Sitting in the northwest corner of the Osa Peninsula, Drake Bay offers an escape from the crowds surrounded by dense jungle and beaches.
With a tiny town consisting of a couple convenience stores and small local restaurants, Drake Bay is the ideal spot for a few days of peace and quiet or as a home base to explore the Osa Peninsula.
It’s considered one of the most remote places in Costa Rica and is quite an adventure to get there.
If you’re visiting Drake Bay, read our guide on taking the boat from Sierpe to Drake Bay.
This post has affiliate links which we may earn a small commission from if you choose to purchase, at no extra cost to you. Any prices listed may not reflect current pricing. It is the readers responsibility to research current pricing. Prices are quoted in USD. More info: Disclosure
How to Get to Drake Bay
There are three ways to get to Drake Bay: boat, plane or car. The most popular way is to take the boat from Sierpe to Drake Bay. Below are more details on each way to get to Drake Bay. You can read our full guide on how to get to Drake Bay here.
- Boat from Sierpe: The most common method to get to Drake Bay. Take a public or private taxi boat from Sierpe to Drake Bay. This boat ride takes around 1-1.5 hours one way.
- Plane: Sansa Air, a local airline, flies into Drake Bay airport. In high season (December through April), there are usually around 5-7 flights a day from San Jose. One way ticket costs around $165-180 USD, 50 minutes non stop.
- Public Bus to Sierpe: Take the public bus to Sierpe and then get the boat to Drake Bay as there isn’t really a formal direct bus to Drake Bay. From San Jose, you can take the bus to Sierpe (830 AM with Empresa Tracopa from Calle 5, Ave 18-20). It takes ~5 hours and runs everyday. This bus drops you off right at the boat dock where you need to purchase boat tickets and board the boat.
- Driving: There is one main route to Drake Bay. From Sierpe, it takes around 3 hours. A high clearance car required in dry season, a 4wd highly recommended in rainy season (May through December).
- Read our detailed guide to driving to Drake Bay and don’t forget our Costa Rica car rental discount.
- Private shuttle: If you aren’t renting a car, you can book a private shuttle which will drop you off in Sierpe. Then you will get the boat to Drake Bay. There are no shared shuttles to Sierpe.
If you want to book a private shuttle or arrange a car rental, please feel free to contact us with your details and we’ll be happy to help you arrange it all!
Taking the Boat from Sierpe to Drake Bay
Taking the boat from Sierpe to Drake Bay is very fun and has gorgeous views. Some hotels include boat transportation in their tour packages, but if yours doesn’t, you’ll need to arrange it by yourself (getting to Sierpe on your own and purchasing the public boat tickets).
You will go through the Sierpe mangroves and out onto the coast for this boat ride.
Sierpe to Drake Bay Boat Schedule
The public boat from Sierpe to Drake Bay schedule is at 11:30 AM and 4 PM. It costs $20 USD per person and you will pay it in cash to the boat captain.
Public boats are on a first come, first serve basis. In high season or peak season like Christmas and Easter, it is recommended to arrive around 1-2 hours early to buy tickets.
Where to Purchase Public Boat Tickets
The office to purchase the public (colectivo) boat tickets is at the Donde Jorge Bar, Restuarante y Embarcadero. There is a huge sign outside for Donde Jorge, you can’t miss it.
There is a ticket office inside the restaurant, go up to the window to buy tickets. If there isn’t anyone there or it’s closed, knock or go around the side and knock on the door.
They will ask you which hotel you are going to in Drake Bay. If your hotel happens to be a bit outside Drake Bay such as San Josecito, Rincon or Jungla, there may be an extra fee to get dropped off there instead. They will let you know. Make sure to keep your boat ticket they give you.
The boat ride from Sierpe to Drake Bay and vice versa is around 1 hour. Sometimes it may take around 1 hour and 30 minutes depending on conditions.
Private Boats from Sierpe to Drake Bay
I asked the Restaurante Las Vegas how much they would charge for a private boat from Sierpe to Drake Bay. They said it costs around $350 USD total up to 10 people plus luggage.
If you miss the public boat or if you’re coming in a big group, then you can inquire a private boat at the Restaurante Las Vegas. They offer private boats from 6 AM until about 4 PM at any time you need to leave.
This private boat is not for those who have a boat arranged with their resort. For example, Aguila de Osa has their own private boat launch and private boat for hotel guests. Their boat launch is in a completely separate area from the public boat launch and is part of the packages they offer.
