In this post, we’ll share everything you need to know about the Drake Bay Hiking Trail, one of the best free things to do in Drake Bay.
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About the Drake Bay Hiking Trail
Situated on the wild and remote Osa Peninsula in southwestern Costa Rica, Drake Bay is a remote and untouched paradise. Golden beaches meet dense tropical rainforests teeming with wildlife, without any of the crowds you find in other Pacific Coast towns.
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And the best way to enjoy these wild landscapes? The Drake Bay Hiking Trail.
Also known as the San Josecito Trail, the Drake Bay Public Trail or simply the Drake Bay Beach Hike, this trail connects Agujitas (the village of Drake Bay) with San Josecito Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches on the Osa Peninsula.
Passing countless empty beaches, traversing lush rainforest and spotting monkeys and macaws in the trees above, the Drake Bay Hiking Trail is a must-do in Drake Bay.
While there are a number of great things to do in and around Drake Bay, most activities involve costly tours. But the best thing about the Drake Bay Hiking Trail is that it is completely FREE and accessible to the public, no guide or tour required.
We highly recommend dedicating one of your days in Drake Bay to the trail. It was one of our highlights of the Osa Peninsula, and easily one of the best hikes we did in all of Costa Rica! I’m still blown away by all the spectacular views from the trail.
Here’s everything you need to know for a trek on the Drake Bay Hiking Trail.
π₯Ύ Looking for more hikes in Costa Rica? We adored the hike to Catarata Vuelta del CaΓ±on, Costa Rica’s best waterfall!
Drake Bay Hiking Trail overview
- π₯Ύ Trail type – out and back, return via the same path
- πΊοΈ Trail map – AllTrails
- π Distance – approx. 11 km / 6.8 mi one-way, 22 km / 13.6 mi return
- β° Time required – minimum 3 hours one way with stops
- π When to go – start early, around low tide if possible
- πͺ« Difficulty – moderate – challenging
Trail type
The Drake Bay Hiking Trail is an out-and-back trail that starts from the town of Drake Bay (actually named Agujitas) and runs officially to Playa Rincon, although many people stop earlier at the more popular Playa San Josecito.
The trail itself is comprised of concreted sections, gravel sections, uneven, muddy forest paths with tree roots and rocks, and sections of beach walking. You pass over a couple of suspension bridges and a few small concrete bridges. It becomes flooded and very muddy during or after rain.
Trail map
This map on AllTrails is the best one to use. Make sure you preload the map on your phone in advance as there is limited service on the trail.
Although the trail is clearly marked most of the way and it would be very difficult to get lost. It sticks quite close to the coast and as long as you have the water on one side, it’s straightforward. There are signs too.
Distance
The AllTrails map starts the trail in the centre of town and finishes at the beginning of Playa Rincon. It lists the hike as 20.8 km / 12.9 mi return, but our watch indicated it was a little bit longer than that, closer to 22 km / 13.6 mi return (if you go all the way to Rincon Beach).
Time required
The time you need for the hike completely depends on your usual pace, and how often you stop along the way. There are countless beaches, wildlife to look at, plenty of photo opportunities and of course drinks and snacks breaks.
AllTrails suggests it takes around 5 hours for the round trip. We took close to 5 hours one way! To be safe, I would suggest allowing no less than 3 hours one way, which should give you plenty of breathing room for stops along the way.
When to go
It’s recommended to start hiking first thing in the morning, due to the length and the heat. If you are hiking both ways you want to allow plenty of time, and be sure you won’t be hiking back in the dark. Plus, starting early means you’ll have a few hours of cooler weather before the sun gets strong and very very hot!
The tides are something to consider, but it’s not absolutely critical that you hike at low tide. You will have less beach to walk on at high tide, but at the time of our visit, the beaches were wide and clear, and even at the highest tide you could make your way through. The Rio Claro river crossing is best done at low tide, but I’ll discuss some alternate options to this below.
Difficulty
The distance and climate make this a challenging hike. The trail itself doesn’t have a whole lot of inclines or elevation gain, and the terrain isn’t too difficult for experienced hikers. But the length of the hike and the heat and humidity of Costa Rica can make this a tough one!
Do you have to hike both ways on the Drake Bay Hiking Trail?
Walking upwards of 20 km / 12 mi is a long way. Throw in intense heat and humidity and the complete roundtrip hike can be a huge day, and beyond the ability of many hikers.
