Sirena Ranger Station
Sirena Ranger Station
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4.0
229 reviews
Excellent
122
Very good
60
Average
21
Poor
12
Terrible
14
Joshua R
Lyon, France17 contributions
Jan 2020
The ranger station is in the middle of the jungle, what more can you ask for?! Very basic to minimal comfort. The dorm style beds hold up to 50 or more people, no privacy but nothing to complain about, it was expected. Great great great location to do your walks around the trails surrounding the ranger station. Food was just OK. Everything is very hostel-like, common bathrooms (with mens toilet and urinals and women toilet) same for showers. Was not very clean (showers) but we were there with over 70 people, it was a bit dirty. Wear flip flops in the shower. NO hot water, you've been warned. There is nothing to do at the station after your tours so bring a book or cards to play with fellow travellers. Lights out at 8pm but after an entire day of hiking, it's well needed. The flora and fauna were out of this world. DEFINITELY worth the trip to this place.
Written 15 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pam L
Olhao, Portugal11 contributions
Apr 2021
Awesome. Saw herd of 100 pecari to start, a nursing Tapir, all 4 types monkey (troop of squirrel monkeys scolding a python on ground were inches away),aroc, many beautiful birds, and as a grand finale saw anteater moving through trees overhead. Guide was good, telling us about some of plants properties and taking pix for us with his scope. DO IT!
Written 23 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas G
Amsterdam, The Netherlands1,870 contributions
Jan 2023
The accommodation is pretty basic, but the nature around it is just everything. There are so many animals, you cannot believe it! You have to spend at least one night here to really experience Corcovado. This is everything and the park is the best place in Costa Rica.
Written 10 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike F
san diego2 contributions
My wife and I had a great time at Sirena station after a fairly long (12 mile) hike along the beach and forest. The station's dorms are adequate, but bring a bug net and a liner to sleep in as the mattresses have seen better days! The day hikes from the station are quite nice and you have a pretty good chance of seeing wildlife very close to the station. Make sure to go out after dusk to try and find some Tapirs. We went through Osa Aventura so that we had a guide (you see more wildlife with a guide) and I highly recommend them. This isn't a trip for the inflexible traveler, come with an OPEN mind and blend in! Sign up for the meals, they are great. You can also camp, with a reservation, on the deck of the station in a covered tent area.
Mike
Mike
Written 8 June 2005
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gaildevonshirelass
Pedrogao Pequeno, Portugal279 contributions
Dec 2014 • Couples
I think the positive reviews come mainly from those that are on expensive day trips and briefly visit the station.If you do the hike and sleep here you may feel differently! it is very crowded, stinky ( the worst kind - try and fall asleep when smelling sewerage). The toilets and showers are poorly designed and can't cope with the number of people - they were blocked and dirty. There was no regular cleaning. I can do basic ( in fact I used the forest for toileting with no qualms!) but the Sirena Station is a blot in Corcovado Park ( an experience NOT to be missed , however awful Sirena station is). The station did not have enough mattresses ( we're talking basic foam things here) and the guides said the station wasn't replacing them. In fact the guides were very disappointed in the way Sirena Station was deteriorating. The dining/cooking area is right next tot he covered sleeping area so this can cause problems with noise.
There is wifi!! which I didn't expect - but it only worked for me once :-) .We had our meals here which was the best bit - not exactly service with a smile ( I think it depends on who the cook is) but the food was substantial. You can no longer do night tours for safety reasons so prepare for an early night..However you can go out really early at 4.30 to see the forest waking up ( recommended). Please note you aren't allowed into the forest without a guide.
Note - we drank the water which horrifies some, but our guide drank it and it was from a spring. We didn't have a problem with this. But if you don't fancy this remember to bring money for bottled water - and also remember you have to take all your rubbish out with you which may mean carrying a lot of empty bottles.
Don't let this put you off Corcovado though - its so special and its worth facing Sirena to experience as much as possible of the Forest for as long as possible. Feel free to ask me any questions..
