Drake Bay: How to Plan An Unforgettable Trip

As a beautiful lush bay in the incredible Osa Peninsula, Drake Bay offers a magical experience to visitors looking to relax, get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, and soak up as much nature as possible.

If that sounds like a place you want to visit, then here is our guide to help you plan a trip to Drake Bay (Bahia Drake).

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Location

Drake Bay is in the Puntarenas province, 368 kilometers (229 miles) from San Jose.

The main town is called Agujitas and has a population of around 1000 full time residents. It’s on the northwest side of the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica.

It’s close proximity to Corcovado National Park makes it easy to visit one of most bio-diverse places in the world.

How to Get to Drake Bay

Getting to Drake Bay is half the fun due to its remote location. You can get to Drake Bay by plane, car, or boat.

The easiest and fastest way to get to Drake Bay is to fly into the local Drake Bay Airport (50 minutes from San Jose).

The most popular way is to take the boat from Sierpe to Drake Bay (1-1.5 hours).

Read our detailed guide on how to get to Drake Bay by plane, boat and car.

By Plane

This is the easiest and fastest but also the most expensive way to get to Drake Bay. Take a local flight on Sansa Air to the Drake Bay local airport.

This flight has amazing views of the Osa Peninsula.

The 50 minute flight from San Jose airport costs around $180 USD one way depending on the time of year.

Sometimes the flight will stop in Quepos before Drake Bay and this will take 1 hour.

In high season (December through April), there are normally 7-8 flights from San Jose to Drake Bay in one day.

By Boat from Sierpe

There is a public taxi boat from Sierpe to Drake Bay that runs twice a day: 11:30 AM and 330 PM. It costs $20 USD per person to Drake Bay center and the boat ride is around 1 hour.

Read our complete guide to taking the boat from Sierpe to Drake Bay.

For those arriving to the dock in a car rental: you can leave your rental car in a paid parking lot in Sierpe while you are in Drake Bay.

This option is for those who still want their rental car after they come back from Drake Bay.

If you do not want your car anymore during your time in Drake Bay, you can arrange your rental car agency to pick up your car in Sierpe before you board the boat.

Our partner Adobe Rent a Car picks up cars at Sierpe dock and we will be happy to assist our readers who rent a car through us with our Costa Rica car rental discount to arrange their car rental return/pick up in Sierpe.

Drive, Boat and Fly

If you visit Drake Bay as your last destination in your itinerary with a rental car, then you can have your car rental agency pick up the car in Sierpe.

Then from Sierpe, you will take the boat to Drake Bay.

When your trip is over, you’ll fly to the San Jose Domestic Terminal from Drake Bay and either catch your international flight home right away or stay a night by the airport.

Get our list of recommended hotels by San Jose International Airport here.

By Car

If you need to drive to Drake Bay, you can. From Sierpe, it takes around 3 hours and a high clearance car is recommended. During the rainier months, like August through December, a 4×4 is required.

This route is not completely paved, but it is doable. No river crossings required.

You will need to drive to Drake Bay if your next destinations are other places in the Osa Peninsula such as Golfito, Pavones or Puerto Jimenez. Find out how to get to Puerto Jimenez here.

Read our in-depth guide to driving to Drake Bay here.

If you’re renting a car, get our Costa Rica car rental discount and extra benefits!

By Bus

Unfortunately, there isn’t really a direct public bus to Drake Bay. The best option is to bus to Sierpe to catch the boat.

From San Jose, you can take a bus to Palmar Norte, then to Sierpe and then take the boat to Drake Bay.

What to Know About Visiting Drake Bay: The Town

The small town of Agujitas in Drake Bay has a handful of restaurants, stores, hostels, cabinas and small hotels.

Drake Bay has grown quite a bit in the last few years. New hotels, restaurants and vacation rentals appear each year.

Fun fact: Sir Francis Drake is believed to have used this bay as a port (hence the name) on one of his voyages. Rumor has it that he even hid one of his treasures in the area in the late 16th century!

However, not all businesses readily accept credit card and there are no ATMs or banks in Drake Bay so make sure you bring plenty of cash.

