San Pedrillo Ranger Station

The San Pedrillo Ranger Station is the northernmost and most easily accessible entrance to Corcovado National Park from Drake Bay and Sierpe, Costa Rica. It is known for extensive primary and secondary forest trails, a beautiful waterfall where visitors can swim, and excellent birdwatching opportunities.

Situated on the beachfront where the primary rainforest meets the Pacific Ocean, near the mouth of the San Pedrillo river.  Exclusively accessible by boat (wet landing on the beach) from Drake Bay (approx. 25-30 mins) or Sierpe (approx. 1.5 hrs). Day trips from Puerto Jiménez usually go to Sirena Station instead. The station provides basic amenities including restrooms, showers, and a picnic area for visitors.  While Sirena Station is generally known for more large mammal sightings, San Pedrillo offers good opportunities to see all four monkey species, coatis, sloths, anteaters, and a wide variety of birds like scarlet macaws and toucans. Pumas are occasionally seen. A certified naturalist guide is required to enter the park. Tours typically include a 3-hour hike through the forest in the morning, followed by lunch at the station.

I went hiking from Drake Bay, which is quite a long way—about a nine-mile trek—just to reach the ranger station that marks the entrance to the national park. I understood that you need a guide to enter the park, so I thought I would check out the ranger station first. If I couldn’t find a guide, I figured I would just hike back.

Unfortunately, when I arrived, the ranger was not pleased that I was there without a guide. I even got written up for it. I had followed a public trail from Drake Bay, and it led me directly to the ranger station. The ranger was not pleased at all.

To make matters more complicated, the ranger didn’t speak English and I don’t speak Spanish. Although there were many signs in both English and Spanish, there was a small hand-painted sign along the public trail that apparently said not to enter without a certified guide. Unfortunately, I didn’t understand it because it was in Spanish.

Despite the misunderstanding, it is a beautiful place. Just make sure to have a guide before heading to the ranger station, which is the park’s entrance. While I was there briefly, I saw crocodiles sunning themselves on the beach, so swimming in that area wouldn’t be safe.