The good news is, it’s possible to complete the Drake Bay Hiking Trail one way, organising transport the other way. These are the options for a one-way hike:
- π₯Ύ Hike from Drake Bay to Playa San Josecito β΄οΈ Boat back
- β΄οΈ Boat from Drake Bay to Playa San Josecito π₯Ύ Hike back
- π₯Ύ Hike from Drake Bay to Playa Rincon π Taxi back
- π Taxi from Drake Bay to Playa Rincon π₯Ύ Hike back
By boat
The most common method is for hikers to set off from Drake Bay, hike to Playa San Josecito and wait for the snorkel and dive boats that have been at CaΓ±o Island to arrive. They come to the beach for a lunch stop around 12 pm. You can grab a lift back to Drake Bay on one of the boats. Expect to pay anywhere between $10 – 20 per person for the trip.
You don’t have to organise this in advance IF you are visiting during the peak, dry season from November – April when the weather is good and lots of tours are running to the island. The unorganised, ‘pura vida’ approach might seem a little loose, but it’s quite common and the boats are expecting hikers to hitch a ride back.
If you feel more comfortable organising this in advance so you know a boat will be waiting for you, chat with your accommodation beforehand. They will usually be able to get in touch with a tour company and confirm they are running tours for the following days.
If you’re visiting outside of the peak period, in the wet season from May – October it’s recommended that you organise to get a boat TO Playa San Josecito in the morning. This is because there are fewer tours running at this time of year, and if the weather is bad, boats won’t stop on the beach for lunch, they will return directly to Drake Bay. Leaving you stranded with no ride back!
Instead, organise a boat from Drake Bay in the morning with your accommodation in advance. Boats depart Drake Bay most mornings at 6 am heading to Corcovado National Park, and you can coordinate to get dropped at Playa San Josecito on the way. Otherwise, dive and snorkel tours to CaΓ±o Island usually depart a little later, around 7 – 7:30 am, and can offer the same service.
We took a boat with a snorkelling group leaving from Rancho Corcovado at 7:15 am and paid $15 per person.
If you opt to take a boat back to Drake Bay, you need to arrive at the beach no later than 12 pm to ensure you donβt miss the boats (unless otherwise arranged). This means you will need to set off very early and be conscious of the time on your hike.
If you organise to get dropped off at the beach in the morning, you have no time pressures on your hike back and can take as much time as you like on the trail, stopping at beaches etc.
By taxi
Although there are no roads throughout most of this area, it is possible to drive to Playa Rincon. The road is not in good condition, and it is only passable with a 4×4. Access can be restricted during the rainy season.
There are a number of 4×4 taxis around Drake Bay that could drop you there, and you would hike back. I would recommend organising this with your accommodation, and expect to pay no less than $25, probably a lot more.
In the same way, you could opt to walk from Drake Bay and arrange a pick-up at the end of the trail. You could only do this with advanced organisation, as there are definitely no taxis hanging around here! But getting transport back means you are under the same time pressures, as you will need to agree on a fixed return time.
What to expect on the Drake Bay Hiking Trail
You can pick up the trail anywhere in Drake Bay town, following local calles (streets) to the Drake Bay Getaway Resort, where the roads end and the trail officially begins.
The beginning section is mostly on a concrete walkway and winds through a number of resorts and restaurants. It can be a little tricky to follow, and at times feel like you’re entering private property, but just keep your eye out for signs indicating the trail.
You’ll soon reach a large suspension bridge to cross the Rio Agujitas, and the adventure really begins!
Just after the beautiful Aguila de Osa resort, you’ll notice the AllTrails map veers to the left towards the Drake Bay Wilderness Resort, before turning back on the same path. You’re safe to ignore this detour as there’s nothing too special at the end, just turn left at the initial fork.
The path continues through the rainforest for a while before reconnecting with the coast at the first beach, Playa Cocalito.
From here, the trail sticks pretty close to the water for the remainder of the hike, with the exception of a few rocky points where you cut inland through the jungle.
The majority of the walk is along a defined trail in the jungle, but there are many times when the trail leads to the sand. You need to walk across small beaches and coves on the sand before reconnecting with the path.
Besides passing countless gorgeous beaches, some unnamed, some more popular, the next notable point on the trail is the Rio Claro river crossing. I’ll share some more information specifically about the river crossing and how to navigate it below.
From there, you’re not too far away from reaching Playa San Josecito, the most popular beach in the area. This sheltered bay has much calmer water than some of the other beaches along the trail due to some small rocky outcrops off the coast, breaking a lot of the waves. That’s why this beach is so popular, and tour groups stop here for lunch.
If you’re heading back to Drake Bay by boat, you will probably finish your hike here. But the trail does continue for approximately 20 more minutes to another beach, Playa Rincon.
Playa Rincon is a vast stretch of sand almost 2 km / 1.2 mi long. If Playa San Josecito is busy, you can almost guarantee you’ll find a quiet patch of sand to yourself here.
