In this post, we’ll highlight the 12 best things to do in Drake Bay to help you plan your itinerary. From wildlife spotting in Corcovado National Park to snorkelling at Caño Island, we’ve done the hard work for you, rounding up the top-rated tours and experiences.
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About Drake Bay
Drake Bay is Costa Rica at its rawest and wildest. Tucked away on the sprawling Osa Peninsula in the southwestern corner of the country, Drake Bay has remained blissfully untouched by the mass tourism development found in other Pacific Coast towns.
Its hard-to-reach location means only dedicated adventure seekers and wildlife fanatics make their way this far south.
With Corcovado National Park on its doorstep, the magical underwater world of Caño Island just offshore, and a big dose small town charm, Drake Bay is a haven for intrepid travellers and outdoor lovers.
Drake Bay and its surrounds were everything we dreamed Costa Rica to be. We saw an unfathomable amount of wildlife, from toucans to tapirs and monkeys to macaws. We trekked through ancient primary forests, lazed on golden, empty beaches and had many tranquil moments immersed in nature.
We want to make sure you are familiar with all the great things to do in Drake Bay, so you can plan your itinerary accordingly and be sure you aren’t missing out on any of the unique and wonderful nature-based experiences in Drake Bay!
👉🏼 Everything you need to know about Drake Bay in our complete Drake Bay Travel Guide
12 Best things to do in Drake Bay
Because many of the best things to do in Drake Bay involve wildlife, boats or some pretty remote nature, many can only be experienced on a tour.
As independent, budget travellers, this did hurt our wallets. And it makes Drake Bay a more expensive destination in Costa Rica. But (hear me out here), the tours on offer around Drake Bay are high-quality, unique experiences that can really only be had in this area. The tourism industry in Drake Bay revolves around nature and wildlife, and all the guides are knowledgeable, enthusiastic and passionate.
These Drake Bay tours are all worth paying for, and I’m almost certain they will be a highlight of your trip to Costa Rica. Plus, there are a few excellent free activities in this list too!
SHORT ON TIME OR MONEY?
If I had to choose just 3 experiences to do in Drake Bay…
🐒 Overnight Tour of Corcovado National Park at Sirena Station
🐢 Snorkelling Tour in Caño Island with Lunch
🐸 The Night Tour with Tracie The Bug Lady
🐬 TOP TIP – many of these activities involve a boat ride into the bay. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, and if you happen to be visiting Drake Bay during whale season (mid-July – mid-November and December – mid-April), you’ve got a great chance of seeing humpback whales too!
1. Visit Corcovado National Park for the day
- 💰 Approximate cost – $110 USD per person
- ⏰ Duration – 7 – 8 hours
- 👆🏼 Book here
If you only have time for one of these things to do in Drake Bay, it MUST be a visit to Corcovado National Park.
For many travellers, ourselves included, going to Corcovado was the reason we came to Drake Bay in the first place, and I can tell you – it will not disappoint!
Drake Bay is the best jump-off point for visiting the Sirena Ranger Station, one of 5 stations inside the park, but widely considered the best for wildlife spotting. Access to the park is strictly with a certified guide, so booking a tour is the only way to visit.
All of the day tours to Corcovado are sold as ‘full day’ tours, but most finish around lunchtime. No matter who you book with, your day will look pretty similar, but this tour with Pacheco Tours is highly rated, well organised, and very fairly priced in relation to other operators.
It’s an early start, with a 6:00 am meeting on the beach at Drake Bay to board the boat to Sirena Ranger Station for approximately 1 hour. On arrival at the park, you’ll spend around 5 hours hiking the trails with your guide, who has a telescope and expert animal-spotting vision!
Although sightings are never guaranteed, the intense biodiversity of Corcovado means you have a pretty good chance of seeing wildlife like monkeys, sloths, tapirs, anteaters, countless birds, bugs and more.