There is wifi!! which I didn't expect - but it only worked for me once :-) .We had our meals here which was the best bit - not exactly service with a smile ( I think it depends on who the cook is) but the food was substantial. You can no longer do night tours for safety reasons so prepare for an early night..However you can go out really early at 4.30 to see the forest waking up ( recommended). Please note you aren't allowed into the forest without a guide.
Note - we drank the water which horrifies some, but our guide drank it and it was from a spring. We didn't have a problem with this. But if you don't fancy this remember to bring money for bottled water - and also remember you have to take all your rubbish out with you which may mean carrying a lot of empty bottles.
Don't let this put you off Corcovado though - its so special and its worth facing Sirena to experience as much as possible of the Forest for as long as possible. Feel free to ask me any questions..
Written 29 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ptesche
Guelph, Canada262 contributions
Jan 2017 • Couples
First the good news. The facilities have, compared with what we've heard and read, been vastly improved, all since December 15th. A group called the Association for Integral Development (ADI, supposedly a Osa Penisula community organization) has been awarded a 3-year concession to provide the only sleeping quarters and eating facilities in Corcovado National Park at the Sirena Ranger Station. The sleeping quarters are no longer a platform with a foam pad and mosquito netting. Instead two brand new "bunkies" have been built with bunk beds, sheets, pillows and mosquito netting. Great, right? However, "camping" fees have been increased something like $23 per night per person.
It is no longer possible to bring in your own food. We understand in the past it was possible to boil water in electric kettles to prepare soups and other such food. No longer. Now, if you wish to eat, you need to buy tickets for each meal: $20 p.p. for breakfast and $25 each for lunch and the same for dinner. (Hint: the portions are enormous, so a couple could easily share a hot lunch between two people). The food is quite good but, obviously, expensive. The rules regarding food have been poorly communicated to visitors ahead of their arrival.
Between the increased park fees and lunch and dinner, a 3 day/ 2 night guided trip went from costing $500 for a couple, when booked last September, to $800 per couple. For visitors on a budget, this could price an overnight stay at Sirena out of reach.
Drinking water is also poorly understood. We had been told that water available to visitors was not potable without filtration or water purification tablets. However, if you pay for meals, you may refill water bottles with potable water available in the dining facility.
Finally, it has been widely communicated that there is WIFI at Sirena. However, priority use on a secure network is given to the ADI local management. An unsecured, extremely slow network is available during 2-hour periods, three times per day. Bottom line: assume there is no WIFI as it's basically useless.
It is no longer possible to bring in your own food. We understand in the past it was possible to boil water in electric kettles to prepare soups and other such food. No longer. Now, if you wish to eat, you need to buy tickets for each meal: $20 p.p. for breakfast and $25 each for lunch and the same for dinner. (Hint: the portions are enormous, so a couple could easily share a hot lunch between two people). The food is quite good but, obviously, expensive. The rules regarding food have been poorly communicated to visitors ahead of their arrival.
Between the increased park fees and lunch and dinner, a 3 day/ 2 night guided trip went from costing $500 for a couple, when booked last September, to $800 per couple. For visitors on a budget, this could price an overnight stay at Sirena out of reach.
Drinking water is also poorly understood. We had been told that water available to visitors was not potable without filtration or water purification tablets. However, if you pay for meals, you may refill water bottles with potable water available in the dining facility.
Finally, it has been widely communicated that there is WIFI at Sirena. However, priority use on a secure network is given to the ADI local management. An unsecured, extremely slow network is available during 2-hour periods, three times per day. Bottom line: assume there is no WIFI as it's basically useless.
Written 27 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Supratik
Leicester, UK2,182 contributions
Jul 2016 • Family
Just 2 days beofre we arrived at La Sirena they had opened the new shower and toilet blocks. This renovation has been going on for a long time and the station now looks much better with facilities which are now 100 times better than before.
I was prepared to rough it out and so it was a very nice surprise.
But sadly La Sirena and Corcovado NP are classic examples of mismanagement, red tape and unnecessary hassle. The company who built the new sleeping area honestly had no clue about building a shelter in the rain forest and they just could not level the bathroom floors.