Drake Bay to Sierpe Boat Schedule (Public)
The public boat from Drake Bay to Sierpe is at 7 AM and 230 PM. It costs $20 USD per person and you will pay it in cash to the boat captain. The boat will pick you up on the main beach of Drake Bay. It will be at the same spot where they dropped you off.
How to Get to Sierpe
The launch point for the boats is in Sierpe so whether you’re driving, going with a shuttle or taking the bus, you need to get to the boat launch dock in Sierpe to purchase public boat tickets and get on the boat.
Driving
On Google Maps and Waze, enter La Perla Del Sur or Donde Jorge Bar, Restuarante y embarcadero in Sierpe as your destination. You do not need a 4×4 or 4wd to get to Sierpe. From San Jose International Airport, the drive to Sierpe is around 5 hours one way without stops or traffic.
We do not recommend to drive to Sierpe the day you land because there is no guarantee you will get there to catch the public boats. It is a very long drive with high possibilities of heavy traffic near the airport. It is better to rest your first day and then leave the next day.
If you absolutely want to get to Drake Bay the day you land, then it is best to take a local flight from the San Jose Domestic Terminal.
Public Bus
If you’re taking the bus, you can take the public bus from San Jose or Palmar Norte. From San Jose, there is a bus to Sierpe (830 AM with Empresa Tracopa from Calle 5, Ave 18-20) everyday, takes around 5 hours.
Then, there are public buses from Palmar Norte to Sierpe everyday at 4:30, 7, 9:30, 11, 13:30, 14:30 and 17:00 which takes about 40 minutes.
*IMPORTANT* The last boat from Sierpe to Drake Bay is at 4 PM and we recommend to arrive in Sierpe at least 1 hour before to purchase public boat tickets which are on a first come, first service basis. So if you’re taking the public bus to Sierpe, it is best to leave as early as possible so you make sure you can get boat tickets and that you do not miss the last public boat!
Private Shuttle
A private shuttle costs approximately $300 USD total from San Jose to Sierpe (~6 people plus luggage).
Renting a Car and Taking the Boat in Sierpe
If you’re planing on renting a car and driving to Sierpe yourself to take the boat to Drake Bay, here is the information on how to do it. We also have a Costa Rica car rental discount with Adobe Rent a Car and we can help you arrange your pick up/delivery from Sierpe if required.
If Drake Bay is at the end of your itinerary and you plan to fly from Drake Bay to San Jose International Airport to catch your flight home, then you need to return your car in Sierpe as you won’t need it anymore during your time in Drake Bay
Rental car companies do not have an office or headquarters in Sierpe, however companies can pick up the car there for an extra fee.
Most car rental companies have a window for car delivery and pick up in Sierpe, usually between approximately 10 AM to 3 PMish. Our partners Adobe Rent a Car collects and delivers cars in Sierpe between 9 AM – 3 PM.
Returning your rental car in Sierpe: You will meet your car rental agency at a pre-agreed upon destination. The normal meeting point is at the Restaurante Las Vegas, just a 1 minute walk from the public boat launch at La Perla del Sur.
IMPORTANT: Our best recommendation is to arrive at 10 AM so you have enough time to return your car and purchase the 1130 AM boat tickets. This is for the morning boat. If you want to take the 430 PM afternoon boat to Drake Bay, you need to arrive in Sierpe by 3 PM to have enough time to return your car and purchase public boat tickets.
Check out our 1 month Costa Rica itinerary that has Drake Bay at the end!
The next scenario would be for those who visit Drake Bay at the beginning or middle of their itinerary and want to pick up their rental car in Sierpe after their time in Drake Bay
This scenario also means that you are arriving to Sierpe on your own.
Picking up your rental car in Sierpe: The normal meeting point is also at the Restaurante Las Vegas, where you will meet your car rental company’s agent to finish paperwork and collect the car.
IMPORTANT: Most car rental agencies deliver cars to Sierpe dock between 10 AM to 3 PM so the safest option is to take the 7 AM boat from Drake Bay to Sierpe. Our partner Adobe Rent a Car has operation hours in Sierpe between 9 AM to 330 PM ish so if you getting your rental car with Adobe, they are able to deliver your car for both the morning and afternoon schedule.
Extra Fee for Sierpe
Many car rental agencies charge an extra fee for car pick up and delivery to Sierpe. Depending on where you picked up your car at the start of your reservation or are returning your car at the end of your reservation, this fee can be anywhere from $50 – $200.
