Frequently Asked Questions

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To learn more about Osa Conservation and support our work, visit our Conservation Campus. We welcome visitors year-round. To begin planning your adventure, click here.

The Osa Conservation Campus is located on Costa Rica’s southern peninsula, the Osa Peninsula. You can find us through Google Maps here. Our campus is situated between Corcovado National Park and Puerto Jimenez on the peninsula’s south western coastline. Depending on road conditions and weather, the campus is about a 50 minute drive (26 km / 16 mi) west out of Puerto Jimenez.

Unlike many wild places, the Osa Peninsula and the Osa Conservation Campus are easily accessible.

Fly: From San Jose, Costa Rica’s capital city, you can take a domestic flight from SANSA airline directly to Puerto Jimenez. The SANSA terminal is located right next to the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO). To connect to your Sansa flight, walk outside of the international terminal and turn left. Walk about five minute and the airport will be on your left.

Drive: There are two major routes to get to Puerto Jiménez from San José by car (around 7 hours):
1. Coastal route ( faster route)
The coastal route leaves west from San José and goes via Quepos, And then south down the coast until it meets the Pan-American Highway in Palmar Norte, then on to the Osa Peninsula.
Approximately 30 kilometers past Palmar Norte is the turn-off for the Osa Peninsula, At Chacarita. There is a large gas station on the right-hand side of the road, Where you will find a sign that gives the mileage to Puerto Jiménez (77 kilometers).
At the end of the main road through town (at the gas station), you will see a sign to Corcovado. Turn right and follow the gravel road for about one hour to arrive at our facilities.
2. The Pan- American Route
The Pan-American Highway leaves south from San José through Cartago and over the mountains of Cerro de la Muerte, Through San Isidro, and onto the Osa Peninsula. This road takes 2 hours more than the Coastal route.

Bus: There are two buses daily from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez. The bus is operated by Blanco- Lobo Transport. The journey takes about 8 hours and costs approximately $ 17 USD including taxes (9.400 colones). Tickets are purchased at the bus station. If you are taking a taxi to the bus terminal, tell the taxi driver: “El bus para Puerto Jiménez. La parada de San Carlos 75 metros al norte a mano izquierda.”

Once you arrive in Puerto Jimenez, the nearest town, you can either drive or take a taxi to the Osa Conservation Campus. The campus is about a 50 minute drive from town depending on road conditions.

Driving: A 4-wheel-drive vehicle is necessary to reach the Osa Conservation Campus. The 25 km / 16 mi road is unpaved and can involve small river crossings depending on the season.

Taxi: The taxi from Puerto Jimenez to the Osa Conservation Campus typically costs $70. If you would like help reserving a taxi for your visit, please reach out to us via email: reservations@osaconservation.org

The Osa Conservation Campus can be easily found using Google Maps. Be sure to download the map before you begin your journey to our campus, as you will lose service during the drive from Puerto Jimenez to our Campus.

Temperatures on the Osa Peninsula are pleasant year-round. The sunniest and warmest months are from January through April with temperatures dropping slightly with the onset of the rains in May.

October and November mark the height of the wet season on the Osa; during this period it is possible to get more than one meter of rain in a month!

Average Temperature: 26°C/79°F

Precipitation: 5000-6000mm /197-236

Humidity: 90%

Wet Season: June-Nov (rains most days, generally in the late afternoon and evening)

Dry Season: Dec-May (rain still occurs but much less frequently)

The vaccinations necessary to enter Costa Rica depend on the country you are arriving from. There are typically no vaccination requirements to enter Costa Rica from the United States, but we encourage you to check the WHO for any changes.

Mosquito-borne diseases are extremely uncommon in the region and we do not find it necessary to suggest you bring malaria medication.

We strongly encourage visitors to receive the full COVID vaccination protocol, and ask to bring proof of your COVID vaccination record if possible.

We require that all visitors have travel and medical insurance to cover them while in Costa Rica in case of an emergency.

The Osa Peninsula, where our 8,000 acre property sits, is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. Common animal sightings include all 4 species of Costa Rica’s monkeys, coatis, anteaters, agoutis, peccaries, sea turtles, and plenty of birds, lizards, frogs and snakes. While much rarer to see, our property is also home to crocodiles, ocelots, pumas, jaguars, and tapirs.

The more you get out onto our trails, the more likely you are to see wildlife! The vegetation is impressive as well–we protect over 300 native, threatened, rare and endemic species in our Osa Arboretum.

Our campus is located along the coastline, and the beach is about a 15 minute walk from the station.

The Pacific Ocean of Piro beach has strong currents and rip tides and powerful waves. It is too dangerous for swimming and we do not allow visitors to do so. There are safe swimming beaches nearby; please talk to our staff for beach swimming suggestions.

All of our cabins are equipped with electricity supplied by our solar panels and micro-hydropower system. These are reliable systems that keep our staff safe year-round, though like all weather-dependent off-grid systems, there may be short periods of time during which internet and electricity is unavailable. We have a backup generator on-site for emergencies.

During your stay, you will have limited access to the internet. Laptops and other electronics can be used and charged. However, we do remind our visitors that these are susceptible to damage caused by high humidity and curious insects. Osa Conservation takes no responsibility for their loss or damage.

Yes, our doors are open to families with children of all ages. Once you’re here, we can help you choose trails and activities that the whole family will enjoy.

We do ask that all volunteers be 18-years of age unless they are volunteering with a parent/guardian.

We have a complete first aid kit and can handle minor medical concerns on-site. Our staff is trained regularly in first aid response. The nearest hospital is 50 minutes away in Puerto Jimenez.

We require that all visitors have travel and medical insurance to cover them while in Costa Rica in case of an emergency.

Rubber boots are required for all trails.

Click here to be redirected to our Visit Us page. There you will find information specific for day tourists, overnight visitors, researchers, university groups, film crews, volunteers, and more.