In this post, we’ll share a complete travel guide to Drake Bay Costa Rica. A remote and wild town on the Osa Peninsula, with untouched jungle, a mind-boggling amount of wildlife and gorgeous, empty beaches. We’ll cover how to get there, how to get around and where to eat, stay and play.
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About Drake Bay Costa Rica
When most people think of Costa Rica, images of deep green rainforests, monkeys swinging from vines and golden, palm-lined beaches come to mind. They wouldn’t be wrong.
But as Costa Rica’s tourism industry has grown exponentially over the past few decades, it has lost some of its ‘wild’.
Whilst this environmentally focused nation has done a commendable job of protecting its forests and coastline, the hundreds of thousands of Western visitors it receives each year have left their mark.
Many visitors are content with never knowing the real, rugged version of Costa Rica. Us? Not so much.
Enter – Drake Bay.
Bahia Drake in Spanish, this remote town, bordered by nature on all sides, was everything we dreamed Costa Rica to be.
After an hour-long drive on a bumpy dirt road winding through the forest, our first impression of Drake Bay was finding a crocodile hanging out in the car park of the restaurant we were visiting for lunch. I told you it was wild!
It is a true jungle wonderland, that is raw and real and rugged. There is no staged adventure, no high-rise resorts, no beach clubs.
Drake Bay has remained blissfully untouched by the mass tourism development found in other Costa Rican beach towns, and its hard-to-reach location means only dedicated adventure seekers and wildlife fanatics make their way this far south.
So if you’re looking for a real adventure in Costa Rica, authentically immersed in and connected to nature, Drake Bay is for you.
PLANNING A TRIP TO THE OSA PENINSULA? CHECK OUT OUR OTHER TRAVEL GUIDES 👇🏼
Drake Bay quick facts
- 🛥️ How to get there – by air from San Jose, by boat from Sierpe, by car (yes, you can drive) or by bus from La Palma, another town on the Osa Peninsula. Read our full transport guide here.
- 🛏️ How long to stay – considering the difficult journey to reach Drake Bay, any less than 3 nights isn’t worth it. We would suggest 4 nights minimum if you’re planning to visit Corcovado for a day trip, make it at least 5 if you opt for the overnight stay inside the park.
- 🗓️ Best time to visit – is during the dry season, which is typically November – April. Although this is one of the wettest parts of the country, you should expect rain at any time, with longer and more intense wet seasons.
Where is Drake Bay
Drake Bay is situated on the remote and less-travelled Osa Peninsula. This big finger-like tract of land juts out into the Pacific Ocean in the southwestern corner of Costa Rica.
A raw and wild place, the Osa Peninsula is a remote region with just a handful of small communities interspersed between rich rainforest and mangroves.
Over a third of the peninsula falls under the protection of the Corcovado National Park, the country’s largest national park, and the world’s most biologically intense area.
Drake Bay sits on the western, Pacific side of the peninsula. However, the area is well protected from the wild ocean inside a sheltered bay – hence the name.
‘Drake Bay’ technically refers to the entire bay and surrounding areas. But the main village is actually called Agujitas, or Agujitas de Drake.
The town of Agujitas centres around Playa Colorado, a wide sandy beach where boats deposit tourists from Sierpe and collect them for day trips to Corcovado and beyond. A handful of tour companies, accommodations and restaurants spread backwards from here, up into the hills.
Remote eco-lodges are scattered further along the coast, as well as deep into the jungle behind the town.
How to get to Drake Bay
Getting to Drake Bay is half the fun, and the area has remained so special and untouched because it is difficult to reach. No matter how you arrive, I promise it will be worth it!
There are a lot of different options, and which you choose depends on where you’re coming from, how you’re travelling around Costa Rica, if you have a rental car and what type of car it is, and if it’s wet or dry season.
Complicated, right?