If you pick up your car in Sierpe and return it to San Jose, the extra fee is around $80-90 USD with our car rental partner.
Parking
If you want to keep your rental car during your time in Drake Bay, then you will need to leave it at a parking lot in Sierpe. There are several private parking lots in Sierpe, very close to the boat launch.
There is a parking lot right across from the Las Vegas Restaurant. This one is a covered, private parking lot. They charge 4000 CRC per day ($8 USD). The owners live in the connecting building to the parking lot.
The parking lot closes at 5 PM so make sure you get there before closing time to get your car. You will pay when you pick up your car.
There are a few more parking lots near the La Perla del Sur. They are not covered parking lots though. These ones cost 3000 CRC or $6 USD per day. Learn more about handling money and local currency in this post.
IMPORTANT: Make sure to keep the parking slip they give you. Even if they’re secure parking lots, make sure you don’t have any valuables in the car. Roll up your windows and lock the doors.
The Boat Ride From Sierpe to Drake Bay
The boats are not very big (holds around 12-15 passengers) but they are covered on the top. However, they don’t wrap your luggage so make sure your belongings are nicely zipped up.
It’s unlikely your luggage will get wet but you never know, especially in the rainy season when it can start raining all of a sudden!
They have a waiting area at the restaurant for clients. While you wait, you can have a meal, get a drink, snack or just chill.
At about 15 minutes before departure time, the boat captains will start rounding people up. They’ll start calling out hotels once boats are ready to be loaded, so make sure to pay attention.
They’ll take your bags for you to load into the boat and you can keep your backpack or purse. Once everyone is ready, you’ll begin your journey through Sierpe river and you’ll see glimpses of the mangrove on the way.
After about 40 minutes or so, it’s time to merge into the ocean. This part is a bit bumpy depending on the tide, so hold on!
The boat captains are all very familiar with this area however, so don’t worry. They know how to navigate and cross the river mouth to the ocean pretty well.
The first time we took this boat ride it was fairly smooth but the second time, oh boy! It was quite an adventure and it was exciting yet a little terrifying.
We waited for about 20 minutes while the boat captain observed the waves and finally got a break for us to zip through.
From there, it’s about 20 minutes to Drake Bay. The views of the coast are spectacular! This is why taking the boat from Sierpe to Drake Bay is highly recommended – you don’t get to experience the thrill of boating in a river and ocean if you drive or fly.
Arriving at Drake Bay
Once you reach Drake Bay, they’ll help you unload your luggage and get you off the boat. Make sure you’re wearing sandals or flip flops and shorts or roll up your pants because it is a wet landing.
After you and your luggage make it safely to shore, you will need to look for your transportation to your hotel. I highly recommend to pre-arrange this as there aren’t many taxis in Drake Bay. If your hotel is in walking distance, great! If it isn’t, then definitely arrange transportation with your hotel.
For recommendations on hotels in Drake Bay, we stayed at Tranquilo Lodge which was amazing. We’ve also stayed at Aguila de Osa Rainforest & Marine Adventure Lodge which was wonderful.
Leaving Drake Bay to Sierpe
If you are taking the public boat back to Sierpe from Drake Bay, the boat will pick you up where it dropped you off when you first got there. It is also on a first come, first serve basis so it’s best to arrive early.
The boat from Drake Bay to Sierpe is at 7 AM and 230 PM, $20 USD per person which is to be paid to the boat captain in cash.
Tips for Taking the Boat From Sierpe to Drake Bay
- If you get seasick, take anti-nausea medicine and bring some ginger ale or ginger candies. It depends on the wind and tide how bumpy it is.
- PUT ON SUNSCREEN! Although the boats are covered, the sun will still hit you on one side. Half my face was in the sun for a good hour and I got the funkiest tan line.
- Make sure you don’t leave any valuables in your car if you are parking your car, roll up the windows and lock the door. They offer a secure parking lot but it is best to bring your valuables with you and leave your parked car as nondescript as possible.
How to Get to Other Destinations in Costa Rica
Playas del Coco/Gulf of Papagayo
Costa Rica Vacation Checklist
- First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
- Not sure how to move around Costa Rica? Read our How to Get Around Costa Rica guide to find the best transportation method for you.
- Click the link to get our detailed Costa Rica Packing List so you know what essential items to bring.
- Check our Costa Rica destinations map and Costa Rica restaurant map
- Do not forget to purchase Travel Insurance for your trip to Costa Rica.
- Stay connected by purchasing a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica.
- Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels and our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.