Result : water leaks in from the roof after heavy shower and water from bathrooms start pooling in front of the corridor.
There is only one ranger posted here for 21 days who is responsible for checking everything, including cleaning the toilets. He was a very nice guy and I genuinely felt sorry for him.
But after seeing the old toilet and two showers I could not complain any more! I have added photos of both old and new blocks. Have a look for yourself !
There are about 6 showers and ten toilets but some of them were blocked off.
No dorm style beds any more. There are two platforms/sleeping areas nowadays, interconnected by a corridor. Both equally hot and humid in the night but when it rains it does cool down and it rained non-stop one night.
Well, it was rainy season !!
The main problem is the "snorers". You are about oneor two feet away from the next mosquito net. I was sandwiched between two and sleep was impossible as both guys kept on snoring at tandem. Also almost everyone is up @ 4 am using their flash lights, so you can't really sleep beyond that.
And why should you sleep after 4 am ? You are here to experince nature , not for sleeping.
The area becomes very hot in the afternoon, if you want to have a nap.
Be aware of the black vultures who are always looking for food. Put your food inside bags and throw them inside the tent/mosquito net.
We were with Surcos tour and they provided some foam mattresses, tents and a bed sheet. No pillow. The thickness of the foam mattress varies. The bed sheet did not smell great and if you can carry your own sheet and perhaps an inflattable pillow that'll be helpful.
Mosquitos were not too bad.
Water : they now have a drinking fountain where it claims the water is potable. I did not take the chance and used my water purifier tablet. No stomach upset.
You can also wash your hiking boots there with a jet.
Food : I actually did not see anyone buying the meal there. I think for $25 it is pretty expensive and not a good value at all.
No stoves or fire pit. I originally thought that our guide will carry a stove but he did not and just pointed me to the electric kettle.
That is your new kitchen now.
Yes you can only get Electric kettles for boiling water so take food which can be mixed with the hot water to make that edible. We survived on noodles, soups, bread and fresh fruits for 2.5 days. Carry your own plastic utensil.
Some people from Drake Bay had sumptious spread of dinner !!
In the evening the electric kettles are in great demand, there are 3 of them and people hog them. So I suggest try to get your dinner early before others had figured it out.
Please do not hog the kettles.
Lights are switched off at sharp 8 pm.
Wifi : the ranger controls that. When he feels he does not need that he opens it up. Do not expect lightning speed but good for whatsapping.
You should be able to get the gadgets charged if you keep an eye on the charging points.
Soap dispensers are there but no soaps in the toilets or wash basins.
Difficult to get wet clothes dry and the shoes are bound to get wet. Just survive for couple of days. Use thick socks all the time. They do have some rubber boots there and all the guides were using them. I was not comfortable using them for long hikes so used my own boots.
Wildlife is phenomenal. I saw pecarries, toucans, snakes, basilisks, geckos, monkeys, laughing falcon, other birds and a night jar and even a tapir ( who came silently late in the night) just from the verandah. And of course the trails are packed with creatures. I missed out on an ant eater just by a few minutes.
You are practically guaranteed to see the tapir, especially if you get up at 4 am. What I really liked is that the creatures were extremely tolerant of humans as they had started to trust us. This is the reason I stayed at La Sirena and not at Dos Brazos as in Dos Brazos the creatures are stll not habituated to humans.
In the evening people mixa nd mingle and I had great time with a group from Spain.
The ranger is very very strict about people hiking on their own so do not attempt that. And in fact after seeing some bullet ants and Fer-de-Lance I would not even dream of that.
So I really should not complain and honestly I'll return in a heart beat. It is not for faint hearted but it should be in everyone's bucket list.
I was prepared to rough it out and so it was a very nice surprise.
But sadly La Sirena and Corcovado NP are classic examples of mismanagement, red tape and unnecessary hassle. The company who built the new sleeping area honestly had no clue about building a shelter in the rain forest and they just could not level the bathroom floors.
