Is Corcovado Recommended for Young Kids, Elders, Disabled, and Dogs?
Choosing an adequate itinerary for your group or family will make you fully appreciate the beauty and stunning sights of Corcovado. Feel free to ask all your questions about any special requests or particular physical conditions. We want to make sure your stay will be enjoyable and stress-free.
Kids
Kids are more than welcome to experience the magic of Corcovado. Just like going everywhere else with kids, preparing accordingly will make your trip even more pleasant. It is a great educational opportunity for a family or school trip to learn about the natural wonders of the park.
Infants less than 3 years old do not pay, by sitting on your knees during transportation, eating from your plate, and sleeping with a parent in a single bed if you choose an overnight tour. If you are traveling with an infant, make sure to bring a comfortable and light baby carrier or a boogie (stroller) for your child. Moreover, take into consideration that the weather is hot and humid, so the choice of your carrier for both you and your baby is important.
Kids from 3 to 11 years old benefit from a discount. Make sure to mention the age of your kids in your request. The recommended overnight itinerary for them is boating in and boating out, visiting Sirena from either Puerto Jiménez or Drake Bay. Sirena offers a variety of 2-3 hour trails around its station, allowing you and your kids to rest whenever needed.
Do not overestimate the capabilities of your kids by taking a long hike. Follow our recommendations. They will enjoy Sirena trails more than the 19.5 km hike separating Carate from Sirena. Your kids might be in excellent physical condition and practice several sports, but hiking in a completely different climate may affect their hiking capacity (and mood) considerably. Do not confuse a sportive child with hiking and trekking endurance. A kid can be great at certain sports, but their strength and abilities to perform in their favorite outdoor or indoor activity should not be compared to the difficulty of a long hike in extremely hot and humid conditions. In addition, kids (or parents) will be wearing a backpack with food and stuff to spend the night in the jungle while in Sirena, but backpacks can be left at the stations during the hikes.
Only a few kids under 12 years old should take the long hike from Carate to Sirena. Who? The ones who are used to hiking 20+ km on a regular basis (special school programs, very active family, etc.) and some athletes’ kids (runners, bikers, etc.). Over the past 10 years, the youngest kid who has done this long hike with our company was an 8-year-old athlete.
Teenagers from 12 years old can take a long hike. However, based on the average physical conditions of children, we recommend long hikes for 16 years old and older. From 12 years old, kids pay the adult rate.
Elderly
Yes. Just like kids, we recommend seniors who want to take an overnight tour in Corcovado choose the boat-in and boat-out option. From the beach to Sirena station, there is a flat 2-kilometer hike. This is the minimum length you are required to hike back and forth to reach Sirena station.
Disabled
No. Unfortunately, none of the stations of Corcovado National Park is prepared or equipped to receive people in a wheelchair or people who can’t walk with ease. We would rather recommend other activities. Make sure to mention to us your physical disability, so we can better assist you with your Corcovado trip, and, if necessary, provide special help or additional guiding assistance.
Dogs
No. It is strictly prohibited to enter Corcovado National Park with a dog or any other domestic animals. Only guide/assistant dogs are allowed, and you must mention it at the moment of booking so there will be a special note on your reservation.
How Long Are the Hikes?
We always try to choose the guide who will best suit your needs and interests. However, do not hesitate to tell your guide at any moment if he walks too fast or too slow, whenever you need to take a break or need a hand.
For day tours, Sirena, La Leona, and San Pedrillo are good options for the kids and the elderly. We manage small group tours and, whenever possible, private ones. This gives you a lot of flexibility according to your walking capability to rest whenever you feel like it.
There is a 3.5 km hike from Carate to La Leona (7 km back and forth). This might be enough for toddlers and young children (up to 6 years old). Getting up to La Leona station from Carate is considered being outside the park. To get up to the Corcovado entrance sign, paying entrances is not necessary. If you use your own vehicle to get to Carate with your guide, you are free to come back earlier if you want. However, if you are taking the shuttle, tourists from other groups will be taking the same shuttle to go back to Puerto Jiménez, and you will have to come back all at the same time.
Sirena offers trails around its station. Most of them are 2-3 hours long at a slow speed. Although it is not possible to walk on the trails without your guide, if the hiking level of your group varies, some people can rest at the station while most adventurers go for an extra hike. Between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm between January and March, it is sometimes too hot to walk for certain people. Taking an overnight tour will allow you to see more while avoiding midday’s heat.
San Pedrillo trails are not strenuous but are not as flat as La Leona and Sirena. The access is by boat from Drake Bay, and the boat travels at fixed hours early in the morning and in the afternoon.
From young grandchildren to teenagers to adults and grandparents, Corcovado National Park is much more than a forest. This unique wonderland showcases and protects some of Costa Rica’s most natural and precious treasures.
There is a lot for everyone to enjoy!
Booking a Tour with Osa Green Travel
Are you a month to three months away from your travels? We would love to help you with your next Corcovado National Park Tour. Want to know more about us? Check out our raving reviews on Trip Advisor. We pride ourselves every year on getting a Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence.
Leaving a Green Experience at the Osa Peninsula!