Heidi says
Thank you for your blog!!! So very informational. We are traveling to Corcavado for the 1st time. We will be staying at Jaguar’s Jungle & they recommend using a dry back pack for traveling to their resort….. which I think may be very limited for a 12 day total CR trip. Is there a place in Sierpe to store luggage? I could pack for the 4 days in a smaller pack & leave everything else for after our stay.
Sammi says
I’m not aware of any luggage storage in Sierpe, only parking lots for cars. You can check if they offer laundry services, or bring only very light, dry fit clothes and then one of those portable laundry washing bags and you can wash your clothes in your room
Alex says
Hi Mytanfeet,
I’m looking into renting a car in Sierpe. I’d return the car at the airport in San José.
I was wondering what would the fee be for getting the car in Sierpe (I read on your post it’d be USD50, but not sure if that’s updated). And I was also wondering what’s Adobe’s fee for returning the car in a different location, San José in this case.
Thanks in advance.
Sammi says
Hi Alex, I see we’re already in communication but just in case, if you pick up the car in Sierpe (have Adobe deliver it to the dock) and you return the car in San Jose, there is an extra fee of $81 USD as of present.
Maria Michelle Panter says
Hello, your site is so detailed and organized – thank you! I have an outlier question for you. Would it be possible to book a Corcovado Day Tour from Sierpe then ask the guides to drop you off at your next lodging in the Jan Josecito area (rather than retirn you to Sierpe)?
Sammi says
It could be, depending on the operator. They may charge an extra fee and I’m not sure how the luggage holding situation will work, so you will need to coordinate that with your tour operator.
Travis says
How much space would you say is on the public boat for luggage? Specifically I’m looking at trying to take the public boat with a load touring bicycle. Understandable that this is contingent on how many other passengers are on the boat.
Sammi says
Hi Travis, I am not familiar with a load touring bicycle or how big it is or how it packs… but on public boats you can bring a check in luggage and carry on so when it comes to weight size, if it’s around the same size as a check in luggage, it’s OK. They normally load the luggage on dedicated boats, not on the same boats as passengers because there is so much luggage or if there aren’t that many, they can fit the back with luggage and front with passengers.
Paul says
I just wanted to thank you for such a comprehensive guide to this truly amazing journey. I have to admit this was the part of the trip I was most looking forward to but the most concerned that it would go wrong. However every detail was as you mentioned and was the best place in Costa Rica that I visited in the last 3 trips. Apart from the journey back being rough due to a thunderstorm everything was straightforward.
Thank you for all the detailed information you provide it’s really been an inspiration and made our visit to Costa Rica so memorable.
I know you mentioned places to stay but would like to make a mention of a truly special place we visited as a family and the was Sunset Tucano just outside Drakes Bay.
We had two amazing nights at the Sunset Tucano and that was certainly the highlight of our stay. Guillermo the owner was the epitome of hospitality and really was available every step of the process . After booking he reached out and provided many different tour options that he could arrange. I asked for the Corcovado National Park, Night Tour and horse riding, all of which he arranged with excellent companies for a great price and did not even take a deposit.
When we arrived Guillermo and his son were at the beach to welcome us and carry our bags, as soon as you step off the boat you know you are somewhere very special. We walked only a few yards and saw some scarlet Macaws in the trees on the path to the property. Just before we arrived at the Lodge, we saw several toucans in the trees also. Time seemed to slow down and was very peaceful.
When we arrived at the lodge the grounds were beautifully manicured with lots of fruit trees and Guillermo picked a star fruit for my children to enjoy.
I was not sure what the cabins would be like, but they certainly rivaled anywhere else we stayed and were much nicer than the luxury hotels we stayed at the cabin had storage space, a large bathroom and all newly constructed and very well maintained. We had a veranda on the front with a hammock to relax while watching all the wildlife in the grounds. We had Towel folding’s with Swans and monkeys also decorated with fresh flowers from the garden
We were then treated to lunch in a stunning deck with fresh flowers and linen on each table . The food was amazing and accompanied by freshly made juice and some coffee afterwards.
Guillermo and his family made us part of his family and were truly incredible throughout the stay and helped with any request.
Dinner was also outstanding with three course in the most amazing setting and everything had so much attention to detail.
The Trips he arranged were fantastic and he took us to the meeting points and also arranged food around the schedules to accommodate, making him and his family cook for us very early, which was so kind. After the tours we could walk the trails, swim in the ocean at the nearby beach or relax in the hammock watching the Toucans and Hawks and other birds in the tree. We also were visited by the green parrot at lunch one of the days. The mornings were incredible to be awoken by the sound of the monkeys and birds in the trees.
