San Jose Camp
Hostel, homestay or tent, shared
8 days, planned by Condor Overland
Eight days on the Osa — the peninsula National Geographic once called the most biologically intense place on earth, and one of the few Pacific lowland rainforests left.
| LANDMARKS |
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| San José |
| Jade Museum |
| Central Valley |
Crossing the river bar at the mouth is the memorable part — the boatmen time it to the swell and everyone gets wet.
| LANDMARKS |
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| Térraba-Sierpe mangroves |
| River bar |
| Drake Bay |
Corcovado cannot be entered without a licensed guide and a permit, and both are capped daily. It is why the park still has what it has.
| LANDMARKS |
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| San Pedrillo |
| Scarlet macaw |
| Spider monkey |
| Tapir |
Landing on Caño is restricted and numbers are capped — you snorkel from the boat. Humpbacks pass twice a year, from both hemispheres.
| LANDMARKS |
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| Caño Island |
| Reef |
| Whitetip reef sharks |
| Humpbacks in season |
Sirena is the interior station and the one where tapir turn up on the airstrip. The river mouth has bull sharks and nobody swims there.
| LANDMARKS |
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| Sirena station |
| Baird's tapir |
| Peccary |
| Bull sharks in the river mouth |
The sandbar at Marino Ballena forms the shape of a whale's tail at low tide, which is a coincidence the park has leaned into.
| LANDMARKS |
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| Marino Ballena |
| Whale tail sandbar |
| Uvita |
The road climbs to about 3,300 m at the Cerro de la Muerte and the páramo up there is nothing like the coast you left at breakfast.
| LANDMARKS |
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| Cerro de la Muerte |
| Páramo |
| Central Valley |
Allow properly for San José traffic; it is worse than the distance suggests.
Day 1 · Fri, 18 Sept, 2026
Most of these can be added to your booking later — the operator confirms within a day.
Published by the operator. Nights on the ground can move with weather and permissions.
Hostel, homestay or tent, shared
Hostel, homestay or tent, shared
Hostel, homestay or tent, shared
7 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 6 dinners across 8 days, at camp. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast on day 8.
16 meal services named in the itinerary. Vegetarian and vegan covered; Jain, gluten-free and allergies on notice at booking
“Latin America by public bus, the way most people actually do it”
Overland routes on scheduled buses and public ferries. Slower, cheaper, and closer to how the continent moves.
Puntarenas in the right season is something else, and the team knew exactly where to camp. Camp was pitched and the kitchen going by the time we walked in each evening. Plenty to eat and they were happy to work around a gluten allergy. Good value for what's included.
Well organised from the pickup onwards. The daily distances were honest about what they'd be. Guides answered every question, including the daft ones.
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. The campsites were well chosen — sheltered, and close enough to water. The team read the group well and adjusted without making a thing of it.
Glad you enjoyed it. Hope to see you on another trip.
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. The campsites were well chosen — sheltered, and close enough to water. Whoever planned the days knew what they were doing. Recommended.
Appreciate the honest feedback; we're looking at the pacing on that section.
Pace was set for the fastest people in the group and it made the middle days hard.
Thank you for travelling with us — glad the route worked out.
The trek itself is good but the group was too large for the trail on the summit day. Crew were professional without being stiff about it.
Thanks for writing this up. We've passed your note to the team.
Did this over 8 days and it was the best walking I've done in years. Good value for what's included.
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. Camp was pitched and the kitchen going by the time we walked in each evening. The cooking was a genuine surprise — better than most places we'd have picked ourselves.
Appreciate the honest feedback; we're looking at the pacing on that section.
Because the park requires a licensed guide and a permit for every visitor, and both are capped per station per day. It followed years of unmanaged access and gold panning. It is also why the wildlife density is what it is — the restriction is the reason the park works.
One other operator runs this trail. See all 2 side by side →