Drake Bay

The richest station in the park: tapir, peccary herds, all four monkey species. Advance reservation is required and you must go with a local guide. Sirena has bunk lodging and meals.

The closest station to Drake Bay, open 7am-1.30pm, about forty-five minutes by boat. A shorter day than Sirena and still a serious walk. Foreign entry is US$16.95.

An hour offshore, a biological reserve with the clearest water on this coast. Snorkelling and diving only; landing on the island itself is restricted.

Guided torch walks in the forest behind the village for frogs, spiders, snakes and sleeping birds. Two hours, and among the best in the country.

A public path along the shore from the village, crossing rivers and headlands, with beaches and a couple of lodges strung along it. Half a day each way.

Sansa flies from San José to the airstrip above the village. The fastest way in, and the one most lodges will steer you towards.

Drive to Sierpe, then an hour or so down the river and out through the mangrove mouth into open sea. The bar crossing is timed to the tide and can be rough.

There is a rough road in from Rincón that needs a high-clearance 4x4 and has river crossings that become impassable after rain. Most people still take the boat.

December to April is the dry season, such as it is; this is one of the wettest corners of the country.

September and October are cheapest and several lodges close. Corcovado's Sirena sector may also shut in October.

December to April, and Christmas and Easter week above all, when Corcovado places go first.

Boat out to San Pedrillo for the 7am opening with your guide. The sea can be lumpy; take something for it if you are prone.

Walk the station trails with the guide, up to the waterfall. Peccary, monkeys, and a fair chance of tapir tracks in the mud.

A packed lunch on the beach at the station, then back on the boat by early afternoon.

Snorkel off the village beach, or sleep. The humidity here does that to people and there is no shame in it.

The night walk behind the village, then dinner at the lodge. There is no alternative and it does not matter.

One of the largest mangrove systems on the Pacific side of Central America, up the river from the boat landing. Better as a dedicated trip than a glance in transit.

The peninsula's other side, with Sirena reachable overland from Carate, plus dolphin and whale trips inside the gulf.