My adventure in Corcovado National Park

My adventure in Corcovado National Park

20 kilometers through Costa Rica's wildest rainforest

20 kilometers through Costa Rica's wildest rainforest

One of my most unforgettable travel experiences was a guided hike of about 20 kilometers through Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica – right through dense jungle, without paved paths, but with plenty of mud. And with the most unsuitable shoes possible. If you want to know what a day in Costa Rica's wildest national park really feels like, I'll take you along on this tour.

A woman wearing a white blouse and black pants is riding a white horse in a grassy field with palm trees and forest in the background under a clear sky.
Written by: Nele Unger Last updated at: September 14, 2026
Table of contents
  1. The bumpy start – hiking in the wrong shoes
  2. Wild boars, pumas – and a queasy feeling
  3. A hermit in the middle of the rainforest
  4. Twelve kilometers through dense jungle
  5. In the end, the story that remains counts
Rusty metal frame with a faded sign reading 'Bienvenidos' and another sign on the ground saying 'Parque Nacional Corcovado' surrounded by dense green forest vegetation and fallen leaves.
Two people hiking on a narrow forest trail surrounded by dense green tropical vegetation in Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica.
A narrow dirt path winding through dense green tropical rainforest with thick vegetation and tall trees.

The bumpy start – hiking in the wrong shoes

Right at the beginning, our guide mentioned that today could be difficult – and that we could have borrowed rubber boots at the office. Unfortunately, nobody had told us that at the briefing the night before. So I had no choice but to set out in my running shoes. The result: I slipped multiple times and landed in the mud more than once.

Good to know

In Corcovado National Park, the ground is often muddy and slippery even outside of the rainy season. Actively ask for rubber boots to borrow during the briefing – the offer is not always mentioned automatically but can significantly ease your hike.

Wild boars, pumas – and a queasy feeling

Right at the start, we were also prepared for how to behave if we encounter wild boars with young – or in the worst case, even a puma. After this briefing, I had almost resigned myself to the fact that today could perhaps be my last day on Earth.

A hermit in the middle of the rainforest

After about eight kilometers, we made a stop at a man who decided around 20 years ago to completely move into the wilderness and leave his previous life behind. He lives there entirely isolated. When he needs groceries, he walks about 15 kilometers through the jungle to the nearest town. Otherwise, he only gets visits from hiking groups like ours that occasionally pass by.

I was particularly impressed by his collection of rock band posters from his former life. He is a huge music fan and still listens to his CDs today on an old CD player – of course, there is no reception there. Meeting someone with such a story in the middle of the jungle was quite a surreal moment.

A clear, shallow stream winds through a dense tropical rainforest with lush green foliage and tall trees, including fallen tree trunks crossing the water.
A dense tropical rainforest clearing with tall trees and a forest floor covered in dry leaves under diffused sunlight.
Two hikers climbing a steep, muddy hill surrounded by dense green jungle vegetation in Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica.

Twelve kilometers through dense jungle

After that, we went another twelve kilometers through the densely vegetated national park. I found it exciting that even the guides only get to know this path once during a guided tour – after that, they have to find it alone. Our guide asked us at several forks in the road which direction we would likely go. Of course, we were wrong every time. His dry response: "If you go that way, you will never find your way out again."

In the end, the story that remains counts

In the end, we all made it out safely – thanks to our guides. Despite the muddy shoes and a little portion of respect at the beginning, this hike was one of the most exciting and, in retrospect, also one of the funniest experiences I have ever had. Even though it felt completely different at first. It is definitely a story I love to tell over and over again – and one of the reasons why Costa Rica is one of the most impressive travel destinations in Latin America for me.

Are you tempted by your own adventure in the Costa Rican rainforest? We would be happy to advise you personally and put together a Costa Rica trip that suits you perfectly.

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Experts for your trip

A man standing on a forest path surrounded by dense green foliage wearing outdoor clothing and binoculars around his neck.
Nils Lindhorst

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