The Forest Heart of Osa Nova

Chimpol is the deep‑forest counterpart to the Tropical Urban Park. Located in Río Nuevo, approximately 15 kilometers from the TUP, it rises to 275 meters (around 1,000 feet) and opens into a world of primary rainforest, long views, and uninterrupted quiet.

It is the most immersive of the three Osa Nova ecosystems — a place where the forest feels ancient, intact, and alive. From its ridgelines, Chimpol opens into a 360‑degree view of the Osa Peninsula. It looks toward the Golfo Dulce, the Pacific Ocean, the Matapalo coastline, and the forests of Corcovado National Park — not distant, but just one ridge away. The same wildlife that moves through Corcovado also inhabits and passes through Chimpol, making it part of the continuous biological corridor that defines the Osa Peninsula.

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A Protected Forest Landscape

Chimpol covers 267 hectares (675 acres), of which approximately 500 acres are primary rainforest.
The forest is dense, shaded, and rich with canopy life. Three internal trails weave through the reserve, offering quiet movement through understory, ridge, and deep‑forest habitat.
Chimpol is often described as “heaven on earth” — not because it is dramatic, but because it is untouched. The forest holds a stillness that is rare in the modern world.

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Ecological Significance

Chimpol functions as:

•     a wildlife corridor
•     a deep‑forest refuge
•     a buffer zone supporting regional biodiversity
•     a monitoring site for long‑term ecological health

Its elevation and position allow species to move between lowland rainforest, mid‑elevation forest, and coastal ecosystems. This continuity is essential to the Osa Peninsula’s ecological resilience.

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Access and Approach

Chimpol is currently accessible only by foot, and only during daylight hours. The walk from the Tropical Urban Park to Chimpol takes approximately three hours, moving gradually from urban‑edge forest into deep, interior rainforest. There are no roads, no vehicles, and no commercial infrastructure. This is intentional — Chimpol is protected through simplicity.

Access is granted to:

•     Members (yearly and seasonal)
•     Stewards (all levels)

 

Access is ecological, not recreational. Chimpol is a place for quiet presence, not activity.

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Care and Stewardship

Chimpol currently has no caretaker, and its protection depends on the broader Osa Nova community. One of our long‑term goals is to establish a dedicated caretaker presence, supported by:

•     Sponsors
•     Stewards
•     Members

This support ensures that Chimpol remains protected, monitored, and accessible in a way that honors its ecological importance.

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A Forest That Belongs to the Future

Chimpol is not a destination. It is a responsibility — a living forest that requires care, attention, and continuity. It is the quietest part of Osa Nova, the most immersive, and the most fragile.
To walk in Chimpol is to understand the depth of the Osa Peninsula and to feel the presence of a forest that has remained intact for generations. Chimpol is the forest heart of Osa Nova.

It exists so that the future will still have places like this.