To give a brief answer, the main ways to get to Drake Bay Costa Rica are:
- ✈️ By plane from San Jose
- 🚤 By boat from Sierpe
- 🚙 By car
- 🚌 By bus from La Palma
Rather than making this post huge and indecipherable, I wrote a separate post that details all the different methods. Check that out here.
👉🏼 How to get to Drake Bay – a complete guide with air, bus, shuttle and car options
Getting around Drake Bay
Once you arrive in Drake Bay Costa Rica, most of the activities you do will either be on foot, or by boat.
If you’re staying in the centre of town, you will be able to walk to most restaurants, supermarkets and the main beach, Playa Colorado, where most tours depart from.
If you have a car and you’ve driven to town, you can, of course, drive around. But it’s not necessary unless you’re staying somewhere on the outskirts of town. However, if you’ve got a 4×4, you will be able to do some exploring around the area and drive to Playa Rincon.
If you’re staying somewhere remote, your accommodation will generally coordinate tours and pick-ups when required.
Where to stay in Drake Bay
Despite its remote location, there are some amazing accommodation options in and around Drake Bay.
Luxury glamping tents deep in the rainforest, beach bungalows perched above a dazzling coastline, and off-grid ecolodges with wildlife wandering all over the place.
The hard decision is choosing which area you’d like to stay in. You’ve essentially got three choices:
- 🏘️ Stay in Agujitas Village
- 🌊 Stay on a remote beach
- 🌿 Stay outside of town in the jungle
You have to balance convenience, access, cost, natural environment and wildlife sightings. Staying in town is cheapest, easiest and most convenient, but obviously not as remote or natural as staying on a far-flung beach, accessible by boat or walking only.
The further you get from town, the more chances you have of seeing wildlife at your accommodation. The animals don’t know the boundaries of the national park, and if you stay at one of the more remote lodges, it’s entirely possible that you’ll see tapirs, anteaters, monkeys, sloths and more from your room!
I’ve got a far more detailed post that runs through the pros and cons of each option, and suggests some of the best-rated options for all budgets. And yes, you can have a remote beach stay in the jungle on a budget here!
😴 Read our complete guide on where to stay in Drake Bay – areas and hotels
WHERE TO STAY IN DRAKE BAY – MY QUICK PICKS ⭐️
- 🏘️ STAYING IN AGUJITAS VILLAGE
- 🌊 STAYING ON A REMOTE BEACH
- 🌿 STAYING OUTSIDE OF TOWN IN THE JUNGLE
CAMPING IN DRAKE BAY 🏕️
If you’re camping in Costa Rica (with a Nomad America 4×4 or otherwise), Drake Bay has a few different places to park up for the night!
- ⛺️ Paid campground – Ganadito Camping
- ⛺️ Paid campground – Mohagine Camping
- 🏕️ Wild beach camping – Playa Rincon
- 🏕️ Wild beach camping – Pirate Cove
Top 5 things to do in Drake Bay
There are so many wonderful things to do in Drake Bay. With its gorgeous rainforest, underwater treasures offshore and the best wildlife viewing opportunities in all of Costa Rica, there is no shortage of outdoor adventures.
I’ve got a more detailed guide to the 12 best things to do in Drake Bay, but this is a sneak preview!
1. Visit Corcovado National Park
Corcovado National Park is the number one reason most visitors come to Drake Bay. Labelled by National Geographic as ‘the most biologically intense place on earth’, there is nowhere else in Costa Rica with such an abundance of wildlife.
The park is home to all four species of monkey found in Costa Rica – howler, spider, squirrel and white-faced capuchin – and it’s not unusual to see all of them! It’s the best place in the country to see the rare Baird’s tapir, and other sought-after wildlife like sloths, anteaters and coatis.
Access to the park is strictly with a certified guide, so booking a tour is the only way to visit. Drake Bay is the best jump-off point for tours to the Sirena Ranger Station, one of 6 stations inside the park, but widely considered the best for wildlife spotting.