The Last day we did a fantastic horse ride along beaches and in the forest, we were able to have a late check out and even had lunch before catching the Boat back to Sierpe which Guillermo arranged.
Henk-Jan says
Hi, great article as well as all other very useful information on this website!
FYI we took the early boat this morning and had to pay $20p.p. I did mention the expected $15 but n luck 😉
Not sure if the late boat prices have increased as well.
Parking also went up slightly to $6 / C 3.300 /day.
Sammi says
Thanks for the note, for sure prices have increased. I’ll update the post. Afternoon boat prices are now $25
bharat says
hello, we are arriving at SJO airport on 7/8 around 1.30pm and renting a car. I was hoping to drive to Drake Bay directly to take the whale watching tour on 7/9, but I see it is not advised to drive late. And we can reach Sierpe only around 7pm by road, so wont be able to catch the last boat at 3.30pm. Are there any other options(other than flying) to reach Drake Bay on 7/8?
Sammi says
I would definitely not drive to Drake Bay from SJO the same day you land. I recommend to stay the night somewhere halfway like Dominical or Uvita, then go to Drake the next day. Or fly if there are schedules that match up the day you land.
Christine Mitterbauer says
We’re travelling with our 1 year old baby, would you say this trip is safe and makes sense with a baby? (I would wear her in a carrier on my chest)
Sammi says
The only thing is that the ocean conditions can be pretty rough from Sierpe to Drake Bay so it’d depend on what time of year you’re going, the last time we did this boat ride, it took an extra hour because the waves were so rough so we were just waiting out in the ocean while the boat captain attempted to find a break to get through… for a 1 year old baby I would honestly say to take a flight, as it’s hard to predict how conditions will be
Vicki Nichols Goldstein says
Great article and so helpful. How do we get from Utiva to Sierpe so we can take the boat to Drake Bay? We will be traveling this March 2023.
Thanks, Vicki
Sammi says
You can take the public bus or a taxi
James says
Where in Drake Bay is the ferry terminus? Can’t seem to find it on any street map. Is there some sort of jetty or pier?
Sammi says
It is from Sierpe dock, you can type in SIerpe River Ferry on Google Maps
Matias P says
Hi! is it possible go from drake bay to sierpe on boat?
Sammi says
Yes, there is a section in this post about taking the same public boat back to Sierpe from Drake
Katy says
All this info is so helpful – thank you! One question – we’ll be leaving our rental car in the parking lot in Sierpe, but we’ll have a couple of large suitcases with us. Can these go on the boat to DB? If not, is the parking lot secure enough to leave them in the car?
Thanks!
Sammi says
You can bring your luggage on the boat to Drake Bay
Eberhard says
Hi, thanks for the variable Informations.
Actually, the boot captain charged 25 US $ from Sierpe to DRAKE bay. Intentional overcharging or new pricing police?
Sammi says
Probably is the new price as gas has gone up a lot recently and high tourism season prices may be more
Jennifer Lipp says
Hi. Thank you for the info. I’m still a little bit confused on transportation to Drake Bay. If I fly from SJO to Drake Bay airport, how do I get to the boat in Sierpe? Do I have to take a bus or taxi from Drake Bay airport to the Sierpe boat launch? If yes, how long is the drive from Drake Bay airport to Sierpe? Planning on staying at a resort that says you can’t drive there so we plan on returning rental car at SJO before heading to Drake Bay. Thank you.
Sammi says
If you fly from SJO to Drake Bay, you will land directly in Drake so you won’t take a boat from Sierpe.
Angela says
Are these departure times the most recent? I’ve seen different times listed on other sites!
Thank you!
Sammi says
Hi Angela, these times are pre-COVID so they might have changed, we plan to take this boat in the next few months so hopefully can get an updated schedule but I’ll also see if I can find a recent one if they’ve changed it.
Sammi says
There aren’t really any other beaches quite like Conchal in Costa Rica and definitely not in Drake Bay. They do have one particularly nice beach but it is not like Conchal with the shells and turquoise clear water.
Marina Kozlov says
Is it worth it if we just want to go visit the beach ? We stayed in playa Conchal and we loved the beach and can’t find anything like this on Uvita area. Please let me know if it’s worth it to go for the day . Thank you
Nick says
Do you know if you can bring a surfboard on the boat?
