Air:
Nature Air and Sansa offer daily flights from San Jose into Drake Bay and into nearby Palmar Sur.
Drake Bay Airport: Located just ten minutes from Agujitas, flying into this airport is the easiest and quickest way to get here. It is a 45-minute flight from San Jose to Drake Bay. Nature Air offers two daily flights and Sansa offers three.
Palmar Sur: The Palmar Sur Airport is located fifteen minutes from Sierpe. When you arrive, take a taxi or pre-arranged ground transport to Sierpe, where you then take a one-hour boat ride through the Sierpe River and its bordering mangrove forests to the Pacific Ocean, exit the river mouth and arrive on the shores of Drake Bay with a wet landing. No dock, you must walk in knee deep water to shore. It is a beautiful boat ride and ads to the adventure.
Land:
Bus
From San Jose: There are daily public buses departing San Jose (from the Tracopa Station) for Puerto Jimenez and Palmar (norte) but none go directly to Drake Bay. If you take a bus that passes through Palmar, you can take a taxi to Sierpe and catch the public boat taxi. The bus from San José to Palmar costs ¢3,900 colones (approx. $8 each way)
Or, if you go to Rincón you can take the Drake Bay Shuttle. The bus from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez arrives too late to catch the Drake shuttle, so you will need to stay overnight in La Palma or Rincón and then catch the Drake shuttle either in La Palma or Rincón the next day.
From Perez Zeledon (San Isidro el General): A bus leaves Perez Zeledon at 6:00 a.m. and arrives in Rincon at 11:30 a.m., where you then take the Drake Bay shuttle bus to Drake Bay. The shuttle always waits for this bus to arrive before departing.
From Puerto Jimenez: A bus departs Puerto Jiménez at 9:30 a.m. arriving in La Palma at 10:30 a.m. The Drake Shuttle departs at 11:00 a.m. from La Palma to Drake Bay. If you have made reservations with the Drake shuttle, it will await your arrival if the buses from Puerto Jiménez run late.
Drake Shuttle: The private Drake shuttle bus is orange and white and runs two trips daily between La Palma, Rincon and Drake Bay (Agujitas).
Schedule: The bus leaves La Palma at 11:00 a.m., passes through Rincón at 11:30 a.m. and arrives in Drake Bay at 1:30 p.m.
Fees: One way from La Palma to Drake Bay ¢2500 (approx $5)
One way from Rincon to Drake Bay ¢2300 (approx $4.50)
It is an orange and white short bus with a big sign that says La Palma/Drake. Reservations are not required, but you can call to confirm services in bad weather or during the rainy season. It is a good idea to call to confirm and to let them know you are arriving, since public buses often run late.
Contact: Carlos 506-8-847-4350 (English spoken) Driving Directions
It is not recommended to drive all the way into Drake Bay. If you drive from San Jose to Drake Bay, the journey will take 8 hours or more. Most of the trip is on Route 2 and other well-maintained roads, but the last few hours are on dirt roads that are not always in good condition, nor well marked. Also, after passing Rincón, there are several rivers without bridges to cross and even in the dry season, they can be impassible if a heavy rain moved through the area recently. Four-wheel drive is mandatory. Also, the lack of road signs can leave the unknowing traveler lost in the middle of nowhere.
Instead of driving all the way to Drake Bay, we suggest driving to Sierpe and parking your car in an enclosed lot at the Oleaje Sirena Hotel. Then take the boat taxi to Drake Bay; it’s an hour-long, beautiful journey. Reservations are recommended. The boat taxi leaves Sierpe at 11:30 a.m. daily and costs ¢8000 each way.
Usually your hotel will pre-arrange and reserve this leg of the journey for you.
Parking at the Oleaje Sirena is ¢3000 colones per night. If you are staying more than a few nights, you might be able to work out a better rate. Try to agree on a final price before hand.
See our Detailed Driving Directions to Dominical and Points South (from San Jose). These include directions to Sierpe and Drake Bay
Water:
Cruise West and other cruise ships often anchor offshore and bring visitors ashore in rubber dinghies both to the Drake Bay area and to Corcovado National Park.
Ocean's Unlimited Dive Company in Quepos offers day trips to Cano Island where you can coordinate a ride to Drake Bay instead of returning to Quepos.
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