Drake Bay

The soul of Drake Bay dwells in the freshest seafood of its own Pacific waters. Drake Bay restaurants serve the best in traditional Costa Rican seaside dishes along with the staples of Costa Rican cuisine and old-fashioned pastry.

"Early to bed, early to rise" keeps the Agujitas town bars open up to 10 p.m. Locals, paid biweekly (15th and the last day of the month), will extend the nightlife of the town pass midnight on those days.

Sit anywhere early morning or late afternoon in Drake town and enjoy nature: scarlet macaws and toucans wing their way into the top of the trees, iguanas bask in the sun, white-faced monkeys troop through the trees searching for food, crocodiles float on the Agujitas River, or you can just befriend one of the dogs in town.

You can also Hike or horseback southwest along the coastal trail for two hours and a half, cross the suspension bridge over the Aguila River, go steeply uphill for about ten minutes; turn left, noting the sign pointing toward the bridge (it's easy to miss on the way back), pass by Hotel Paloma on the right and follow the signs to the beach. Explore the wildlife and birds of the area. Revel in the sun and play with the waves on Playa Cocolito, go further south to Playa Caletas. Snorkel in Playa San Josecito. Be brave! Keep going for four more hours (to complete 8.6 miles (14 km) ) to arrive at the Corcovado National Park entrance - be glad to meet your pre-arranged boat taxi that will take you back to town.

Zip line your way through the top of the trees, dive the underground gardens of Caño Island, motorboat Sierpe Mangrove Forest, float yourself down on Claro River, go whale watching – when in season – surf in Claro River mouth – two hour walk from Drake Bay, or trek the Corcovado National Park (San Pedrillo or Sirena Ranger Station).

Discover your inner angler on an exciting inshore, offshore or river fishing excursion. Rooster, jacks, black tuna and mackerel are popular inshore catches, while sailfish, marlin, mahi mahi, yellow fin tuna and snapper are caught offshore. Passing whales, dolphins and sea turtles keep fishermen entertained during dry spells – but these waters are so incredibly rich that expeditions are almost guaranteed to come back with some sort of catch for dinner.

Boat to Rio Agujitas and Rio Claro estuaries area's prime surfing spots. Locals tend to prefer Rio Claro's rocky point break above all others. The river mouths at the nearby Ganado and Sierpe Rivers, along with Playa Rincon, also have decent sandy-bottom beach breaks. Another notable spot is at Rio Llorona's estuary, where waves have been known to reach heights of 16 feet. The best time to surf around Drake Bay is between half-low and half-high tide.

Air:

Flying is undoubtedly the fastest, most hassle-free method of visiting Drake Bay. Nature Air and Sansa offer daily flights from San Jose to Drake Bay and nearby Palmar Sur. 

Drake Bay Airport: Just ten minutes from Drake Bay, this airport is the choice place to land. Flights from San Jose are about 45 minutes long.

Palmar Sur Airport: The Palmar Sur Airport is located fifteen minutes from Sierpe. Taxis to Sierpe run $10-15, and from there visitors take an hour-long boat ride through the mangrove forests of the Sierpe River which empties into the Pacific Ocean. After exiting the river mouth, travelers make a wet landing on the shores of Drake Bay. This boat taxi leaves daily at 11:30 a.m. and costs $15 per person.

Bus:

There are currently no direct buses from San Jose to Drake Bay. The best option is to take the bus from the TRACOPA station in San Jose to Palmar Norte. From here, it is a short taxi ride to Sierpe, which costs about $15. A boat departs Sierpe for Drake Bay daily at 11:30 a.m., and costs $15 per person.

The bus leaves San Jose for Palmar Norte at 5:00 a.m.; 7:00 a.m.; 8:30 a.m.; 10:00 a.m.; 1:00 p.m.; 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The trip takes 5-6 hours and costs $8.

Buses depart Palmar Norte for San Jose at 4:45 a.m.; 6:15 a.m.; 7:45 a.m.; 10:00 a.m.; 1:00 p.m.; 3:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Another option is to take the bus from San Jose to Rincon de Osa. This is not recommended during the rainy season (May through November) because the road is often impassable due to bad weather conditions. The bus leaves from Blanco Lobo station in San Jose for Rincon de Osa at 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. The trip takes 7 hours and costs $12.  From Rincon de Osa, it is necessary to catch the Drake bay shuttle, which departs at 4:00 a.m. and takes about four hours. The cost is $5. Since the shuttle leaves so early, it is necessary to spend the night in Rincon de Osa. This shuttle departs Drake Bay for Rincon de Osa at 1:00 p.m. daily.

Car:

From San Jose, take the Interamerican Highway south through San Isidro del General, past Dominical, and down to Palmar Sur. Once you reach Chacarita, follow the signs for another three hours through Rincon de Osa and on to Drake Bay. The journey will take eight 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 generally well marked.  Also, after passing Rincon, there are several rivers without bridges to cross – and these can be impassable even during the dry season. A four-wheel drive vehicle is mandatory for this route.