Sammi says
I am not 100% but I think so, or at least if the public boat you cannot, you can probably find a private boat operator who can
Dawn says
Can you make it a day trip leave the same day?
Sammi says
I guess you could but Drake Bay is really worth to stay at least one night to experience it… but if you want to visit in a day, I would hire a private boat so that you can set your own pick up and return times.
Scotty says
We are dropping our rental car in Sierpe and taking the boat, flying back to SJO. Where should we park or rental car for the rental company to pick it up. Same lot you described?
Sammi says
Hi Scotty, yes it’ll be the same lot, they’ll meet you at the restaurant.
Kristin says
Hi, what a great and thorough article! Thank you! We do have a 4×4 and are currently in Monteverde so not rainy season. Would there still be any caution against driving to Drake Bay? Also, if we decided to take the boat over, would taxis be the best way to get around while in Drake? Would you know general costs..?
Sammi says
Hi Kristin, we spoke to some hotel managers in Drake Bay and they still don’t recommend to drive there because of the road conditions. The town itself is super small so depending on where you are staying, you can walk if you’re in town but make sure to check your accommodation location and ask your host to call you a taxi if you need one.
Muriel Russell says
Hi. Loving your blog as we prepare for our first trip to Costa Rica!
Love the idea of Drake Bay remoteness and opportunities to see wildlife, especially whales and dolphins. Our trip is mid july to early August. If we make the effort to go to Drake Bay should we skip Ulvita? Is it better to spend more time at Drake Bay? If so can we return the hire car at Sierpe and pick another one from there when we return? We have 3 weeks in total.
Thanks.
Sammi says
If you don’t have time to visit both, I’d go with Drake Bay since it is more remote than Uvita. You can return your car rental at Sierpe and pick up there too, but if you are planning to keep the car your whole trip, it’d be cheaper to just park the car in Sierpe because if for example, you rent your car in San Jose Airport, then you return it in SIerpe, there is a $70 USD fee (with Adobe Rent a Car, not sure about other companies). Then if you get a car delivered to Sierpe and return it in SJO, there’s another $70 USD fee and that would be 2 separate reservations.
It’d be cheaper to keep the car and pay for the parking while you’re in Drake.
Another option is to return the car in Sierpe and then fly back to San Jose from Drake Bay (If San Jose is your next destination).
dysonlu says
One of the most complete logistic guide for Sierpe+Drake Bay. THANK YOU!
Ben Murrie says
Hello! If we ended up braving the drive to Drake Bay, is there actually anywhere to park? Some of the hotels say they have free parking, but they all run through mass sites (hotels.com, etc) so you never really know.
Sammi says
You can ask your hotel if they have a parking lot, since it’s such a rural area there aren’t like dedicated public parking lots but I would check with your hotel first.
Rebecca says
Hi do you know how regular the public buses are from Sierpe to Palmar and then onto Uvita please?
Sammi says
I’m not sure but I recommend to check the Costa Rica by bus Facebook group to see if anyone has posted the schedule there.
Chiara says
Hi Sammi!
Super helpful info, thank you – one quick question: is it possible to take the CAR ferry to Drake Bay? Aka to get to Drake Bay *with* your rental car instead of leaving it in Sierpe? I see pictures online of a super small ferry boat in Sierpe that can hold up to 2 cars – is that working? Is Drake bay area easily driveable with a 4×4?
Thank you!
Sammi says
Hi Chiara, I don’t have any knowlede of a ferry boat in Sierpe that can take cars, it is just the passenger one and people leave their cars at the parking lot in Sierpe.
Drake Bay is not recommended to drive unless you have a 4×4 in dry season, in rainy season it is not advised there are several rivers that get very full during rainy season.
Nemo says
Hi! Just in case we miss the ferry, is there any chance to have other boat? Or is it really only 2 times a day?
Very useful article! Thanks!
Sammi says
Hi Nemo! I would think there would be private boats with locals offering their services, the ferry times are for the open ones so they’re cheaper. If you miss it, you could try to get a private one, it’ll be more expensive but I would think there would be that option but I’m not 100% positive since we used the normal ferry.
Krista says
Hi Sammi. How would you recommend finding a private boat option? Thanks!
