that I can make this happen? Hoping to do this the 2nd week of February.
Sammi says
You can go to Drake Bay to go to Sirena, the best way from Uvita is to go to SIerpe to take the boat to Drake, here is our guide: Sierpe to Drake Bay boat and then your host can probably help you arrange the tour.
Bonnie says
Is it normal for the tour guides to ask for a copy of our passport for reservation? We are going in March and doing the three days 2 nights sleepover in Sirena station and I wanted to know if that was ok for security reasons if you know what I mean. Thank you
Sammi says
Yes, for Corcovado National Park, park tickets must be purchased in advance and the SINAC asks for passport numbers, nationalities, ages and full name of each person purchasing a ticket. So your tour guides who is purchasing your park ticket for you, needs this information
Lucie says
Hey
Thanks for this post. Do you still have the contact info of your guide and do you approximately remember how much that was? Thanks
Sammi says
No sorry 🙁 He was a guide assigned to us by Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge
Bryn says
Hello! How do you suggest we get to the Sirena Station if we are staying in Drake’s Bay? Should we maybe stay in Puerto Jimenez instead? We are definitely going to this park for the mammals so I want to make sure we start at the right spot to get the most out of the park. Thank you!
Sammi says
You will need to take a boat from Drake to get to Sirena station
Simona says
Is it possible to visit Corcovado Park without a guide? Which part of the park is best to visit from Drake bay.
Thank you very much in advance. Simona
Sammi says
It isn’t, by law all visitors must go with a guide to Corcovado.
From Drake Bay, the closest station is San Pedrillo (boat). Sirena is a bit further (boat only).
Marian Mckinney says
Your blog is the best travel blog I have read!! Your information is both extremely detailed and useful. We travel all over the world and I am grateful for your extensive discussion on avoiding dengue and other vector diseases. I have seen travellers who got very sick and it ruins your trip, total waste of time and money, plus the agony and the danger to your overall health. Also love the detailed descriptions of the hikes in Corcovado. We have been to Costa Rica before and love it. We hav mever neen to Osa and your blog is really helping us plan ahead ,no guidebook that I hav seen comes close. Thank you so much!
Sammi says
Hi Marian, thanks so much for your kind words and I’m glad that the blog is helpful! 🙂
Cathy says
Thanks for another helpful post guys! We will be spending two nights at Sirena Station in March hiking in from La Leona and out via Los Patos. A little nervous about some of the river crossings and wildlife (crocodiles and sharks!) but sound like it’s an amazing place. Great to see what the trails look like from your photos.
Sammi says
It’ll be a tough hike but definitely worth it! As long as you time it right and cross at low tide, the possibility of sharks is a lot lower. I havent heard on the news anyone getting attacked so thats good! We are hoping to do the long hike and spend two nights at Sirena in low season. Be prepared for a ton of people in March if youre going the last two weeks because of Semana Santa, but I’m sure you’ll have an amazing time!