Result : water leaks in from the roof after heavy shower and water from bathrooms start pooling in front of the corridor.
There is only one ranger posted here for 21 days who is responsible for checking everything, including cleaning the toilets. He was a very nice guy and I genuinely felt sorry for him.
But after seeing the old toilet and two showers I could not complain any more! I have added photos of both old and new blocks. Have a look for yourself !
There are about 6 showers and ten toilets but some of them were blocked off.
No dorm style beds any more. There are two platforms/sleeping areas nowadays, interconnected by a corridor. Both equally hot and humid in the night but when it rains it does cool down and it rained non-stop one night.
Well, it was rainy season !!
The main problem is the "snorers". You are about oneor two feet away from the next mosquito net. I was sandwiched between two and sleep was impossible as both guys kept on snoring at tandem. Also almost everyone is up @ 4 am using their flash lights, so you can't really sleep beyond that.
And why should you sleep after 4 am ? You are here to experince nature , not for sleeping.
The area becomes very hot in the afternoon, if you want to have a nap.
Be aware of the black vultures who are always looking for food. Put your food inside bags and throw them inside the tent/mosquito net.
We were with Surcos tour and they provided some foam mattresses, tents and a bed sheet. No pillow. The thickness of the foam mattress varies. The bed sheet did not smell great and if you can carry your own sheet and perhaps an inflattable pillow that'll be helpful.
Mosquitos were not too bad.
Water : they now have a drinking fountain where it claims the water is potable. I did not take the chance and used my water purifier tablet. No stomach upset.
You can also wash your hiking boots there with a jet.
Food : I actually did not see anyone buying the meal there. I think for $25 it is pretty expensive and not a good value at all.
No stoves or fire pit. I originally thought that our guide will carry a stove but he did not and just pointed me to the electric kettle.
That is your new kitchen now.
Yes you can only get Electric kettles for boiling water so take food which can be mixed with the hot water to make that edible. We survived on noodles, soups, bread and fresh fruits for 2.5 days. Carry your own plastic utensil.
Some people from Drake Bay had sumptious spread of dinner !!
In the evening the electric kettles are in great demand, there are 3 of them and people hog them. So I suggest try to get your dinner early before others had figured it out.
Please do not hog the kettles.
Lights are switched off at sharp 8 pm.
Wifi : the ranger controls that. When he feels he does not need that he opens it up. Do not expect lightning speed but good for whatsapping.
You should be able to get the gadgets charged if you keep an eye on the charging points.
Soap dispensers are there but no soaps in the toilets or wash basins.
Difficult to get wet clothes dry and the shoes are bound to get wet. Just survive for couple of days. Use thick socks all the time. They do have some rubber boots there and all the guides were using them. I was not comfortable using them for long hikes so used my own boots.
Wildlife is phenomenal. I saw pecarries, toucans, snakes, basilisks, geckos, monkeys, laughing falcon, other birds and a night jar and even a tapir ( who came silently late in the night) just from the verandah. And of course the trails are packed with creatures. I missed out on an ant eater just by a few minutes.
You are practically guaranteed to see the tapir, especially if you get up at 4 am. What I really liked is that the creatures were extremely tolerant of humans as they had started to trust us. This is the reason I stayed at La Sirena and not at Dos Brazos as in Dos Brazos the creatures are stll not habituated to humans.
In the evening people mixa nd mingle and I had great time with a group from Spain.
The ranger is very very strict about people hiking on their own so do not attempt that. And in fact after seeing some bullet ants and Fer-de-Lance I would not even dream of that.
So I really should not complain and honestly I'll return in a heart beat. It is not for faint hearted but it should be in everyone's bucket list.
Written 12 October 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katelyn B
Chicago, IL34 contributions
Jan 2016 • Solo
Your expectations for staying at the ranger station will determine how you experience it. And since I find it weird to review a ranger station, here is some general information about the station. I was there for two nights in a three-day hiking tour of Corcovado through Surcos Tours.