After your magical time inside the park comes to an end, you’ll take the boat back to Drake Bay, where lunch is included in a local restaurant. The tour concludes around 2:00 pm.
🦥 Book the best-rated day tour to Corcovado National Park here
🥾 If you’re looking for a more hiking-focused day tour to Corcovado National Park, this tour covers almost 20 km / 12 mi, trekking through untouched sections of the park from the Los Planes Ranger Station
2. Stay overnight in Corcovado National Park
- 💰 Approximate cost – $350 USD per person
- ⏰ Duration – 2 days
- 👆🏼 Book here
Staying overnight in the Corcovado National Park was one of the most incredible travel experiences we have ever had (read all about it here).
The cost to stay overnight is significantly higher than visiting for the day, and it is by far the most expensive activity you’ll do, probably in all of Costa Rica.
But the additional 7 + hours you get to spend hiking the trails and seeing wildlife is priceless! Plus, sleeping at a functioning ranger station in the middle of one of the world’s most biodiverse jungles? Incredible.
When the day-trippers head back to Drake Bay on the boat, you’ll return to the ranger station for a hearty lunch and a short rest. By around 2:00 pm, you’ll be back out on the trails for another hike of 3 – 4 hours, without any of the crowds! After dinner and sleeping to the sound of the jungle, you’ll be back in the park at 5:00 am, again hitting the trails without the crowds, when the animals are just waking up for the day.
Be one of just 80 people having breakfast at the station before you head out for yet another hike in the park for 3 – 4 hours. At around lunchtime, you’ll take the boat back to Drake Bay with the new load of day trippers, satisfied in the knowledge you were inside the park for over 30 hours vs their 5 hours!
Sleeping at the Sirena Ranger Station truly is an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience, and if you do have the means to stretch your budget, all I can say is – DO IT! This is the exact tour we did, and it includes everything, from meals, transport, guide and accommodation. Be sure to book as far in advance as possible, as overnight permits are capped at just 80 people.
🐒 Book the exact Corcovado overnight tour we did here
🥾 If you’re an avid hiker looking for a multi-day Corcovado tour that covers more ground, this tour visits both the Sirena and San Pedrillo Ranger Stations, involving around 30 km / 18 mi of trekking across two days
3. Hike the Drake Bay Trail
- 💰 Approximate cost – FREE!
- ⏰ Duration – 6 – 8 hours
- 👆🏼 Read more
One of the only FREE things to do in Drake Bay, the Drake Bay Trail is a gorgeous hike through lush rainforest and golden beaches.
Leaving from the centre of town, the 10 km / 6 mi (one way) trail leads to Playa San Josecito, one of the most beautiful beaches in the area.
It winds over hanging bridges, through the forest and past countless empty beaches and coves. It’s a truly beautiful walk with absolutely stunning views, and you can see a lot of wildlife too. Macaws and toucans fly overhead, monkeys play in the trees, and lizards bask in the sun.
Hiking the trail out-and-back is a big undertaking, but it’s possible to organise boat transport one way. We’ve got more details in our guide to the trail.
🥾 Read all about the Drake Bay Hiking Trail
4. Go snorkelling at Caño Island Biological Reserve
- 💰 Approximate cost – $105 USD per person
- ⏰ Duration – 6 hours
- 👆🏼 Book here
Caño Island is considered one of the best places in Costa Rica to go snorkelling and diving. (Second only to Isla del Coco, an island deep in the ocean, accessible only via a multi-day liveaboard boat!).
It’s pretty likely this popular island will already be on your list of things to do in Drake Bay!
Drake Bay is the closest jump-off point for tours to Caño Island, just 45 minutes by boat (although you can join tours from Uvita).
Part of a protected marine reserve, the island has crystal clear waters, thriving coral reef systems, and an abundance of marine life like turtles, rays, sharks and countless colourful fish! If you’re looking to snorkel in Costa Rica, it doesn’t get much better than Isla del Caño.