Instead of motoring all the way to Drake Bay, we suggest driving to Sierpe and parking your car in an enclosed lot for about $5 per night. From there, the boat taxi to Drake Bay is only an hour long – and a gorgeous journey in and of itself.

Most Drake Bay hotels provide any local transportation visitors might need – boat trips to various beaches, Corcovado National Park and Cano Island. Downtown Drake Bay can be walked to from most hotels within a half an hour. Taxis are also readily available and can be called from your hotel’s reception area.

Boat Taxis: Boat taxis run to and from Drake Bay, Sierpe, Corcovado and Cano Island. Keep in mind that guided tours can be purchased to Corcovado and Cano Island for lower rates.

Sample fares:

Drake – Sierpe: $20 per person; 1 hour

Drake – Sirena Ranger Station: $200 per boat; 1 hour

Drake – San Josecito: $35 per person round trip; 15 min.

Drake – Cano Island: $150 per boat; 45 min.

Pockets of onyx-colored sand beaches, protruding vegetation and rocky crags squirrel away between the Pacific swells and the coastline from Drake Bay to Corcovado National Park.

Hike south on the coastal trail to discover unspoiled beautiful beaches. Or, boat on a tour 45 minutes to Caño Island, 30 minutes to San Pedrillo Ranger Station, or an hour to Sirena Ranger Station and explore what Corcovado National Park.

Waterfalls:

San Pedrillo Waterfalls

This set of three falls can be reached via a steep, hour-long trail at the San Pedrillo Ranger Station. The largest of the trio is about 80 feet tall. A cold swimming hole provides a nice respite from the Costa Rican heat.

La Llorona Waterfall

An enormous 100-foot waterfall marks the end of the Las Marias Trail from Corcovado’s Sirena Station. This inviting cascade can be seen from the boat ride to and from the park.

Rio Agujitas Waterfall

The Rio Agujitas Waterfall is about a two and a half hour canoe or kayak trip from Drake Bay. There are a number of excellent swimming holes along the way.  The falls are 65 feet high, and an excellent place to find poison dart frogs, monkeys and many species of birds. 

The Don Petrona Waterfalls

Located on  private property, these falls are only accessible with a guide.

Drake Bay's in the coastal wild lands of Costa Rica. You will find the cheapest and most accessible lodging in Agujitas village (Drake town), but the vast majority of places to stay are snuggled inside the rainforest along coastline from Drake Bay to Corcovado National Park. These eco-lodges offer all-inclusive stays with three meals a day. The alcoholic beverages, tours and round-trip transportation from Sierpe or the Drake Bay airstrip are not included. Local hotels frequently rent kayaks and snorkeling equipment to guests at reduced rates. Be sure to ask at reception upon checking in.

The closer you are to the center of Drake Bay, the more likely the lodge will offer 24 hour electricity and other luxuries. Accommodations located farther away can only be reached by boat. These lodges often use solar power, with generators running at designated hours of the day. For an extra fee, boat taxis are available to carry guests to and from the downtown area.

The few budget hotels in Drake Bay provide basic necessities, with tent or dormitory-style sleeping arrangements and oftentimes shared bathrooms. Cold-water showers and limited electricity are common. Eclectic decorations, interesting travelers and a laid-back atmosphere make these places unique.

Accommodations at Drake Bay vary from mid-range to upscale. Expect comfortable cabins, orthopedic beds and delectable food. Onsite Internet, at least in the lobby, is fairly common, although most lodges do not offer air conditioning. Guests normally participate in off-site tours during the day, and ocean breezes keep the bedrooms cool at night.

Employees staffing Drake Bay hotels are friendly, following a town-wide 'the customer is always right' policy.

Agujitas Village (Drake Town)

Agujitas village has the most affordable accommodations and is the closest to the airstrip and water taxis – the easiest way in and out of Drake Bay. Near to the beach and about 45 minute-boat ride to the Corcovado National Park, the village is the most accessible area for budget travelers. You'll find small family-owned cabins (called cabinas in Costa Rica), throughout the village with low- and mid-range options.

• For $12 to $15 a night, you can find hotels or cabins with a private room and a shared bathroom.

• For $50 to $70 a night, you'll find hotels with private rooms, bathrooms, fans and Wi-Fi.

All-inclusive lodges along the northwestern coastline of Osa Peninsula

Lodges outside of the Agujitas village offer all-inclusive accommodations with all-inclusive packages ranging from $300 to $400 per night per person featuring pick up and round-trip transportation from Sierpe Pier, rooms, meals and tours for one to three night stays. While tours vary between lodges, most include a visit to Caño Island and Corcovado National Park, or nighttime hike and optional canoe/kayak tours.

Some lodges offer all-inclusive packages with only accommodations and three meals included. You will arrange your own water taxis to get there:

• For $75 per person per night, you can get in some rustic lodges a tent-cabin set on an elevated wooden platform, with a front porch, armchairs, with a full-size bed, ocean and garden views, orthopedic mattresses and fans, with shared bathrooms and showers.

• For $90 to $100 a night, you'll find lodges with private rooms, bathrooms, fans, close to the beach, with views to the gardens