Sammi says
From last I heard you can just go to the restaurant and ask around, and there will be locals with their boat offering private rides. I’m not sure how it is due to COVID, unfortunately I am not sure on the current situation, sorry 🙁
Richard A Logan says
There is a small car ferry on the river, often moored on the north side of the river slightly downriver from the dockside cafe. My partner used it to get our new quad across the river several years ago and I have seen that boat many times since then. A problem is that the ferry just crosses the river to a rarely maintained dirt road leading to Drake through the jungle. Many maps don’t even show that road and it is not suitable except to a serious 4-wheel drive vehicle piloted by a bold driver. For example, there could be a tree across the road—to cut or drag or drive around.
Sammi says
We know of this ferry since one of our acquaintances runs a 4×4 overlanding trip to Drake taking this ferry but they always come very equipped with winches, cables and other equipped cars due to the road conditions you mentioned. We haven’t gone yet but hopefully one day we will since we like overlanding and have the equipment.
Cara says
Can anyone confirm that the boat taxi from Sierpe to Bahia Drake runs on Christmas Eve and or Christmas Day?
Sammi says
Hi Cara, it should be running. I would ask your hotel you’re staying at in Drake just in case but they should be.
Tatjana says
Hey there,
The trip from Sierpe to Bahia Drake sounds awesome! Do you think, it is possible in late August? We heard that it might get hard to reach the Osa Peninsula during the wet season because of floatings… but we would love to get from Sierpe to Bahia Drake to visit Cocovado!
Greetings,
Tatjana
Sammi says
HI Tatjana, I think it is still doable but I would definitely check conditions. If it’s storming or raining too hard, they won’t run it for safety reasons. I would ask your hotel in Drake Bay to see what they think because we went in January, the start of summer.
Robin Taylor says
We will have a rental car and would like to turn it in before taking boat from Sierpe to Drake Bay. Where is the closest rental car facility to Sierpe?
Sammi says
Hi Robin, the closest place for car rentals is in Uvita. We have a partnership with Adobe Rent a Car and they can pick up the car from Sierpe free of charge for Mytanfeet readers. You can check rates and make a reservation here: Costa Rica car rental discount
Sanna says
Does anyone know contacts of taxi boats or prices/schedule from Drake to Sierpe? The hotel was asking 40pp which is quie a lot I think..
Sammi says
Hi Sanna, the public boat leaves at I believe 7:15 AM and 2:30 PM and it is $15 pp for the AM and $20 pp for the PM.
Marijke says
Thanks you for all the information. We look forward to our trip to Bahia Drake from Quepos.
Sammi says
You’re welcome, enjoy your trip!
Pierre-Yves says
Hello Marijke,
Could you please briefly tell me how you did to travel from Quepos to Drake Bay? At what time did you have to leave Manuel Antonio area?
Thank you very much!
Sarasai says
Hello,
Thanks for such clear and detailed info. Does the taxi boat stop at all requested hotels/hostels? i.e. jungla del jaguar is 12 km away from center, would it be problem if I book?
Sammi says
Hi, yes so when you go to buy tickets, they’ll ask you where you’re getting off. We stopped at like, 3 or 4 other places before we got off at Drake Bay.
Monika says
Hi, thank you so much for this post! I was wondering if I travel with a big luggage, will I be charged more for the boat ticket? I was thinking of going from Sierpe to Drake Bay and finding a hotel there, so I need to take all my luggage with me.
Sammi says
Hi Monika, no I don’t believe so unless you’re bringing like, 5 check ins or something then they will need to make sure they have enough space but we saw people bringing big check ins each and we brought a few carry ons and backpacks between us since we had our camera gear.
Alan Rogers says
How long is the taxi ride from Palmer Sur to the boat? The only flight available on SANSA lands at 10:20am and the boat leaves at 11:30am……will we make it?
Thanks
Sammi says
Hi Alan, you should. According to Waze it’s about a 18 minute drive so you should be able to grab a taxi right when you land and get to the Sierpe ferry in time to buy tickets.
Cindy says
This is an excellent article although I’m reading it after our trip to Drake Bay in January. We were lucky to have Casita Corcavado make the arrangements for us. Otherwise, we probably wouldn’t have gone because I couldn’t find this type of info on my own. I was certainly concerned about the thought of leaving a rental just parked for several days. Everything you included was described perfectly, with the photos and map certainly helpful in locating landmarks like Don Jorge’s restaurant. The river taxi trip in itself was beautiful and so cheap. Where else could you possibly get a boat ride like that for $15? Thanks for posting this great info. I wish I had found your blog before our trip.
