DRAKE BAY

Want to see where it is? Click to see its Costa Rica map. The Bay sits along the northern coast of the Osa Peninsula.

It hosts all six varieties of Costa Rica's wildcats, the largest remaining scarlet macaw population in Central American, and an extraordinary array of other Costa Rica wildlife like these tapirs.

Like the other marine life, large mammals move along the coast here but sometimes gather around Drake Bay in enormous numbers: literally thousands of porpoises are sometimes seen.

Getting There

For most people, the only practical way of getting to the lodges along Drake Bay is by boat.

There are air charters from the San Jose area that can get you to the coast near the little community Sierpe in about 40 minutes.

From there you can hire a boat to take you onto Drake Bay.

Click here for information about Costa Rica air charter companies.

You can also drive or take an express bus to Sierpe.

Express buses (these are like Grayhound buses, not the city buses you'll see in San Jose) are comfortable, fast, and if you're on a budget, very inexpensive.

Click for current Costa Rica bus schedules.

Sierpe is a small community almost at the confluence of the Panamerica Highway and Costanera Highway about 6 hours south of San Jose. Both highways are excellent.

The surrounding land is lush and filled with huge coconut tree plantations used to make coconut oil.

Sierpe sits along a short, beautiful river of the same name. The boat ride to its mouth (called the "boca") is gorgeous and about 40 minutes long.

From the mouth of the river, Drake Bay will be on your left and Cano Island directly ahead. And, of course, virtually all of the lodges along Drake Bay offer tours of one sort or another which include transportation and lodging.

Unspoiled, deserted and wildlife rich beaches, great sport fishing, sea kayaking, bird watching, hiking, canoeing, horseback riding, and more await you at Drake.

But, remember, it's going to be remote. Your cell phone isn't likely to work here and if you're part of the "connected" world expect to be "unplugged" for a few days.

Want to Try a Little Costa Rica Fishing?

We passed Drake Bay and the Osa Peninsula on our left, then Cano Island slid by to our right as we headed for a deep drop-off about 18 miles offshore.

We passed a seagull lazily sitting atop a rounded floating object--a sunning sea turtle. Then, another seagull and another sea turtle.

We were the only boat about 6 miles west of Cano and the Osa but we were not alone.

Our guide, a Tico who called himself "Steve", said fishing for finned fish had turned slow due to very warm waters driving the critters deeper but at 8:30 my friend, Frank, hooked a sailfish. After a good battle, we brought it onboard long enough for a photo then off the 80 pounder went.

At 10:45, they struck.

Two.

Simultaneously.

Marlin. One on the left of the boat; one on the right.

Reels squeeled as line flew out.

One was lost but, for the next 3 1/2 hours, the other took our full measure, leaping from the water again and again, sometimes pulling--literally pulling--the 26' boat.

I suppose it was because he was large, about 13 feet long, and probably weighing well in excess of 400 pounds that we had so much trouble landing him (actually just getting him along the boat for release) but it was his strength that was unbelievable.

At one point he suddenly leaped from the water, just four feet or so from where I was standing, flying so high he was above the transom AND the motor.

And, from the start of the fight to its conclusion, our boat traveled 6 1/2 miles as the marlin dragged us all over the ocean!

Yep, our guide was right.

Fishing for fins was slow.

Only two fish.

Pura Vida!

Corcovado National Park and Cano Island

You'll need good hiking boots, a good guide, and insect repellant here but you'll experience nature really up close and personal (not to mention blisters so bring what you need for these) because it's the "most biologically intense" place on Earth. Click for info about Corcovado National Park.

I've mentioned it before but there's a small island off the bay that offers some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling in all of Costa Rica. As a reminder, it's called Cano Island, click.

Finally, here's a little test.

What do you call Drake Bay PLUS Cano Island PLUS Osa Peninsula PLUS Corcovado National Park?

"Pura Vida!"

Go to Costa Rica Parks, Vol. 3 here, click

Go from Drake Bay to Costa Rica Vacations homepage click here