The station is 16km from the Leona station in a large grassy clearing in the jungle. The whole building is built on platforms about 1 meter off the ground, which keeps you protected from animals that could come on the property. There are benches and lounge chairs from which to enjoy the surroundings.
There are two flush toilets and three tile shower stalls that all travelers use. They are cleaned once a day. Toilet paper is provided, but bring your own soap and towel. There were about 20 people camping together while I was there, and I never had to wait for a bathroom or shower. Also as another reviewer noted, there are new bathrooms and showers being built as of Jan 2016.
All travelers sleep on one platform in tents or under mosquito nets. Foam pads are provided, but they are well-worn and dingy, so bring your own sheets or a *light* sleeping bag. I found the sleeping arrangements pretty challenging; you're sleeping right next to strangers, and any noise that they make--a cough, snoring, zipping and unzipping the tent--you hear it all. Don't expect much privacy, and do bring ear plugs! Also bring bug repellant; it was really buggy the second night I was there, and you don't want to be bitten when you're trying to sleep.
If you have the option and money, DO purchase the meals provided. The two dinners I had at the station were the best meals I had in Costa Rica. Homemade, filling, nutritious, tasty, and usually food enough for seconds.
Finally, try to enjoy all there is to see. There is beauty all around you that very few people in the world have enjoyed. The station is primitive, but if you come in with the right expectations, it's worth the stay.
The station is 16km from the Leona station in a large grassy clearing in the jungle. The whole building is built on platforms about 1 meter off the ground, which keeps you protected from animals that could come on the property. There are benches and lounge chairs from which to enjoy the surroundings.
There are two flush toilets and three tile shower stalls that all travelers use. They are cleaned once a day. Toilet paper is provided, but bring your own soap and towel. There were about 20 people camping together while I was there, and I never had to wait for a bathroom or shower. Also as another reviewer noted, there are new bathrooms and showers being built as of Jan 2016.
All travelers sleep on one platform in tents or under mosquito nets. Foam pads are provided, but they are well-worn and dingy, so bring your own sheets or a *light* sleeping bag. I found the sleeping arrangements pretty challenging; you're sleeping right next to strangers, and any noise that they make--a cough, snoring, zipping and unzipping the tent--you hear it all. Don't expect much privacy, and do bring ear plugs! Also bring bug repellant; it was really buggy the second night I was there, and you don't want to be bitten when you're trying to sleep.
If you have the option and money, DO purchase the meals provided. The two dinners I had at the station were the best meals I had in Costa Rica. Homemade, filling, nutritious, tasty, and usually food enough for seconds.
Finally, try to enjoy all there is to see. There is beauty all around you that very few people in the world have enjoyed. The station is primitive, but if you come in with the right expectations, it's worth the stay.
Written 10 January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JustynaRajpold
Geneva, Geneve, Switzerland21 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
We loved Sirena and I hope to come back one day. It's true that this is not a five star hotel but there is all you might need while staying in the park for a short time (a part from food if you did not pay for it in advance while making your reservation with your guide).