🏝️ Snorkelling tours to Caño Island don’t usually visit the island itself! Due to its status as a protected area and the important research that takes place there, most visitors won’t actually touch land on the island
This small group snorkel tour with Yemanyá Expeditions is the best-rated option in town. They include quality equipment, expert guides, snacks onboard, beers after the tour and lunch at a restaurant.
Your day will start early, departing Drake Bay in the morning for the 45-minute boat ride to the reserve. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot some dolphins and whales on the way! Once inside the reserve, you’ll get geared up and have a snorkel briefing before jumping in at the first site.
After around an hour of snorkelling, you’ll have a rest and a snack, before a second snorkel session at a different location. You’ll top the day off with a cold beer and some time to relax on Playa San Josecito, an absolutely stunning and wild beach, before returning to Drake Bay for a well-earned lunch.
🤿 Book a snorkelling tour to Caño Island here
5. Scuba diving at Caño Island Biological Reserve
- 💰 Approximate cost – $180 USD per person
- ⏰ Duration – 6 hours
- 👆🏼 Book here
If you’re a qualified diver, you will want to dive at Caño Island.
The excellent Yemanyá Expeditions also offers trips for certified divers, with two tanks at various sites around the island. They cap their dive trips at 6 passengers to keep it small and personalised. Diving is expensive in Costa Rica, but given this tour includes all gear rental, snacks and lunch, I think it’s very reasonable.
Although the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica and Central America is home to thriving reef systems, for divers wanting to swim amongst big marine life, the Pacific coast is the place to be!
You can expect to dive with reef sharks, rays, turtles and huge schools of large fish at Caño Island. But the knowledgeable and passionate dive masters from Yemanyá will also be looking for the macro species, like tiny nudibranchs, seahorses and octopuses.
6. See the jungle after dark on a night tour
- 💰 Approximate cost – $50 USD per person
- ⏰ Duration – 2 – 3 hours
- 👆🏼 Book here
The night tour with Tracie The Bug Lady is easily the most popular tour in Drake Bay. You need to book months in advance in the peak season!
Biologist Tracie has earned the title of ‘the bug lady’ after spending nearly 30 years studying the tropical insects and spiders of the Osa Peninsula.
The jungle at night is a completely different place from during the day, and a whole range of creepy crawlies and nocturnal critters come out and about to play!
On this tour, you’ll spend 2 hours walking in the jungle with an expert biologist (Tracie, her husband Gian, or one of their team members) spotting animals such as bats, frogs, spiders, snakes and nocturnal mammals like sloths and kinkajous.
Tracie and her team will regale you with interesting facts about the forest and its inhabitants, with an unmatched level of passion and expertise. They come armed with a spotting scope with a tablet attachment so you can get a close look at anything they spot.
There are night tours available all over Costa Rica, but we would highly recommend saving the experience for Drake Bay, an area with rich biodiversity. Book this tour ASAP!
🐸 Book the best night walk in Drake Bay here
✨ Tracie the Bug Lady’s tours are frequently booked out for months in advance. If you can’t get a booking, this night hike with Nativos is a great second option, with fantastic reviews
7. Take a dolphin and whale watching tour
- 💰 Approximate cost – $130 USD per person
- ⏰ Duration – 6 hours
- 👆🏼 Book here
Each year, humpback whales pass through the waters around Drake Bay on their annual migration. Taking a whale watching tour is the best way to see these gentle giants up close, and witnessing their incredible displays of breaching, playing, and tail-slapping is a life-changing experience!
The area is also home to different dolphin species, and it’s not uncommon to see pods numbering in the hundreds swimming around the boat and leaping out of the water. If you’re lucky enough to find a pod feeding and playing, you will be treated to a wonderful show!
🐳 If you want to see both whales and dolphins, be sure to book during whale season! There are two annual migrations in Drake Bay, and you can expect to see whales from mid-July to mid-November, and again from December to mid-April. Dolphins can be seen all year.
