0.009% of Earth's surface with 5% of its biodiversity

Travelling to Costa Rica without visiting Corcovado, would be like going to Paris and not going to the Eiffel tower.

It’s hard to explain, but Costa Rica ranks 129th in the world in terms of surface area. That is, 0.009% of the earth's surface. But if we measure it in terms of biodiversity, Costa Rica is on top of the list, with 5% of Earth’s biodiversity.

What’s even more surprising is that a large part of that 5% biodiversity is found in a region of just 424 km2 (263 miles), in CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK, located southeast of the Osa Peninsula.

Fortunately or unfortunately, there are very few people who take the time and sacrifice involved in reaching Corcovado. But once they do, none of them regret it and it's an experience that can change your life.

What is the Corcovado National Park?

The Corcovado National Park is one of the largest biodiversity reserves on the planet. A place where you can easily spot wildlife, from a jaguar to a tapir, anteaters, monkeys, birds of all kinds, etc.

It’s a close-to-impenetrable area and can only be accessed in the company of a local guide.

Planning and logistics

Like everything good in life, it takes time and effort.

I will describe my own experience, for someone who’s travelling to Costa Rica or someone who already lives here and has a car to enjoy the experience.

First, you need to get to Puerto Jiménez. Getting there from San José is a 6-hour drive, add to that a few stops along the way to rest and take some pictures.

Arriving to Puerto Jiménez

Once in Puerto Jiménez, you have to spend the night in one of the local cabins or hotels. My recommendation is not to think much about where to sleep that first night, this way you’ll get used to what’s coming.

The next day, an early rise, around 4 a.m. to meet with the local guide and driver previously hired. You’ll reach a point where the car can’t go on and you must walk from there. Since we decided to cover as much territory as possible without going back the same road, we hired someone to take our car from the starting point to the point of arrival.

Then we arrived to Karate beach and that's where the real experience begins!

From Karate beach to the La Sirena refuge there are 25 kms (15 miles). There, you’ll have time to experience and be amazed from the natural surroundings, with no more help than just a few bottles of water and you carry-on food.

Once you get to the shelter, you'll be surprised on how well organized it is, keep in mind you’ll need to have a reservation, due to the limited capacity it offers. There, you can enjoy a buffet-style dinner, a cold shower and a clean bed in bunk beds; all guests share the comfy space.

The next day you can enjoy and delve into the primary forest surrounding the refuge and keep delighting your senses with the many wonders that nature has to offer. Again, make sure you do this with your local guide. IT IS NOT AUTHORIZED TO GO AROUND THE PARK WITHOUT A GUIDE.

At 12:30 p.m. we headed to a place where a small boat picked us up, as if we were shipwrecked waiting for a rescue. Getting out of there is quite an experience, the captain is clearly used to breaking waves with the boat, but not us. You push against the open sea, so in most cases, the waves crash onto the boat getting everyone wet. But thanks to those waves, Costa Rica is one of the best known places in the world for surfing.

After one of the most impressive journeys of my life, going north from La Sirena, we arrived at a peaceful refuge called Drake Bay. There, the driver waits for us for our return to San José.

Why take the time to go to Corcovado?

Our daily struggles and routines often make us forget where we come from and what we really are.

It should be mandatory to go at least once in a lifetime to one of the world's natural reserves and experience a couple of days fully immersed in them, without anything else than what we can carry in a backpack plus a good mosquito repellent. The magnitude of what one is and what one lives, makes us really appreciate the important things in life.

Those who know me will probably ask themselves: "What is Iago doing in the middle of the jungle? He loves cars, collecting watches and live the life”

Well, that’s my point precisely, because if you don’t raise your foot off the accelerator and you take the time to look around, nothing makes sense.

But when you give yourself the opportunity, whether by chance or because you have planned it, to share, to experience and to coexist with nature, you realize just how big this is.

You feel different, you want different things and you love differently.

I invite you all to do it, whatever it takes, give yourself the time to try it. Whether it is walking barefoot on the lawn on a rainy day or daring to travel without any reservations. Many of you have probably done it, but many others have not even considered it. These are the first steps to start learning to remove the ties that the system dictates and start living differently.