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Driftwood on the wild Pacific beach of Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC0

National park · Costa Rica

Corcovado and Osa Peninsula Animal Checklist

Corcovado National Park, on Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula, protects some of the wildest lowland rainforest in Central America. It is famous for Baird's tapirs at Sirena Station, all four Costa Rican monkeys and scarlet macaws over empty beaches. This checklist covers 66 animals. The dry season, December to April, is the best time to visit.

Corcovado is remote: most visitors arrive via Drake Bay or Puerto Jiménez and enter on day hikes or overnight stays at Sirena. The waters off the Osa, around Caño Island and the Golfo Dulce, add whales, dolphins and reef life.

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The Corcovado checklist in the Wilder app, started as a trip with the first animals ticked
Animals to find
66
Where
Costa Rica
Best time
Dec to Apr
Costa Rica's monkeys
All four

Corcovado's star species

  • Baird's Tapir, one of the animals to look for in Corcovado

    Baird's Tapir

    Baird's tapirs are common around Sirena, often resting in shallow creeks or on trails near the station. If your guide finds one asleep, keep back, stay quiet and move on after a few minutes.

    Photo: Paul10011993, CC0

  • Central American Squirrel Monkey

    Found only on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and Panama. Noisy troops move fast through the lower branches.

  • Central American Spider Monkey

    Long-limbed and agile, high in the canopy. Watch for it swinging by its tail.

  • Mantled Howler Monkey

    You hear it before you see it: the roaring dawn chorus carries far through the forest.

  • White-faced Capuchin

    Curious and bold. Groups forage along the beach edge and forest trails.

  • Scarlet Macaw

    The Osa holds one of Costa Rica's largest populations. Pairs fly over the beaches and feed in the almond trees behind them.

  • Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth

    Both brown-throated three-toed and Hoffmann's two-toed sloths live here. Look for a still, rounded shape high in a cecropia tree.

  • White-lipped Peccary

    Herds of dozens roam around Sirena. Give them space and follow your guide's advice if a herd approaches.

  • Humpback Whale

    Two populations visit the Osa: southern whales from July to October and northern whales from December to March. Boat trips leave from Drake Bay.

  • Black-cheeked Ant-tanager

    A bird found only on the Osa and around the Golfo Dulce. Guides find it with mixed flocks in the forest understorey.

All 66 animals to spot in Corcovado

Grouped the way you'll meet them. Tips show where to look.

Big mammals 6

Monkeys and smaller mammals 12

Whales and dolphins 3

Birds 31

Reptiles and amphibians 12

Butterflies and sea life 2

  • Last reviewed September 2026.
  • Sources are listed below the questions.
  • Wild animals only. Please give them space.

Best time to see wildlife in Corcovado

The Osa Peninsula is one of the wettest places in Costa Rica. The dry season, from December to April, has the easiest trails, the lowest rivers and the best conditions for hiking between stations. It is also the busiest time, so book Sirena permits well ahead. From May to November, heavy rain makes trails muddy and river crossings harder, but the forest is lush and there are fewer visitors. October is the wettest month, when trails flood and river crossings can be impossible, so check with SINAC before you book. Humpback whales visit from July to October and again from December to March. Olive ridley turtles nest on Pacific beaches mainly from July to December.

  • Dec-MarDry season, northern humpbacks
  • AprDry, hot, end of peak season
  • May-SepRainy, southern humpbacks from July
  • OctWettest month; trails flood, check access with SINAC
  • NovRain easing, quieter trails

Tips for spotting wildlife in Corcovado

  1. Book a certified guide

    Since 2014, all visitors to Corcovado need a certified guide and a SINAC permit. Most people book both through lodges or tour operators in Drake Bay or Puerto Jiménez.

  2. Stay overnight at Sirena

    Dawn and dusk are the best times for tapirs, peccaries and cats. Staying at Sirena, rather than day trips, puts you on the trails at the best hours.

  3. Watch the river mouths

    American crocodiles hunt at the Río Sirena mouth, and sharks come in on the tide. Cross only with your guide, at low tide.

  4. Look down as well as up

    Poison dart frogs, fer-de-lance and eyelash vipers live on or near the forest floor. Keep to trails, wear closed shoes and never touch plants or animals.

  5. Add a trip to Caño Island

    Snorkelling and diving at Caño Island, off Drake Bay, bring whitetip reef sharks, turtles and dolphins, plus whales in season.

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The Corcovado checklist in the Wilder app, started as a trip with the first animals ticked

Corcovado wildlife FAQ

Can you see all four Costa Rican monkeys in Corcovado?

Yes, Corcovado is one of the few places where all four live: the mantled howler, white-faced capuchin, Central American spider monkey and Central American squirrel monkey. Howlers and capuchins are the easiest. Spider monkeys stay high in the canopy, and squirrel monkeys are found only on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and Panama. A full day around Sirena often gives all four.

Where can you see tapirs in Corcovado?

Sirena Station is the best place to see Baird's tapirs in Costa Rica. They often rest in creeks and shady areas near the station and along the nearby trails. Keep well back from a resting tapir and never crowd one for photos. Tapirs are also seen on the beaches and along the trail to La Leona, especially early and late in the day.

When is the best time to visit the Osa Peninsula?

December to April, the dry season, is the best time to visit. Trails are drier and rivers are lower, making hiking between Corcovado's stations easier. It is also the busiest time, so book permits early. The rainy season from May to November brings fewer visitors, but October is the wettest month and trails can be closed at short notice.

Are there jaguars in Corcovado?

Yes, jaguars live in Corcovado, but sightings are rare. They hunt sea turtles on the remote beaches and peccaries in the forest. Most visitors see tracks rather than the cat itself. For better odds of seeing a jaguar, the Pantanal in Brazil is far more reliable.

Sources

Last reviewed September 2026

Photo credits

All photo credits. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, resized.

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