The Divine Dolphin is the only operator in Drake Bay running these tours, and they exclusively offer dolphin and whale watching tours (read: they know what they’re doing!). They have been featured by National Geographic, among other media outlets, and are heavily involved in ocean conservation around Drake Bay.
Being in such close proximity to special marine creatures like whales and dolphins in their natural habitat is an incredible and memorable experience. Some of my all-time favourite travel moments involve whales, and I would highly recommend finding time for this tour on your itinerary.
🐋 Book your whale and dolphin watching tour here
8. Relax on stunning empty beaches
- 💰 Approximate cost – FREE
- ⏰ Duration – however long you like
I don’t think there is anywhere else in Costa Rica with beaches as pristine and empty as Drake Bay. No resorts, no beach clubs, no mass tourism – just gorgeous, golden sand beaches lined with palm trees, all to yourself!
So even though there are a ton of great things to do in Drake Bay, allocating a day to beach lazing is a must-do.
The main beach in Agujitas town, Playa Colorado, isn’t the nicest beach to swim and relax on due to the heavy boat traffic. But there are countless other options to choose from! The Drake Bay Hiking Trail provides access to all these distant beaches on foot. You can also organise boat transport to some of the further ones.
- 🏝️ Playa Cocalito – less than an hour’s walk from town, Cocalitos is the first beach on the trail. It can get ‘busy’ because of this, but honestly, busy here isn’t anything to worry about.
- 🏝️ Playa Las Caletas – further along the trail, a long stretch of coast falls under ‘Las Caletas’. Made up of a few different coves, you can find a patch of sand that suits you.
- 🏝️ Playa San Josecito – the most popular beach in Drake Bay, this small, sheltered bay has calm, blue waters and golden sand with plenty of trees for shade. It can get busy when the tour boats arrive for lunch. It’s at least 3 + hours walking from town.
- 🏝️ Playa Rincon – just a little further through the jungle at the very end of the trail is this expansive, wild beach. Palms as far as the eye can see on a huge stretch of sand, Playa Rincon feels raw and remote. You can drive here with a 4×4.
9. Float down the Rio Claro
- 💰 Approximate cost – $80 USD per person
- ⏰ Duration – 5 hours
- 👆🏼 Book here
The floating tour down the Rio Claro is one of the most unique and adventurous things to do in Drake Bay! We didn’t have time to do it, but I so wish we did. We saw a lot of the Osa, but we didn’t have the chance to see any waterfalls, which this tour is big on.
This 5-hour experience starts with a gorgeous 30-minute drive out of Drake Bay into the jungle. From there, you’ll hike for around 1 hour through the forest to a waterfall on the Rio Claro. After jumping in for a swim and enjoying the waterfall, you’ll start your float down the river!
It takes about an hour to float from up in the mountains down to the river mouth on the beach. Some sections are calm, and you can admire the lush jungle and spot wildlife in the trees. Other sections are more adventurous with some fun rapids to navigate.
Once you get to the beach, you’ll hike along the coast for about 45 minutes before getting picked up by car and taken to a local soda for a delicious lunch.
Not for the faint of heart, this tour is an adventurous and active experience involving lots of hiking, plenty of adrenaline-inducing jumps and rapids, and, of course, lots of time in the river.
10. Cruise through the Sierpe mangroves
- 💰 Approximate cost – $150 USD per person
- ⏰ Duration – 5 hours
- 👆🏼 Book here
If you arrived in Drake Bay by boat from Sierpe, you won’t need to do this tour. However, if you flew or drove in, this Sierpe Mangrove Forest Safari Tour is an excellent way to see a very important ecosystem that you missed.
Just 45 minutes from Drake Bay by boat is the Terraba Sierpe National Wetlands, the country’s largest swathe of mangroves and a protected Ramsar site.