If you have managed to organise a taxi drop off or pick up, the road runs just behind Playa Rincon, around halfway up the beach.
We did the hike in reverse, getting dropped off by boat to Playa San Josecito in the morning and hiking back. We chose to first hike on to Playa Rincon to check it out, before backtracking to San Josecito and continuing on to Drake Bay from there. The last half of our hike was in the pouring rain, so our photos and recollections of the beginning of the trail near Drake Bay is not great, as we were absolutely dripping and didnβt want to get our camera or phones wet!
Amenities along the Drake Bay Hiking Trail
You should plan to have no amenities on the Drake Bay Hiking Trail. No restaurants, no food or snacks, no drinking water and no bathrooms.
There are a few places along the trail where you can get all of these things, but due to the remoteness of the region, opening hours are wildly inconsistent, and it would be dangerous to be caught out without the necessary supplies.
In the case they are open, you can find a handful of accommodations and restaurants along the trail where you can stop for a drink, snack or bathroom break:
- There is a cluster of resorts and restaurants at the beginning of the trail just outside the town centre. If you’re walking from Drake Bay, you won’t be ready for a stop just yet, and if you’re returning to Drake Bay, I would advise you to walk a little further into town as the food is very overpriced here.
- Corcovado Adventures is a tented eco-lodge with an on-site restaurant near Playa Caletas, which is around the halfway point of the hike.
- Life for Life Hostel has a restaurant at the very end of the trail in Playa Rincon.
Beaches on the trail
The Drake Bay Hiking Trail passes more than 20 stunning beaches and coves. Some of them are named, marked on Google Maps and popular with visitors. Others remain nameless and unmarked, but stunning nonetheless and most likely empty!
We would recommend wearing your swimsuit and packing a towel, so you can stop for a break and swim whenever you come across a beach you like the look of. Which won’t be too hard!
Unfortunately, the day we did the Drake Bay Hiking Trail was overcast and raining, not really beach weather. We didnβt stop and laze or swim at any of the beaches, but it was clear that on a warm, sunny day they would be absolutely gorgeous!
A couple of the more notable beaches along the trail:
- Playa Cocalito – being the closest beach to Drake Bay, this is a common place for people to spend the day and therefore will most likely be the ‘busiest’ of all the beaches.
- Playa Las Caletas – a long stretch of coast falls under ‘Las Caletas’, which is made up of a few different coves. You’ll know you’ve arrived as there is a handful of buildings and resorts around here. We stopped for lunch at a small sandy cove near Corcovado Adventures, but there are plenty more spots to lay down a towel in this section of the trail.
- 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.
- Playa Rincon – just a little further through the jungle 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.
Rio Claro river crossing
The main challenge of the Drake Bay Hiking Trail is crossing the Rio Claro, which empties into the ocean around 3/4 of the way through the hike.
At low tide, crossing the river is as simple as walking through some shallow water. At high tide, it can be more like a swim, or a very deep walk across the river.
If you can time your hike for around low tide, that is the easiest way. We hit the river maybe an hour before low tide, and it was no more than ankle height at its lowest point, down near the ocean.
If it’s not possible to avoid high tide (the times don’t always align!), crossing the river is doable. Come prepared in your swimsuit, with a waterproof bag, and you can just wade across the river. It’s usually no higher than chest height so you can swim/walk across. Plus the water is a refreshing cool off!
Otherwise, you will often find a local man by the name of Ricardo at the river mouth. He runs the Life for Life Hostel and sea turtle conservation project in nearby Playa Rincon. He or his staff are usually around at high tide with a kayak, offering lifts across the river for those who don’t want to get their feet wet! At the time of writing, they charged $2 to go across and the money goes towards their turtle conservation project.
Ricardo also runs a tour company, Rio Claro Aventuras. He offers tours on the Rio Claro, kayaking upstream to waterfalls, swimming holes and jumping spots. You can opt to float back downstream with a life jacket on.
If you are organised enough, you can include this tour as part of your day on the trail. It might be tricky to hike both ways and do the tour. But if you have organised transport one way, you could easily squeeze this in if you get an early start. You can choose from 2.5, 3 or 4 hours on the river.
Find out more about the tours here, and be sure to contact Ricardo to book in advance.
Flora and fauna on the trailΒ
The best thing about the Drake Bay Hiking Trail is all the wildlife you can spot!
Just to set the expectation, this is not Corcovado National Park. You’d be incredibly lucky if you saw animals like tapirs or anteaters (although it is possible!).