Sammi says
Hi Cindy! Aw I wish you found it before too but I’m glad that Casita Corcovado made all the arrangements for you – it can be very tricky for this kind of transportation in that area since it is hard to find on the web which is why I wrote this article. Hopefully you will come back to Costa Rica one day and thank you for reading our blog!
Robyn K says
It looks like a small boat — what if more people show up than it can hold? Are the rest out of luck or does it take multiple trips?
yeison says
Hello Robyn, every boat has a limit (For security reasons) they all need to be licensed by the cost guards. When a boat reach the maximum amount of people they are authorized to carry they will use the next boat. there are dozens of boats waiting at the dock and no company will put you at risk. Thank you for reading our blog!
Christine says
Is it possible to reserve spots days ahead, or may not necessary?
Sammi says
No, just make sure to get there at least 30 minutes before departure time to buy tickets. In high season it gets pretty crowded so arrive at least 30 minutes before.
Sheri says
Thanks this was helpful
Sammi says
You’re welcome!
CherryandJon says
Hi,
Do you know the timetable for the boats back from Drake to Sierpe please?
Thanks 🙂
Sammi says
Hi guys, if you check Astrid’s comment, the boats leave 7:15 AM ($15) and 2:30 PM ($20) last time I checked.
JT says
Hi,
Can you hire a private captain to take you to Drake from Sierpe if you miss the 11:30 or 3:30 boat? How much is this?
Gracias.
Sammi says
Hi JT, you probably can as there are boat captains at the ferry but I am not sure how much it is. I would guess around $100 at least maybe but I’m purely guessing. If you booked a hotel in Drake Bay, you can ask them and see if they have any private transportation you can pay for.
Janneke says
Hi,
Thanks very much for this info, great post. I would like to ask your advice.
We were supposed to fly to Drake Bay directly, but due to maintenance at the airport, we will instead land at Palmar Sur air strip. From there were will need to take a taxi / bus to Sierpe and then the boat to Drake.
If we want to take the bus to Sierpe, is this the same one you mention that leaves from Palmar Norte? And if so, it is close by or would we be better of taking a taxi to Sierpe and then the boat? It would involve quite a wait as we land at 12 noon, but I guess we can have lunch at the restaurant.
Many thanks!
Sammi says
Hey guys, I highly recommend grabbing a taxi to Sierpe from Palmar Sur, it’s only about $12. Buses leave from Palmar Norte but not always to Palmar Sur since it is a super tiny town so it’s best to take a taxi which is more reliable. You’ll have a few hours to kill but you can hang out at the restaurant and you can use their Wi-Fi there.
Luis Díaz says
Aunque soy de costa rica nunca he viajado a peninsula de osa… voy a hacerlo este fin de semana. Este artículo fue muy útil… gracias !
Although I’m from Costa Rica I have never traveled to Osa Peninsula … I’ll do this weekend. This article was very helpful … thanks!
Sammi says
Hola Luis! I hope you have a wonderful time in the Osa Peninsula, it is amazing!! Gracias por leyendo nuestro blog! 🙂
Astrid says
Thanks for the info and the photos (it’s always nice to SEE what we are getting into) 😉
Any idea what the schedule is for the return boats? We need to let our next place in Dominical know what time we will arrive.
Thanks
Sammi says
Hi Astrid, the schedule for return should be: 07:15 am Boat Drake – Sierpe: $15
02:30 pm Boat Drake – Sierpe: $20 (that was the last I checked). I would recommend asking the hotel you are staying in Drake Bay just to confirm.
Lucy Garcia says
Hi! How reliable is the boat transfer as far as departure times? I have to decide whether to return rental car in Uvita and take shared shuttle to Sierpi or keep rental car and park in Sierpi for six nights! Not sure if it would be safe to leave rental car that long. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thank you.
Lucy
Sammi says
The schedules are very reliable and they are pretty punctual each time we’ve taken the boat. We parked our car for 5 nights before and they have a secure parking lot with a guard. Of course don’t leave anything valuable in the car but it is safe. But I’d recommend returning the rental car since you’ll be paying for 6 days of rental and it will just be sitting in the parking lot.
Zane says
I’ve been trying to find out where to leave my car in Sierpe…thanks a bunch! The article was perfect.
Sammi says
You’re very welcome! 🙂 glad it helped!
Anandan Iyer says
A very well-researched article. I have never heard about Bahia Drake before. Thank you for sharing the valuable information about the place, the things to do, how to reach their, timing, parking, etc. this article would be of great help for the future travellers.
yeison says
Yes everyone should go to the south of Costa Rica, is one of our favorite places in the country.