Sirena Sector



The sector of Sirena is the central station of the Park, it can be reached by three routes, air with local flight from Puerto Jimenez, land by the sector Los Patos that are 20 km (12.42 miles) walking approximately 8-9 hours, by the sector of La Leona, which is 16.5 km (10.25 miles), about 6-7 hours walking and by sea, which can leave the Drake Sector, Puerto Jimenez and Sierpe. The Sirena station has a network of 8 local trails (20 km in total – 12.42 miles in total) where you can enjoy the pool of the Claro River, also at the mouth of the Sirena River, during high tide you can spot bull sharks and crocodiles.
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​Creation:

Corcovado National Park – PNC (Parque Nacional Corcobado) is located in the Province of Puntarenas (Golfito and Osa Cantons), located on the Osa Peninsula, in the southwestern tip of Costa Rica. Its geographical coordinates are 8 ° 25'55 "to 8 ° 44'00" North and 83 ° 24'50 "to 83 ° 45'00" West. The topographic maps published by the National Geographical Institute (based on Lambert coordinates, available in scales 1: 50,000 and 1: 200,000) contain the PNC in the sections Llorona, Sierpe, Madrigal and Golfo Dulce (Government of Costa Rica, 2003).

 

It was created by Executive Decree No. 5357-A, published in La Gaceta No. 207 on October 31, 1975. Subsequently, it was expanded by Executive Decree No.11148-A, published in La Gaceta No. 33 on February 15, 1980. Its creation was raised to the rank of Law by No. 6,794, which ratifies the previous Executive Decree as the laws of the Republic.

 
Area:

The Park has 42,570 terrestrial hectares (Cotobira, 2005) and 5,375 marine hectares (the latter includes the 500 marine meters from the coastline). It contains a variety of ecosystems that include forests, beaches, coral reefs, mangroves and freshwater marshes. The PNC includes the basins that drain in the Corcovado plain, between Punta Llorona and Punta Salsipuedes (MINAE and SINAC, 1999).

 
Maximum altitude:
782 meters (2.563 feet) above sea level Climate: Hot, rainy and very humid. The rainy season goes from May to November, with maximum rainfall in the months of September and October.
 
Dry season
December to April, with sporadic rains.
 
Rainy season:

May to November. Annual rainfall: an average of 5.500 millimeters, in the mountainous area. In the coastal area 3.500 millimeters. 

​Bookings Office from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm (Closed on Law holidays)
 
•  Open every day of the year from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm.
•  Nationals and residents: ¢ 1,600.
•  Non-resident foreigners: $ 15.
•  Camping area: $ 4 (San Pedrillo stations) *
•  ¢ 500 national and resident children (age 2 to 12 years).
•  $ 5 Non-resident children (age 2 to 12 years old)
•  Children under 2 years of age, as well as national visitors and residents over 65, do not pay for the entrance.
 
​Services:
 
•  Information desk
•  Public phones
•  Sanitary services and showers
•  Airplane Landing track
•  Drinking water
•  Food service prior reservation
•  Hosting service prior reservation
•  Naturalist store
•  Lockers
 
Main Attractions: Network of eight trails in total approximately 20 km (12.42 miles):
 
1. Sendero Ollas (Trail): 3 km (1.86 miles), about 5 hours walking through a slightly broken topography in primary forest. It is a good path for people who love birds. Its name is due to the fact that at the end of the path there is a small swamp, or small lagoon covered with vegetation. That swamp has the shape of a pot (Olla).
 
2. Sendero Corcovado (Trail): 1km (0.62 miles), about two hours walking, its topography is flat in some parts and in other parts it is slightly broken. The route is through primary forest where you can see the magnitude that can reach some trees of this type of forest. To do this tour you can enter through Sendero Ollas (Trail) or through the Rio Claro trail.
 
3. Sendero Río Claro (Trail): 3.5 km (2.17 miles), flat topography, this trail reaches the Claro River to the beach and then connect with Los Naranjos trail. In this trail you can appreciate the primary and secondary forest.
 
4. Sendero los Naranjos (Trail): 3 km (1.86 miles), this trail starts at the side of the Sirena airstrip, most of the forest is secondary and ends at the beach. Its name is due to the fact that in the passage of the settlers they had some orange trees (Naranjos).
 
5. Sendero Guanacaste (Trail): 2 km (1.24 miles), flat topography. This trail serves as a junction between the Río Sirena and Río Pavo trails. Its name is due to the existence of some impressive Guanacaste trees that have now succumbed to storms over time. At this trail you can see secondary and primary forest, in addition the beauty of the Sirena river margin.
 
6. Sendero Los Espaveles (Trail): 2 km (1.24 miles), its topography is very flat, to walk this trail you can enter through the Ollas trail or Río Pavo Trail. Recent research revealed that only in this sector there are more than 140 species of trees in 100 square meters (1.076 square feet), which gives us an idea of the enormous diversity of species that exist in this area. Its name is due to the impressive Espavel trees that can be seen on its route.
 
7. Sendero Sirena (Trail): 1 km (0.62 miles), flat topography, starts next to the airplane landing track and ends at the beach near the mouth of the Sirena River. The route of this trail is through secondary forest with just over twenty years of regeneration, where it is still possible to observe some large trees that remained of what was a primary forest that once covered the entire area.
 
8. Sendero Río Pavo (trail): 5 km (3.10 miles), flat topography, starts in front of the Sirena station and this path is part of the same path that leads us to Los Patos Station. During your journey you can observe a secondary forest with a process of regeneration that advances rapidly, therefore you can see different groups of plants as the helicons and the guava trees along what one day were pastures for cattle. 
 

​How to get:

You can enter by the sector of Carate walking 3,5 km (2.17 miles) by the beach, to arrive at Carate it is possible by means of 4x4 vehicle, collective taxi or small plane that leaves from Puerto Jiménez. Then you walk for 16 km (9.94 miles) approximately 6-7 hours by beach and forest, you must know the tides for crossing Claro River.

 

Conditions:
•  Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance for all Sectors of the National Park.
•  Remember that to enter the park you must do so accompanied by a local guide who must be registered with the office of the Sustainable Tourism Program of ACOSA, please get your guide before making the Reservation (See attached list of local guides). Otherwise, you will be denied entry to the Protected Area.
•  Reservations are personal, they will not be transferable to other people.
•  To enter you must present your identification (passport or ID) in the respective sector of the protected area.
•  Any Reimbursement Request must be made with justification and within 15 calendar days of entering to the National Park.
•  Changes of reservations will only be made due to cancellations of flights, illness and closure of the Park with duly justified note. (See directive No. 015-2018).
 
Rules:
•  Do not leave the established path.
•  Prohibited to bathe in Beaches, lagoons or rivers.
•  Do not feed or touch or harass wild animals.
•  Do not introduce alcoholic beverages or drugs of any kind to the Park.
•  Other restrictions that are in decree 40700-MINAE and the National Parks Law.
•  If you do not comply with these rules, you will be exposed to the expulsion of the park and your respective complaint to the corresponding authorities.
 
Recommendations:
•  It is recommended to carry the following implements: - Backpack for long walks (no suitcase, no canvas bag).
•  Garbage Bags (to keep dry things inside the backpack and pack the trash to get it out of the Park)
•  Hiking boots.
•  Canteen (recommended 2 liters per person) Authorized food for walks per person (Water bottling, hydrating drink, nuts, dehydrated fruits, energy bars).
•  Sunglasses.
•  Lantern.
•  Repellent.
•  Sunscreen.
•  Photographic camera.