Day tours leave from the main beach in town at 6 am each day, returning at approximately 2 pm. An expert guide with a telescope and superhuman wildlife-spotting abilities will lead you on trails around the park for 4 – 5 hours.
There is the option to stay overnight at the Sirena Ranger Station, giving you an additional 7+ hours hiking the trails and looking for wildlife, which I highly, HIGHLY recommend. Our overnight experience at Corcovado is one of the greatest travel experiences we have ever had, and easily the highlight of our 5 weeks in Costa Rica.
🦥 Book the top-rated day tour to Sirena Station, or even better, book the exact overnight tour we did
🌳 Planning a trip to Corcovado National Park can be seriously confusing. Different ranger stations, multiple access points, permits – I was completely overwhelmed before we visited. So I wrote a comprehensive guide about how to visit the park, so you can be sure you’re planning the best possible experience, and maximise your chances of seeing as much wildlife as you can!
2. Go snorkelling or diving at Caño Island Biological Reserve
Celebrated as one of the best places to go snorkelling and scuba diving in Costa Rica, the Caño Island Biological Reserve is a protected marine reserve just 45 minutes off the coast of Drake Bay.
With crystal clear waters, thriving coral reef systems, and an abundance of marine life like turtles, rays, sharks and countless colourful fish, getting underwater at Caño Island is one of the best things to do in Drake Bay.
There are both snorkel and dive tours, departing from Drake Bay at around 7 am and returning for lunch at around 2 pm.
3. Hike the Drake Bay Trail
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.
Doing the out-and-back trail is a big undertaking, but it’s possible to organise boat transport one way. I’ve got more information about boat transfers and what to expect on the trail in our guide here.
4. Take a night walk to see the jungle after dark
Whilst there are night walks on offer all over Costa Rica, we would highly recommend saving it for Drake Bay! Given the intense biodiversity of the area, you’re likely to see a lot more.
Experiencing the jungle during the day is one thing. But when night falls, it feels like a completely different place! All kinds of creepy crawlies and nocturnal critters come out and about to play. Bats, frogs, spiders, snakes and nocturnal mammals like sloths and kinkajous are just some of what you can expect to see.
There are a couple of different night tours to choose from, but we would highly recommend Tracie the Bug Lady, a qualified biologist and insect expert!
5. Enjoy empty and untouched beaches
Your days are bound to be jam-packed with jungle hikes and snorkel tours, but don’t forget to set aside some time to relax on the beautiful beaches around Drake Bay.
There aren’t too many other places in Costa Rica with beaches as wild and unspoiled as this!
The main beach in town isn’t the nicest, with lots of boat traffic, but organise a boat transfer or start walking along the coast and you’ll discover a string of hidden coves and wide sandy beaches, like:
👉🏼 Want more things to do in Drake Bay? Check out our complete list
Where to eat in Drake Bay
Drake Bay isn’t winning too many awards for its culinary endeavours. But there are a number of simple local sodas that will fill the hole and keep you fuelled up on all your outdoor adventures!
And if I had the choice between incredible food and seeing macaws, toucans and crocodiles while I dine – I know what I’d choose!
If you’re staying out of town, you’ll most likely be eating at your lodge. Some have rates including full or half board, and all have restaurants on-site.
- 🍚 Las Delicias – this was our favourite soda in town, with the best and most affordable casados for 4,000 Colones. The fried rice was good, and the bistec (steak) and chuleta (pork chop) casados were well-cooked with all the trimmings.
- 🍛 Kalaluna Bistro – the place to eat in Drake Bay. This lovely bistro has gorgeous views over the bay and serves up unique and top-quality dishes, with tasty cocktails and juices. The price matches and is a little expensive, but it gets rave reviews.
- 🍤 Casa El Tortugo – this is a slightly more elevated soda, with a wider range of international options. They have lots of seafood dishes, pasta, as well as typical Costa Rican food. The restaurant overlooks an estuary, and we saw a crocodile sitting right out the front on the bank!