Some of the hotels don’t take credit card and require you to pay for your entire stay in cash.

Though USD is accepted, it is best to pay in local currency (colones). You can stop by any bank before you go to Drake Bay to exchange or take out colones.

Read more about handling money in Costa Rica.

Keep in mind that Drake Bay may not be the right place for all travelers, especially those looking for better infrastructure and more amenities.

But if you come with an open mind, you will have an amazing time as what makes Drake Bay special is the pristine nature and freedom of wildlife.

Embrace that and your time in the Bay will leave ever lasting memories for the rest of your life.

The Beach

The main town of Agujitas is home to the main beach called Playa Colorada. The public boat drops off and picks clients up from there.

You’ll see lot of stray dogs running around and playing on the beach, people laying in hammocks and locals riding around on bikes.

Being such a small town in a remote destination in Costa Rica, the local residents of Drake Bay are very laid back beach people.

More and more of them work in tourism, as Drake Bay’s popularity has soared in the last couple years but many locals still stick to their roots, farming and fishing for a living.

Drake Bay Hotels

Most of the lodging options are small boutique hotels, modest cabins and hostel like rooms.

There are luxury accommodations in Drake Bay, in and around town and the bay.

Tranquilo Lodge: Adult only (18+) up in the hills of Drake Bay. Modern luxury villas with a stocked minibar, air conditioning, free Wifi throughout the property, a spa, yoga deck, two pools and a gym. Prices include three meals a day and transportation to/from the airport or beach. They have road access and a secure parking lot.

Read our review of Tranquilo Lodge here. 

Copa de Arbol: This eco-luxury resort is on 70 acres (28 hectares) of rainforest. Boat access only, located just outside Drake Bay center. Their ten intricately designed villas have air conditioning. They have a large pool, hiking trails, free Wi-fi and offer spa services. Family friendly with 3 meals included. No road noise!

Save 5% with our promo code mytanfeet on their website Copa de Arbol!

Aguila de Osa Rainforest & Marine Adventure Lodge: Rainforest resort with thirteen rooms, each with ocean views and balconies. No air conditioning. Includes three meals and their own boat transportation from Sierpe.

Check out our video review here.

For cheaper options in town, check out Martina’s Place, Pirate Cove, Sukia Hostel, Pacheco Cabins, Vista Drake Lodge and Rancho Corcovado Lodge.

There are Airbnbs in Drake Bay too, such as Southern Drake Lodge.

Drake Bay Restaurants and Services

There isn’t a proper bank or ATM in Drake Bay. Make sure to bring plenty of cash in local currency. USD is OK but local currency is best.

There are several mini markets, restaurants, tour centers, clothing stores, local bakeries, scuba diving shop, liquor stores, ATV rentals and a dental and medical clinic in Drake Bay.

Some restaurants in Drake Bay to try are Kalauna Bistro, Marisqueria Roberto’s, Gaby’s Fast Food Truck, Soda Mar Y Bosque, Restaurante La Choza, Restaurante Delicias, Claudio’s Grill and Marea Alta.

The panaderia Mani bakery is very good.

Things to Do in Drake Bay

There are plenty of activities and adventures in and around Drake Bay to add some excitement to your trip.

Resorts like Copa de Arbol and Tranquilo Lodge will book your tours for you.

If you’re staying at a vacation rental in Drake Bay center, you can ask your host to assist you but you can also book your own tours.

Caño Island Snorkeling

Caño Island Biological Reserve is considered the secnd best place in Costa Rica to scuba dive and snorkel. You can see turtles, rays, dolphins and a huge variety of colorful tropical fish.

Along the 45 minute boat ride to the island from Drake Bay, you may also spot dolphins and humpback whales!

If you have your diving certification, go scuba diving at Cano Island, about a 45 minute boat ride. If not, you can take a discovery dive or go snorkeling.

Read about our experience snorkeling at Caño Island.

Book your Caño Island snorkeling tour from Drake Bay here.

Whale and Dolphin Tour

Drake Bay is one of the best spots to see humpback whales in Costa Rica. Both Northern and Southern humpback whales pass by the bay throughout the year.

