Best Time to Visit Corcovado
Dry trails from December to April, a greener quieter park from May to November, and wildlife worth seeing in every month.
There is no closed month
Corcovado National Park stays open year-round. The better question is what kind of day you want: firmer trails and clearer skies, or a wetter, emptier forest that feels even more alive.
From Drake Bay we enter the park by boat, so the day also depends on sea conditions. In both seasons we adjust departure time and the sector we visit — San Pedrillo or other authorized access points — around weather and park rules.
December to April — drier trails
This is the classic high season on the Osa. Rain still happens, but paths inside Corcovado are usually firmer, river crossings are simpler, and boat rides are calmer more often.
It is also the busiest window. If you travel in December, January or Easter week, book the park day early. Wildlife does not disappear in the dry months — scarlet macaws, monkeys and tapirs are still active, especially in the early morning.
May to November — green, quieter, muddier
The green season turns the forest heavier and louder. Trails can be slick. Boots with grip matter more than in March. In return you get fewer groups, fuller rivers, and a park that feels less like a circuit.
This is also when southern-hemisphere humpback whales pass the Drake Bay coast (roughly July to November). A Corcovado day and a whale or snorkeling day pair well if you have two full days.
What we tell guests
If you dislike mud and want the easiest walking, aim for January to April. If you want space on the trail and do not mind rain, May to November is excellent. Either way, start early. Most of the animals we hope to show you are moving before the heat builds.
Park access requires authorized guides and current permits. We handle that side when you book with us.