But you have a great chance of encountering many different animals like:
- White-faced capuchin monkeys
- Howler monkeys (you’ll hear them even if you can’t see them!)
- Sloths (if you are very lucky and have great eyesight)
- Scarlett macaws
- Different types of hawks and eagles
- Many other species of birds
- Lizards and snakes
- Butterflies
You might even get lucky and find a friendly dog along the way who will join you on your hike. We had a very sweet Labrador join us around 4 km / 2.5 mi from Drake Bay, and she hiked the entire way with us in the pouring rain!
The plant life is just as impressive, and you will be surrounded by towering trees, tangles of hanging vines, flowers, palms and even a section of giant bamboo. Drake Bay is Costa Rica at its most raw and wild, and you feel it when you’re surrounded by the jungle on the trail.
What to bring with you on the Drake Bay Hiking Trail
Given the length of the hike, and the remoteness of the trail itβs really important you prepare and pack correctly. Here’s what we brought with us:
- π₯Ύ Comfortable walking shoes – if you prefer hiking boots or runners, great. If you’ve got water shoes or hiking sandals that you’re comfortable in, they can also work. I wore my Teva sandals and appreciated them when crossing rivers, and when it started pouring and the trails turned to rivers! Whatever you’re most comfortable in will be fine, or pack both.
- π©³ Lightweight hiking clothes – shorts are better than pants, in case the river is deep when you cross.
- π Swimwear – I would suggest wearing it, as there aren’t any changing rooms on the way.
- π§π½ββοΈ Towel – for sitting on and drying off after a dip.
- π Waterproof bag – so you can cross the river at any height, and you’re prepared in case of rain.
- βοΈ Rain poncho – even in the dry season, rain is always possible here!
- π Sunscreen – reef friendly! A hat, sunglasses and a t-shirt aren’t a bad idea for sun protection either.
- π¦ Insect repellent – the mosquitos can be brutal in the jungle.
- π§ Water – and LOTS of it! Minimum two litres per person if you’re hiking both ways. It is HOT and you will go through it very quickly.
- π₯ͺ Lunch – some of the hotels or restaurants around town can prepare a packed lunch, or grab some ingredients from the supermarket.
- π Snacks – you’ll also need plenty more snacks for shorter rest breaks, like fruit, lollies, chips, energy bars etc.
- π° Money – in case you want to get a lift across the river, jump on a boat back to Drake Bay, or have a drink or snack somewhere.
Final tips for the Drake Bay Hiking Trail
- ππΌ Plan if you are hiking one way or return, and how you will get there and back
- ππΌ Check the tides and try to hike around low tide
- ππΌ Eat a big breakfast beforehand, and fuel up for the day
- ππΌ Bring lots of water, more than you think you need
- ππΌ Pack plenty of snacks and lunch, more food is better than less
- ππΌ Don’t rely on restaurants being open along the trail
- ππΌ Prepare for rain (even in the dry season) when it rains here, it pours
The Drake Bay Hiking Trail was one of the best things we did in Drake Bay and one of our favourite hikes in all of Costa Rica! We loved the wild feeling of the trail, the empty beaches, the wildlife and the incredible jungle. It was so great to be able to hike solo with no mandatory guide or entry fee. Don’t miss this trail if you’re visiting the Osa Peninsula.
The Comments
Wade
Hey Sally
Thanks for your detailed review of the trail. I’m thinking of heading down to one of the lodges with my wife this Feb, staying about a week – ten days maybe splitting between two locations. Lots of chill and local exploration. Do you have a recommendation off hand. Ideal place for me is more remote where I could just observe the biomes we don’t get to see in the states, ideal for her would also include proximity to animals or even an opportunity to volunteer at an animal rescue. Any ideas?
Sally Rodrick
WadeHey Wade, sounds like a wonderful trip you’ve got planned. I’m not sure if you saw my other post, but I’ve got a big section on accommodation around Drake Bay and the different lodge options. Read it here. Most of the lodges are very remote. They will have walking trails around, but they’re quite isolated. Great for watching animals and relaxing in nature, but not so many activities as such. Definitely organise at least a day, but preferably an overnight to Corcovado National Park. Staying at Sirena Ranger Station was a huge highlight for us and an unbeatable experience for seeing wildlife. With that amount of time, it might also be worth staying somewhere around Puerto Jimenez, on the Golfo Dulce side of the peninsula. We haven’t been personally, but there are some great lodges there, and you’ll have a different ocean experience with Golfo Dulce vs the Pacific/Drake Bay side. You could do a few nights at a lodge near Drake, go into Corcovado NP for the night, then come out the other side to somewhere around Puerto Jimenez. Hope that helps! Sally