The La Leona sector of Parque Nacional Corcovado is special in its own right. It begins along the beach and ascends into the rainforest through a wonderland of Osa's bountiful wildlife. On the hike from La Leona to La Sirena, visitors are treated to the impressive Pacific Ocean views through thriving secondary forests.
Park Details
Because of Parque Nacional Corcovado's massive size, there are multiple entrances and access points across the Península de Osa. Certified guides are always required, and because they know the terrain and when it's safe to cross rivers, it's best to have one. Each section offers a different experience because the park contains 13 different ecosystems within its borders. There are 140 mammals, 500 species of trees and thousands of insect species in the park, which contains 2.5% of the world's biodiversity.
Hiking Trails
Visitors only spending a short time in the Osa usually take a quick day trip through the La Sirena sector near Bahía Drake. La Leona is for travelers wanting a more intimate experience with Parque Nacional Corcovado and the Península de Osa's all-encompassing ecosystems. Set on the southeastern side of the park, the La Leona trails are more demanding as you navigate varying terrain: beaches, rainforests and rivers.
Day-trippers can enjoy a five-hour hike on the Sendero Madrigal, with picturesque coastal cliffside views and well-maintained jungle paths. La Leona is also the entry point for the roughly nine-hour trek to La Leona to Sirena, a journey that will appeal to travelers who have endurance for long hikes and want to spend the night in Corcovado. Most visitors hike a portion of this trail and then return to Carate, but it can feel grueling and rushed.
Getting There
The La Leona entrance is a two-hour drive from Puerto Jiménez to Carate along unpaved rocky roads and across rivers. A 4WD is recommended in the rainy season, but cars with high clearance can also navigate it for the rest of the year. Some travelers hire drivers or group transportation with a tour, while others drive themselves and meet their guide in Carate. The drive makes the case for sleeping overnight in the park or at the beach before the station, where there are lodges. Day tours leave Puerto Jiménez at 5:30am for a potentially exhausting day of hiking in the park for five hours, and then another two-hour drive to get back.
Wildlife
The hike starts on the beach, walking a few kilometers to the La Leona Ranger Station. It's possible to see four different species of sea turtles nesting along the route, depending on the time of year. As you enter the park, you'll be on the Sendero Madrigal that traverses the coast. Along the trail, you'll pass a cemetery used by the ancient inhabitants of the La Leona area centuries before it became a national park. Its rock formations and caverns can be seen at low tide. While La Sirena is one of the best spots to see wildlife running free, there's still plenty to see in the La Leona sector if you're not making that 17km trip.
