Costa Rica Jungle Expeditions
COSTA RICA JUNGLE EXPEDITIONS
WHERE THE ROAD ENDS, THE EXPEDITION BEGINS.
Cross rivers. Follow hidden trails. Sleep beneath the rainforest. Go beyond the day tour on a 4–7 day journey through Osa and Corcovado, led by local guides who know what waits beyond the map.
Small-group expeditions · Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Jungle Expeditions
Where the road ends, the expedition begins.
Cross rivers. Follow hidden trails. Sleep beneath the rainforest. Go beyond the day tour on a 4–7 day journey through Osa and Corcovado, led by local guides who know what waits beyond the map.
- Local expedition guides
- Small groups
- 4–7 day journeys
Feel the call of the wild.
A glimpse of the rainforest, wildlife and adventures that make the Osa special. Watch the film, then choose your jungle expedition below.
Choose your jungle expedition
Four, six or seven days beyond the road. Choose the expedition that matches your pace.
LOCAL GUIDES · SMALL GROUPS · 4–7 DAYS BEYOND THE ROAD
7 days · 6 nightsRecommended · Go deeperThe field notes
A full week beyond the road.
Why we recommend seven daysStay for dusk at Sirena. Wake to the forest, then go deeper into San Pedrillo. Three days on the Corcovado route, two forest nights—and no need to leave after the first encounter.
- Intensity
- Moderate · long jungle hikes
- Expedition team
- Small groups · local guides
- Corcovado chapter
- 3 days · 2 forest nights
- Start & finish
- Sierpe or Drake Bay
From US$975 per person
Final price depends on your lodging choice.
Our recommended expedition · Osa Peninsula
The 7-Day Osa
Jungle Expedition
The day boats turn for Drake Bay. You don’t. At Sirena, the light thins between the trees and the night sounds begin. There’s another dawn here before you go deeper. Seven days, two forest nights, and time to stop whenever the undergrowth stirs.
Chapter I · Beyond the beam
The boat threads Sierpe’s mangroves, then breaks into sea air on the way to Drake Bay. That night, you step beneath the trees. Torchlight on wet leaves. Insects in the dark. Your guide pauses, and you lean closer.
Chapter II · Stay when others leave
A call above you. A rustle beside the trail. At Sirena, you learn to stop before you see anything. Later, as daylight fades, you settle into the ranger station. Outside, the forest changes its voice. You’re staying to hear it.
Chapter III · A second night in the forest
Dawn at Sirena, with warm air already on your skin. Then San Pedrillo: immense trunks, deep shade, the sound of a waterfall drawing you on. By evening, you’re at Camp Site in San Pedrillo. Another night with the forest around you.
Chapter IV · Back into the light
Boots on damp earth again. On the way toward Los Planes, you pick your way over roots, with water sounding somewhere through the trees. Then the canopy begins to open. After two forest nights, Drake Bay feels bright and wide.
Chapter V · Follow the water down
In Tamandua’s canyon, the falls drown out conversation. You feel for a foothold on wet stone, follow the rope, then meet the cool of the pool below. Look up: leaves and a narrow strip of sky.
Chapter VI · Green gives way to blue
Wind across the boat. Salt drying on your skin. At Caño Island, you exchange boots for fins and lower your face beneath the surface. The reef appears below; light moves over it. You hear your own breathing.
Chapter VII · Not quite ready for the road
Sierpe’s mangroves close around the boat one last time. Roots in dark water, leaves reflected on the surface. You watch the branches as the dock draws closer. A week ago, you were wondering what was out here. Now you look back.
Corcovado permits are limited. Access is subject to availability for your dates.
6 days · 5 nightsThe field notes
Through the forest.
Out into the blue.
- Intensity
- Moderate · long jungle hikes
- Expedition team
- Small groups · local guides
- Corcovado chapter
- 2 days · 1 forest night
- Start & finish
- Sierpe or Drake Bay
From US$715 per person
Final price depends on your lodging choice.
Jungle & ocean · Osa Peninsula
The 6-Day Osa
Jungle Expedition
Your boots are still damp when the forest starts calling again. You slept here. Today there is more trail, then a canyon to descend and, beyond the trees, the Pacific. Six days to feel the change from humid green to open, salt-blue water.
Chapter I · Beyond the beam
Sierpe’s roots and riverbanks slip past the boat. Then comes the sea air, and Drake Bay. After dark, you follow your guide between wet leaves. The torch catches a stem, a branch. Beyond it, the forest keeps calling.
Chapter II · Stay for the dark
At Sirena, you slow down for a sound in the undergrowth. By San Pedrillo, you’re craning your neck beneath trunks that disappear into the canopy. Evening thickens between them. Tonight, you stay in the forest.
Chapter III · Boots on, again
Morning calls reach you through the trees. You pull on your boots and head back beneath the canopy: damp earth, roots underfoot, freshwater pools along the way. Only later does the forest open and Drake Bay come back into view.