I must admit that I don't really understand people who complain about the station not being clean and comfortable. Yes it is very hot but hey you are in Costa Rica. Yes, there is no hot water and the kitchen is not fully equipped and yes we slept on the floor in a small tent and there were plenty of people around and there was no privacy but Sirena is not a hotel, it's a ranger station! And in my opinion it's a privilege to be able to stay there and visit the park from there. I am a young girl and I like when it's clean and comfy but if you want to stay in a ranger station in the middle of a jungle you can't expect it to be luxurious, it's a part of the adventure :)
It is a charming place and we met many nice people there. We would have never seen all the animals if we hadn't stayed there. If you don't feel like staying in such place you can just choose shorter hikes and sleep in a hotel outside of the park :) good luck and have fun in this wonderful forest
I must admit that I don't really understand people who complain about the station not being clean and comfortable. Yes it is very hot but hey you are in Costa Rica. Yes, there is no hot water and the kitchen is not fully equipped and yes we slept on the floor in a small tent and there were plenty of people around and there was no privacy but Sirena is not a hotel, it's a ranger station! And in my opinion it's a privilege to be able to stay there and visit the park from there. I am a young girl and I like when it's clean and comfy but if you want to stay in a ranger station in the middle of a jungle you can't expect it to be luxurious, it's a part of the adventure :)
It is a charming place and we met many nice people there. We would have never seen all the animals if we hadn't stayed there. If you don't feel like staying in such place you can just choose shorter hikes and sleep in a hotel outside of the park :) good luck and have fun in this wonderful forest
Written 18 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cyndi-Ryan
Washington DC, DC132 contributions
Dec 2013 • Family
My husband, children (11 and 8yrs.) and I camped on the platform for 3 days/2 nights with Sabena(sp?), our guide through Corcovado Info Center out of Drake Bay (Kenneth Mora is the owner of Corcovado Info Center- highly recommended). We were there at the end of December (dry season). This is a hard trip- lots of walking, camping accommodations, cold showers, very early hikes (4am!), basic food... but we were rewarded with incredible biodiversity, glorious sunrises, surprise watering holes, and many amazing animal encounters. My husband kept saying that this was 'Jurassic Park.'
We arrived on a 1.5 hr. ferry ride from Drake Bay. The boat held about 12 people. On our way, we had a wonderful encounter with humpback whales! From the shore, it's about a 10 minute walk to the Sirena Ranger Station.
From the Ranger Station, we would take our hikes and rest about every 2-3 hrs., either during our hike for lunch or we would come back for meals. The great thing about the hikes is that much of it is shielded by the foliage, so we never felt like we were getting beat on by the sun.
Our first day in Sirena, we saw the following in their natural habitats thanks to our Guide: humpback whales, crocodile, caiman, tapir, boa constrictor, ice viper, sloth, amazing birds (too numerous to list), squirrel/spider/capuchin/howler monkeys, peccaries (wild pigs), lizards... we watched the boa constrictor from about 5 ft. away. We also saw a sleeping tapir- we were in its den, about 3 feet away.
The reason you camp there is so you can see so much, especially because you are waking up and doing the 4am hikes when it is pitch dark (see the bats) and then you come to this beautiful site to take in the sunset, see beautiful egrets, toucans, herons, crocodiles, and then watch the tapirs take their morning walk into the ocean for their bath and bathroom necessities. The mornings were so memorable and beautiful- a nice time to have a pastry that your guide hopefully brought you.
Yes, you can visit as a day-tripper- they arrived by around 7:30am and seemed to leave by around the late afternoon. But I don't think they see as much.
My tips:
- Rubber rain boots were the best footwear because there are many muddy and wet parts during the hikes. And, we were there in dry season. All the guides wear rain boots.
- Bring a pair of flip flops for using the Sirena facilities- you cannot wear rain boots in Sirena, but you can wear flip flops or sandals. Believe me, if you use the bathroom or showers, you want to wear flip flops.
- Hire a great guide. Read up on Tripadvisor reviews- having an excellent guide who can speak your language will make your hikes so much more interesting.
- Bring some favorite snacks- if you opt for the guides to take care of your food, you may want to bring other items. I brought some nuts, dried fruit and power bars.
- Sunscreen, good hats (we bought some insect shield clothing through Amazon and we think they helped a lot with mosquitos- we were never bothered by them) are a must.
We would go back in a heartbeat- it was worth all the effort!
We arrived on a 1.5 hr. ferry ride from Drake Bay. The boat held about 12 people. On our way, we had a wonderful encounter with humpback whales! From the shore, it's about a 10 minute walk to the Sirena Ranger Station.
From the Ranger Station, we would take our hikes and rest about every 2-3 hrs., either during our hike for lunch or we would come back for meals. The great thing about the hikes is that much of it is shielded by the foliage, so we never felt like we were getting beat on by the sun.