I know, mangroves and wetlands don’t seem as exciting or attractive as the wild jungles of Corcovado, or the glistening waters of Caño Island. But mangroves are one of the most important ecosystems on our planet, and house a huge variety of animals and birds.
Setting off from the beach in Drake Bay, you’ll cruise through the ocean before entering the mouth of the Sierpe River and exploring the maze of mangrove-lined canals. Your expert guide will share interesting information about the mangroves and point out wildlife. If you’re lucky, you could spot crocodiles, snakes, iguanas and lizards, monkeys, a huge range of different birds and even sloths.
You will leave with a new sense of appreciation for mangroves, and hopefully some more ticks on your Costa Rica wildlife spotting list!
🌳 Book your mangrove forest safari here
11. Go bird watching in Drake Bay
- 💰 Approximate cost – $60 USD per person
- ⏰ Duration – 3 hours
- 👆🏼 Book here
Although it’s possible to spot birds all over Drake Bay and inside Corcovado National Park, if you’re a hardcore twitcher, you’ll want to take a specialised birdwatching tour.
Other tours don’t dedicate the time and patience required to spot more than the occasional bird.
This tour departs from Drake Bay town first thing in the morning before sunrise, giving you the best opportunity to spot a variety of species while the town is still waking up.
Your guide will be Walter, an expert and passionate birdwatcher and the owner of Drake Bay Birdwatching. He brings a whole lot of enthusiasm, knowledge and high-quality equipment to the tours. Everyone has a fantastic experience with him.
You’ll spend 3 hours walking along the beaches and forests of Drake Bay, listening and looking for birds. If you’ve got any birds on your hit list, you can let Walter know, and he will do his best to find them. He is intimately familiar with the area and knows all the birdie hangout spots!
The great thing about this tour is that you will be finished quite early and still have an entire day in Drake Bay. You could do the Drake Bay Hiking Trail after the tour, or have a relaxing day on the beach before a sunset cruise or night walk.
🦜 Book your Drake Bay bird watching tour here
12. Catch a beautiful sunset
- 💰 Approximate cost – free – $50 USD per person
- ⏰ Duration – as long as the sky is glowing (solo) – 3 hours (tour)
Unless you’ve visited Drake Bay before, you might not know that you can’t actually see the sunset from the town. Sure, the sky glows up and turns a beautiful golden colour over the bay. But the sun itself is hidden behind a jungle-covered peninsula.
If you want to enjoy one of Drake Bay’s famous sunsets, you’ve got a few options.
The first is walking along the coast to one of the neighbouring beaches, such as Playa Cocalito, to get around the big headland that blocks the sun. You will need to be conscious of the time and be prepared to walk the 45 minutes back to town in the dark with a torch.
The second option is choosing to stay at one of the remote lodges on one of these distant beaches outside of town. I think these lodges are the best place to stay in Drake Bay, and you can fully immerse yourself in nature with beautiful beaches and stunning sunsets on your doorstep!
The final option is to join a sunset catamaran cruise from town.
Starting at 3:30 pm, you’ll meet on the main beach in Drake Bay, where a small boat will shuttle you to a large and comfortable catamaran. You’ll set off towards Playa San Josecito, where you can get an uninterrupted view of the sun setting.
Final thoughts: Things to do in Drake Bay
There are so many fantastic things to do in Drake Bay, and if you love wildlife and nature, there is no shortage of options. I know it seems pricey given that most activities can only be done on a guided tour, but all the tours are delivered to the highest standard, led by passionate guides, so no matter which you choose, they will be a memorable part of your Costa Rica itinerary.
MORE OSA PENINSULA POSTS
- Complete Drake Bay Travel Guide
- How to Get to Drake Bay Costa Rica
- Where to Stay in Drake Bay: Best Areas + Hotels
- Drake Bay Hiking Trail Guide
- How to Visit Corcovado National Park
- Our Overnight Experience at Corcovado National Park
OUR COSTA RICA TRAVEL GUIDES