Chapter IV · Into the cool
The roar of water grows as you descend into Tamandua’s canyon. A hand on wet stone, a careful step, then cool water against hot skin. After the falls and pools: lunch, a hammock, and time to lie still.
Chapter V · A different silence
Caño Island rises ahead of the boat. Salt on your face, fins in the water. You lower your mask beneath the surface and the world changes: your own breath, shifting light, the reef coming into view below.
Chapter VI · One last bend
Back in Sierpe’s mangroves, the banks draw close again. You watch the roots and scan the branches, following each small movement. The dock is getting nearer. You turn for another look before the river bends out of sight.
Corcovado permits are limited. Access is subject to availability for your dates.
4 days · 3 nightsThe field notes
Sierpe. Corcovado. Tamandua.
One continuous journey.
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Expedition team
- Small groups · local guides
- Longest trail day
- Up to approx. 15 km
- Start & finish
- Sierpe or Drake Bay
From US$420 per person
First descent · Osa Peninsula
The 4-Day Osa
Jungle Expedition
First, the river. Then salt on your lips and a wall of green above the shore. By nightfall, you’re following a torch through wet leaves, listening for whatever moved just beyond the beam. Four days. Close enough to feel the jungle, not just see it.
Chapter I · Beyond the beam
Mangrove roots crowd the banks of Sierpe. The boat rounds a bend; the Pacific opens. Hours later, beyond Drake Bay, your world has narrowed to a circle of torchlight. Insects call. Leaves shine. You stop, and listen.
Chapter II · Listen before you look
On Sirena’s trails, a rustle is enough to make you pause. Your guide listens before looking. Later, beneath San Pedrillo’s immense trees, the air feels heavier. You hear falling water before you see it through the green.
Chapter III · Follow the water
Wet stone under your hands. A rope, a breath, then the sound of the falls filling the canyon. In Tamandua, you follow the river down into cool pools, with the canopy high above you.
Chapter IV · One last bend
The boat noses back into Sierpe’s channels. Tangled roots, dark reflections, a flicker among the leaves. You keep watching the banks. Soon there will be a dock and a road. For now, there is still river.
Corcovado permits are limited. Access is subject to availability for your dates.
Meet the Ones Who Take You Across
In Bribri, one of Costa Rica's Indigenous languages, a sukía is the healer who crosses between worlds to guide his people. It's not a name we picked lightly — it's how we think about guiding: we take you across thresholds, so you bring something real back.
David VillanuevaFounder · Wilderness guide
Not Your Traditional Tour Company — On Purpose
- Wilderness First Responder
- Search & Rescue
- Wildlife specialist
David started in traditional tourism — and walked away from it. Years of reading the Osa's trails convinced him the real Costa Rica can't be seen from a bus window. So he built Sukia around one idea: nature with no artificial ingredients.
Part anthropologist, part neuroscience coach, he's obsessed with what crossing a threshold does to a human being — and he's spent years scouting the routes where it happens: trails and encounters nobody else runs.
Born on These Trails
Our guides — Sergio, Eduardo, Allan, Roberto, Everest and the rest of the team — grew up here, trained in vertical rescue and wilderness first response. They don't recite animal names off a checklist; they read the forest.
That's the difference our travelers write home about — and the reason they rank us #1 on TripAdvisor in Drake Bay.
The SukíasLocal naturalist guides · WFR & vertical rescue trained
The jungle. The adventure. What stays with you.
Why travelers recommend Sukia for jungle adventures
Days under the canopy. Nights deep in the forest. These are the moments travelers carried home from their adventures with Sukia.
Original Sukia Travel testimonial film. Rankings shown reflect the time of filming.
Hear it from the people who went.
Beyond the itinerary, there is the experience of being there. Hear what stayed with travelers after the jungle.
Selected traveler reviews
An adventure worth reliving
Google review“I did the 6 days, 5 night tour and could do it all over again!”
6-day jungle adventure
Read the full review on Google ↗A week that stays with you
Tripadvisor review“One of the most absorbing weeks of my life… Every moment. Every memory. Utterly sublime.”
7-day adventure in Drake Bay & Osa
Read the full review on Tripadvisor ↗Unforgettable. Wild. Unique.
Google review“Unforgettable, wild, and unique. … We came looking for adventure, and left with friendships and amazing experiences.”
Jungle adventure with Sukia
Read the full review on Google ↗Your own jungle story starts here.Seven days to go deeper. Choose your expedition.
Explore the expeditionsSelected excerpts from different Sukia Travel adventures; itineraries vary. Each link opens the full review on its original platform.
Before you step into the jungle
Choose your expedition with a clear picture of the trails, the nights and the practical details.
Should I choose the 4, 6 or 7-day expedition?
7 days — our recommended route. Three days on the Corcovado journey, with one night at Sirena and one night at Camp Site in San Pedrillo. Choose it for the extra evening and early morning at Sirena, alongside Tamandua canyoning, Caño Island, a night walk and Sierpe’s mangroves.
