Sirena station
The park's heart.
José R. — CC BY 3.0 · Julio-César Chávez — CC BY 4.0 · Bernard Gagnon — CC0 · User:Miguel.v — Public domain
Costa Rica's largest national park, created in 1975 and covering about 424 square kilometres, a third of the Osa Peninsula, protecting the largest primary forest on the Pacific coast of the Americas. It is often described as one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. Its forests, rivers and wild beaches hold all four of Costa Rica's monkey species, the huge tapir, scarlet macaws, sloths, crocodiles, anteaters and even rarely seen jaguars. Its long deserted beaches run between forest and surf. Its best-known station is Sirena at the park's heart, reached by boat from Drake Bay, from which forest trails set out. Since 2014 the park can only be entered with a licensed guide, and the stations are visited on a long day trip or with an overnight stay at the station booked ahead. The trip is long and nature harsh: heat, humidity and rain, so carry plenty of water and insect repellent. Never feed or touch wild animals and watch them from a distance; feeding harms them and makes them aggressive.
The park's heart.
And four monkeys.
Forest and surf.
Osa Peninsula, by boat from Drake Bay or from Puerto Jiménez
No, a licensed guide is required since 2014, and trips and station overnights are booked ahead with operators.