Los Patos Ranger Station

The primary forests of Los Patos (the ducks), located on the isolated eastern end of Corcovado National Park, are rich in biodiversity. Up to 20 people can camp at Los Patos at any given time; to ensure a space, advanced reservations are highly recommended. Facilities consist of two showers and four bathrooms, and potable water is available. Day trips include a visit to a nearby Guaymi Indian Reservation, as well as a short trail to a waterfall with swimming hole.

Trails:

Guadalupe Trail: Corcovado is somewhat difficult to reach from the eastern side of the Osa Peninsula. Even the most dependable 4x4 cannot always make the trek to the park’s entrance. A wonderful option is to rent horses from the town of Guadalupe, and to follow the trail to the reserve’s boundary. It is possible to attempt the journey on foot, but rough terrain and numerous river crossings make this a tiring and tedious endeavor.

Los Patos Trail: Sendero los Patos is a challenging, 11-mile trail that can be completed in seven to ten hours. It starts at the Sirena ranger station, passes through primary and secondary wet tropical forest, and crosses three rivers. Extra care should be taken during the rainy season (May through November), when the path gets notoriously muddy. The trail ends at Los Patos station, and from here it is another four hours to the nearest town, La Palma.

Facilities:

There are four main ranger stations within Corcovado National Park. Click on the links to get detailed information about each ranger station.

•    Sirena

•    San Pedrillo

•    La Leona

•    Los Patos

The park’s headquarters are located at Sirena, which is equipped with an airstrip, research station, and dormitory lodging. Camping is permitted in designated areas of all of the park’s ranger stations.  Facilities include potable water and latrines. Tents and sheets are not provided.

Back to Corcovado National Park main page.

Getting There:

Los Patos can be reached on foot or horseback (see the Guadalupe Trail above) from the town of Guadalupe – and also via the challenging trail from the Sirena station.