6 days — jungle and ocean. Two days on the Corcovado route and one night at Camp Site in San Pedrillo, plus Tamandua, Caño Island, the night walk and mangroves. No overnight at Sirena.
4 days — a shorter immersion. Corcovado as a day visit, Tamandua canyoning, a night walk and Sierpe’s mangroves. No Corcovado overnight or Caño Island excursion.
Why choose an expedition instead of booking separate day tours?
Separate day tours can suit you if you already have a base and want a flexible schedule. An expedition brings the route, guided activities and connecting logistics into one plan.
The difference is not simply more activities: on the 6 and 7-day routes, you stay overnight in the forest instead of returning to Drake Bay after every outing. Seven days adds the night at Sirena.
How demanding is it? Is this right for our family?
Expect several hours on foot, uneven ground, mud, roots, heat and humidity. Wildlife stops break up the walking, but “moderate” does not mean an easy stroll. Canyoning also involves moving through wet, uneven terrain.
Tell us about your usual hiking, comfort in water and any mobility concerns. For families, share the children’s ages and experience. Ask us to confirm the longest walking day and route suitability before choosing; age alone does not tell us how a trip will feel.
Where do we sleep? Are the jungle nights in private rooms?
Sirena is a shared ranger-station stay: bunk beds with mosquito nets in an open sleeping area, not a private hotel room. It is part of the 7-day route.
Both the 6 and 7-day routes include one night at Camp Site in San Pedrillo. On the 7-day expedition, that makes two forest nights in total: one at Sirena and one at Camp Site in San Pedrillo. Your other nights depend on the Drake Bay accommodation option selected.
A private-room upgrade in Drake Bay does not make Sirena private. Confirm the room arrangements for each night with us before booking.
What is included in the price, and what costs extra?
The starting price and final total depend on the expedition and accommodation option. Tour-only and lodging-inclusive options are not the same.
Before paying, review the breakdown of guided activities, park entries, boat transfers, each night’s lodging and included meals. Ask separately about flights, transport to the meeting point and optional upgrades. Do not assume every meal or transfer is included in a “from” price.
How do I check dates and permits before paying?
Send us your preferred expedition, dates and number of travelers. Corcovado entries and overnight spaces are limited, so availability needs to be checked for your actual dates.
Before making a payment, ask us to confirm the itinerary, available spaces, total price and deposit terms. If you are unsure what an online booking step confirms, contact us first.
What if I need to cancel or change my dates?
Do not assume a deposit or park ticket is refundable or transferable. Ask for the cancellation and date-change conditions that apply to your reservation in writing before paying, including deadlines and any non-refundable costs.
Discuss a date change with us before making new travel arrangements; replacement permits and rooms depend on availability.
How do I get there, and where does the expedition start?
Common arrival points are Sierpe, for the boat journey to Drake Bay, or Drake Bay Airport. If you will already be in Drake Bay, tell us where you are staying.
Confirm the meeting point and time for your chosen route before booking transport. Share your onward plans too: boat journeys and road transfers need a sensible connection buffer, especially before a flight.
What should I pack? Do I carry my suitcase into the jungle?
Bring a manageable backpack for the trail, hiking shoes with good grip, quick-drying clothes, rain protection, a refillable water bottle, a headlamp and swimwear. Protect electronics and spare clothes from rain and spray.
Plan luggage storage before arriving. Ask us where your larger bag can stay during the forest nights and what you need to carry on each leg. Confirm any flight baggage limits separately. Earplugs can help if you choose the shared Sirena overnight.
What happens if it rains or conditions change?
Rain is part of a rainforest expedition. Heavy rain, river levels, sea conditions or park restrictions can affect access and the planned route.
Remote travel is not risk-free. Follow your guide’s instructions and be prepared for changes when conditions require them. Check seasonal access for your dates with us, and ask how a route change or closure would affect your reservation; do not assume every activity operates year-round.
How big are the groups? What about language and dietary needs?
Our Corcovado outings generally have up to 6 guests on overnights and 8 on day trips. Ask about the group arrangements for the other activities or a private departure. Our guides work in English and Spanish.
Tell us about vegetarian or vegan preferences and any allergies before booking. We need to confirm what each remote kitchen can accommodate; please do not assume every dietary requirement can be met.
Will I definitely see a tapir, a jaguar or other wildlife?
No wild animal sighting is guaranteed. More time in the forest gives you more opportunities to observe, not a promise of a particular species.
Our guides help you notice tracks, sounds and movement while keeping a respectful distance. Choose this expedition for the whole experience of the forest, not a single animal on a checklist.
Your next step
Plan your jungle expedition
Have dates in mind—or still choosing between four, six and seven days? Tell our local team what you want from the journey.
Choose your route
Seven days adds the night at Sirena. Six brings jungle and ocean together. Four fits a shorter stay.
Share your dates
Tell us your preferred dates, number of travelers and hiking experience so we can help you choose.
Confirm the details
Before paying, confirm permits, accommodation, included meals and transfers, the total price and cancellation terms with our team.
No dates yet? Start with your questions. Compare the expeditions or read the practical details.