- 🥟 Fast Food Truck Gaby’s – if you’re looking for an early breakfast on the beach before setting off on a tour, Gaby’s is open from around 6 am. They have golden and crispy empanadas, sandwiches, coffee and smoothies.
- 🦐 Marea Alta – hidden just outside of town up the hill, we actually missed this spot and were disappointed to find it as we were leaving. The setting is gorgeous, nestled right into the rainforest. The food is the same kind of offerings (seafood, casados, rice, etc.) but the prices and quality are good.
- 👨🏽🍳 Restaurante Mixtico by Koco Chef – this new spot opened recently, and looks to be a very high-quality option. If you’re looking for another ‘special’ meal after you’ve been to Kalaluna, I think this is the spot. They had me at tuna with passionfruit sauce. Yum!
- 🍍 Soda Los Pani Quines – another new option, this lovely little soda is located just behind Las Caletas Beach. It’s an excellent option while hiking the Drake Bay Trail. This area of Drake Bay was really lacking an affordable, local soda and this fits the bill perfectly!
Tips for visiting Drake Bay Costa Rica
- 💰 There are no banks or ATMS – come stocked with cash. Palmar Norte is your last chance to withdraw money. Colones and USD are widely accepted. Some businesses accept credit cards, but often with a hefty fee. Consider in advance how you’re going to pay for your big tour payments, and book and pay for as many things online as possible.
- 🛒 Supermarkets are limited and expensive – there are only two supermarkets in town, and while their choice is better than I expected, the prices are very inflated. If you’re on a budget and planning to cook, I would recommend coming with a few staples if you’ve got the ability to carry them.
- 💧 You can’t drink the water – while tap water is safe to drink in most of Costa Rica, it’s not in Drake Bay. You can buy water from the supermarket, but it is quite expensive. Again, if you’ve got the means (e.g. a car), buy a large water bottle before you arrive, or check if your accommodation offers purified water.
- ⛽️ There is no petrol station – if you’re driving to Drake Bay, there is no petrol station in town. We filled up here in Chacarita at the turnoff onto Route 245, and there isn’t another one after that.
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Final thoughts: Drake Bay Costa Rica travel guide
Drake Bay is a true off-the-beaten-path destination. If you’re a wildlife fanatic, nature enthusiast or adventure seeker, you need to have Drake Bay on your Costa Rica itinerary. I hope this guide has helped you plan your trip to this wild place. May it be filled with monkeys, macaws and magic moments in the jungle!
MORE OSA PENINSULA POSTS
- How to Get to Drake Bay
- Where to Stay in Drake Bay: Areas + Hotels
- 12 Best Things to Do in Drake Bay
- Drake Bay Hiking Trail Guide
- How to Visit Corcovado National Park
- Our Overnight Experience at Corcovado National Park
OUR COSTA RICA TRAVEL GUIDES
The Comments
Chris
Coco Café is a nice restaurant as well – has some lovely pasta and risotto dishes, and is ranked highly on Google
Sally Rodrick
ChrisIt does like great! Excellent reviews, I’m sorry we missed it!
Matt ONeil
Thank you so much for your amazing Drake Bay guide. You’ve covered pretty much everything we could have imagined and more! We’re heading to Drake Bay on August 23rd for 5 nights (staying at Drake Bay Greenleaf). We’re hoping to hike Corcovado despite the rainy season as well some snorkeling/discovery diving. We’ll make the most of the trip and are hopeful the rain won’t limit us too much. Thank you again for all of the information you’ve provided!
Sally Rodrick
Matt ONeilSo glad to hear it was helpful Matt! It sounds like you’ve got a wonderful trip planned, and you don’t get rainforest like Corcovado without some rain! Fingers crossed it’s not too wet, I’m sure all the animals will be out and about enjoying the cooler temperatures either way. Have a wonderful time, it’s truly a magical part of Costa Rica. Sally