Our first day in Sirena, we saw the following in their natural habitats thanks to our Guide: humpback whales, crocodile, caiman, tapir, boa constrictor, ice viper, sloth, amazing birds (too numerous to list), squirrel/spider/capuchin/howler monkeys, peccaries (wild pigs), lizards... we watched the boa constrictor from about 5 ft. away. We also saw a sleeping tapir- we were in its den, about 3 feet away.
The reason you camp there is so you can see so much, especially because you are waking up and doing the 4am hikes when it is pitch dark (see the bats) and then you come to this beautiful site to take in the sunset, see beautiful egrets, toucans, herons, crocodiles, and then watch the tapirs take their morning walk into the ocean for their bath and bathroom necessities. The mornings were so memorable and beautiful- a nice time to have a pastry that your guide hopefully brought you.
Yes, you can visit as a day-tripper- they arrived by around 7:30am and seemed to leave by around the late afternoon. But I don't think they see as much.
My tips:
- Rubber rain boots were the best footwear because there are many muddy and wet parts during the hikes. And, we were there in dry season. All the guides wear rain boots.
- Bring a pair of flip flops for using the Sirena facilities- you cannot wear rain boots in Sirena, but you can wear flip flops or sandals. Believe me, if you use the bathroom or showers, you want to wear flip flops.
- Hire a great guide. Read up on Tripadvisor reviews- having an excellent guide who can speak your language will make your hikes so much more interesting.
- Bring some favorite snacks- if you opt for the guides to take care of your food, you may want to bring other items. I brought some nuts, dried fruit and power bars.
- Sunscreen, good hats (we bought some insect shield clothing through Amazon and we think they helped a lot with mosquitos- we were never bothered by them) are a must.
We would go back in a heartbeat- it was worth all the effort!
Written 6 February 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How to take a contact to Sirena Ranger Station? How to book an accommodation here? Please, is enybody who help me?
Written 8 September 2022
Hi. I will be staying at Drake Bay and have already booked a day trip to Corcovado. However, I would like to overnight at Sirena Station but the hotel I am staying at is not able to organise this. Could someone please recommend a company or group that would be able to make the arrangements for us to be able to do this.
Written 10 April 2019
We used Surcostours and they did a very nice job. There should be others if they are not available. There are advance timing requirements for arranging permits and they do have limited space, so you should start process as soon as you are able!
Written 10 April 2019
Hola, voy para julio a Costa Rica y quería algo de informacion referente a como dormir en el refugio de estación sirena. hay que reservar? como se reserva? como se llega?Merece la pena? Es mejor alojarse por drake?
Muchas gracias por adelantado
Written 4 November 2018
Hiya. We've been looking into jungle treks and want to stay overnight at the ranger station. However, a guide we contacted said it's not worth staying over and we should just do day treks. What are your thoughts? How much more wildlife are we likely to see by staying over compared to just doing day treks? Is it worth the extra money? Cheers
Written 28 December 2017
how do I book a stay to overnight at Sirena sometime between Jan 25-30th 2018?
Written 10 December 2017
how do you go about booking Sirena Station? My husband and I are going to be in Drake Bay from Jan 25-30 2018 and would like to do a one or two/night overnighter. I cannot figure out how to book it!!!
Written 10 December 2017
Is staying at Sirena Station a wilderness experience? Or is it a noisy big campground full of people and everyone walking on the same crowded trails all day?
Want to experience Corcovado wildlife and wilderness but not feel like I'm on a boyscout trip with 50 campers.
Trying to figure out if we want to go for a 1-2 night overnight there via Drake or if hiking around and staying in Los Brazos tent camp would be more of nature experience.
Your experience is appreciated!
Written 19 October 2017
Hi, Christina. What would you like to know about this attraction?
Hi
Can you please tell me how to get there and to book the accommodation. We will be staying in drakes Bay probably
Many thanks
Christina
Written 25 March 2017
Hi everyone! How do you make reservations to stay the night in sirena? Cant find it anywhere but aparently its necessary?
Written 6 February 2017
davidseamont
Dallas, Texas
Hello,
I am planning my hike for April 1st. What type of shoes are recommended for this time of year? Thank you.
Written 3 February 2017
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