Senior Travelers Hiking: Corcovado Wilderness Lodge
The Morning Alarm
Morning Wake-Up Call
We were jolted awake by a troop of howler monkeys—nature's abrasive alarm clock. Loud doesn’t begin to cover it. Actually, it was a good thing since we needed to get up early to start the day, get ready, have breakfast and meet our guide before the day got too hot.
What We Loved
Early start = cooler temps (for a little while, anyway)
Our guide, Edgar, was exceptional—part scientist, part bird whisperer
Unforgettable wildlife encounters: rare birds, monkeys, insects, and wild flora
The trail was mostly flat and easy to follow
Phenomenal photo ops at every turn and our guide, Edgar, helped us get the best shots
What Was Challenging
Drink lots of water, wear sunscreen, bug spray, hat and sunglasses. It will help!
The heat and humidity ramped up fast—by hour two, it was pretty strong
Thick tree roots on the trail required careful navigation. While the tree roots were not everywhere on the hike in many places they crossed the path for many yards.
Our “five-hour hike” turned into nearly seven. That was a bit long for four seniors to tromp in the jungle in hot humid weather. We wanted to see everything!
Be mindful of the roots
🧳 What to Pack (Seriously, Don’t Skip These)
Two metal water bottles – plastic is not allowed in the park
Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses – bring strong sun protection
Light long-sleeved shirt – essential for sun exposure
Comfortable hiking shoes
Foldable walking stick – huge help on rooted trails
Small towel + face wipes – refreshes you when the heat hits
Camera or phone – you’ll want to remember this
Backpack – light but roomy enough for your essentials
Breakfast & Getting Started
To meet our guide by 7:30 a.m. we had to be up and ready early, eat breakfast, fill our two metal water bottles and meet our guide at the meeting point which is near the dining room.
I’m not usually a breakfast person, but Costa Rica makes it hard to resist—especially with all the fresh tropical fruit. The morning meal offers a big choice of breakfast foods including an egg station where the friendly chef will make your egg anyway you like. I like a crispy egg white made like a flat pancake and it was made perfectly here.
The Hike Begins
Here we go! Oh, the things you will see!
At the meeting hut, we met our small group: the four of us (seniors) and a younger couple. They could have been our adult children. Hmm, we were sure we could keep up with them. Lodge staff reminded us to apply sunscreen, hydrate, and offered rubber boots (which we declined). Thankfully, there were only a few muddy patches, easily avoided.
Pro tip: There are lots of thick roots. Bring a walking stick!
The days wears on and gets hot fairly quickly. About an hour into the hike one of our senior member friends decided it was too hot and humid, and he didn’t like all the meandering roots everywhere. One of the other hikers offered a stick but it didn’t work for him. Our guide, Edgar, arranged for another staff to take him make to the Lodge.
Edgar, the Jungle Maestro
Edgar,, the ultimate guide
Through the view finder
Our guide, Edgar, was a walking encyclopedia with the enthusiasm of someone seeing the forest for the first time.
He could spot birds by sound alone.
He helped us get amazing zoomed-in shots through his binoculars and tri-pod lense
His energy never faded, even as the heat rose.
He could recognize animals and insects at a distance and introduce us to them with interesting facts and stories.
Checkpoint & River Crossing
About 30 minutes in, we arrived at a checkpoint. Bags were inspected—no food or plastic are allowed in the park.. There were clean bathrooms and a cold-water refill station.
We crossed a shallow river (about a foot deep and 25 feet wide). You might spot a crocodile (we saw one later, but far from the crossing). Most people just removed their shoes and walked across. We brought our water shoes since we didn’t know if there would be a lot of rocks are dirt in the river
Wildlife & Wonder
We saw monkeys, rare birds, giant insects, and fascinating plant life. Edgar brought it all to life with facts, stories, and excitement. It felt like a nature documentary—except we were in it.
The hike did get long. Around hour four, we were ready to wrap it up, but we pressed on.
Edgar never waivered. He seemed to get more and more animated. He truly loved what he was doing and he was as fun and interesting to watch and listen to as the many things he told us about.
On the way back we stopped again at the refreshing station for a chance to have some fresh fruit, refill out water bottles, wash off our feet and use the bathroom before continuing to the beach where we would have lunch.
Lunch on the Beach
A beautiful spot to finish our hike and enjoy lunch
Return & Rest
After lunch, a Lodge employee picked us up and drove us the short ride back to our bungalow. We arrived around 3:30, hot, sweaty, ready for a nice shower and so proud of ourselves for finishing the hike. We now had bragging rights!!
Final Thoughts
This hike was unforgettable—beautiful, educational, and yes, challenging. If you’re a senior or just not used to heat and humidity, consider booking the shorter version of the hike. But either way, don’t skip it. This is Costa Rica at its wildest and most wonderful.