Divine Dolphin is a great company to go with to see dolphins and whales in Drake Bay.

The best time of year is August and September to see humpback whales, but you can also see them in January, February, March and July.

Corcovado National Park

Don’t miss your chance to visit Corcovado National Park, one of the most biologically diverse places on earth when in Drake Bay.

Take a day trip to San Pedrillo Station or Sirena Station to see wildlife such as tapirs, four different monkeys, birds and more.

Sirena station in Corcovado National Park offers the best opportunities to see mammals. I finally got to see my first tapir on this day hike!

Book your Corcovado National Park Sirena station day trip from Drake Bay!

Want an even more immersive national park experience? Stay overnight at the Sirena station!

Fishing

Go deep sea fishing from Drake Bay to catch fish like marlin, sailfish, and wahoo.

Playa San Josecito

Arguably the best beach in Drake Bay, Playa San Josecito is perfect for those who like hiking, jungle and beach.

You can take a boat there but it’s more of an epic adventure to walk. From Drake Bay Center, it’s about a 2.5 -3 hour walk.

From Copa del Arbol Resort, it’s about a 1-1.5 hour walk and they have their own trail that goes to the beach.

We recommend to visit in the morning, it’s best not to walk the trail from Playa San Josecito at night.

But if you want to visit there in the afternoon to watch the sunset, we recommend to arrange a boat with your hotel to bring you back.

Rio Claro

You can hike to Rio Claro on your own or you can take a tour to visit this beautiful clear river. Tours vary from horseback riding, swimming in the river, waterfalls and snorkeling.

The most popular one is hiking and floating down Rio Claro. A must for adventure lovers!

Night Tour

The world is a different place when night falls and you can see wildlife that thrives at night on a tour. Copa de Arbol Resort offers their own night walk on their property.

If your hotel doesn’t offer a night walk, you can arrange one with Tracie the Bug Lady.

Sierpe Mangrove Tour

Venture into one of the biggest mangroves in Central America by boat or kayak. You’ll see wildlife such as caimans, monkeys, snakes and a variety of birds.

Bioluminesence tour

This is only during certain times of year such as February and March when it’s very clear, it’s a new moon and the water clarity is good.

This nighttime tour will take you to a spot in Drake Bay to see bioluminesence which is super cool.

Birdwatching

Drake Bay is home to a ton of beautiful tropical birds so don’t miss a birdwatching tour if you’re a birder. Some hotels, like Copa de Arbol, offer on-site birdwatching with their own guide.

We saw hawks, toucans, herons, lots of trogons and many other birds during our birdwatching tour at Copa de Arbol.

How to Plan an Itinerary with Drake Bay

We’ve written a 1 month Costa Rica itinerary that has Drake Bay as the last destination., staying four nights.

However, a lot of people are staying in Drake Bay for a longer time.

Before, the average amount of nights people would stay would be three, just enough time to visit Corcovado National Park for one day, go snorkeling/scuba diving at Caño Island the other day and then leave.

But lately, we have met people who stayed in Drake Bay for their entire vacation, whether it’s one week, two weeks, even three weeks.

These are people who really want to get away from the traditional tourist destinations in Costa Rica and really want to take in all the nature, wildlife and tropical weather to get away from their busy stressful everyday lives.

Imagine staying at a beautiful rainforest and beach resort like Tranquilo Lodge or Copa de Arbol, soaking in all the nature, away from any hint of city life, for a true sensory reset.

Tour Packages

There are some tour operators that offer full one week packages to Drake Bay with lodging, meals, activities and guides included.

You don’t need to do anything except book your flights to Costa Rica and to Drake Bay.

These packages normally pack a full day activity with a 5 AM wake up call most days. It’s a lot to do in only seven days but you will experience a lot.

Not much down time at all though, so consider these packages only if you have the stamina and if you want to do as much as possible in as short of a time as possible.

Read About Other Similar Tourist Destinations in Costa Rica

San Vito

Sarapiqui

Cartago

Mal Pais

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