Unmissable Things to Do in Drake Bay

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Drake Bay is a fantastic beach town located on the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica. It’s the perfect spot to stick your toes in the sand and relax along the beautiful, calm waters of the Pacific Ocean. Drake Bay is almost like a secluded slice of paradise just waiting for you. 

While you’re here, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Drake Bay, including tropical jungles, pristine beaches, and a wide range of unique wildlife such as the White-Faced Monkey and the Orb-Weaver Spider. In fact, many come to Drake Bay because of the wildlife. The area is known for its abundance of unique species, which makes for a more unique experience if you’re an animal lover.

While this tropical haven is no doubt an outdoor explorer's dream, there are many cultural activities available that are just as exciting. Think mingling with the locals or perhaps taking a Costa Rican cooking class. The possibilities are endless. 

That’s why Drake Bay makes for such a great place to visit. There is something for almost everyone, whether you’re an outdoorsy type of person or just want to soak up the rich Costa Rican culture. So without further adieu, here is everything—and I mean EVERYTHING—you need to know about the things to do in Drake Bay! 

A Brief History

Everything as we know it today had to start somewhere...am I right? Well, the history of Drake Bay is rather interesting. Because of its isolated nature, Drake Bay was largely unexplored for most of its history. 

The town was officially named after Sir Francis Drake, an English explorer who founded the area in 1579. This period was also known as the “Age of Discovery.” Once the area was officially discovered, it flourished as a small town, with many European settlers quickly making the move to the Costa Rican jungles. 

Fast forward to the 20th century, when the area was sort of reinvented. It was during this time that travelers and ecotourists started to become aware of this well-kept secret. 

Today, Drake Bay is a very well-known and popular tourist spot in Costa Rica. Many new hotels and resorts are being built every day. Things are changing fairly rapidly and even look different from my very first visit a few years ago.

The Best Things to Do in Drake Bay

As mentioned earlier, the possibilities are endless in Drake Bay. There is just so much to see and do! These are some of the most popular activities in Drake Bay.

Corcovado National Park

One of the most popular sites in the area is Corcovado National Park, which is particularly notable for its rescue efforts for sick or injured animals. You can discover many different species, most of which are endangered. Examples to look out for are scarlet macaws, jaguars, tapirs, and spider monkeys. 

This is a fantastic place to visit if you have a true passion for animals and protecting their natural environment.

Cano Island

Cano Island is another amazing place to visit that offers an unmatched swimming and snorkeling experience. Cano Island is officially known as a biological reserve and is home to many species of fish, turtles, sharks, dolphins, and even whales on occasion. 

You might even spot some octopus, eels, or other species that are usually difficult to spot. You never know what you might see here!

Adventure Activities

Need an adrenaline boost? Drake Bay is home to many thrilling adventures, such as rappelling down waterfalls, hiking through the thick jungle-like terrain, or tubing down a river through the rainforest. 

Kayaking

Mangrove kayaking is another enjoyable way to explore Drake Bay's outdoor beauty. It’s a great way to explore the unique waterways of the region, and you may even spot something awesome along the way.

Night Hikes

Nighttime in the jungle is when temperatures drop and nocturnal wildlife comes alive. Trekking through the jungle with the resident “Bug Lady” almost guarantees you dozens of opportunities to spot amazing wildlife.

The Perfect Plan

The ultimate trip to Drake Bay would be comprised of both land and sea elements. This is an exciting way to experience everything there is to sea (sea what I did there?) while you’re here, and it makes for a thrilling itinerary you'll be talking about for years. 

Not to mention, it's a great way to experience a bit of everything, especially if you're traveling in a group.

The Best Drake Bay Hiking Trail Options

Hikers will find Drake Bay to be almost like a labyrinth of trails, as there are so many to choose from. One of the best places to hike in Drake Bay is Corcovado National Park. It's also the most popular place to hike in the area. It’s home to a variety of interesting wildlife and is abundant with many trails. There are even options for beginners and the more advanced.

The most advanced trail in Corcovado would be Cerro Rincon. This difficult trail comprises many steep slopes or climbs. It’s also the highest summit in Corcovado. 

Though hard to complete, the views make up for it. This is one of the most beautiful spots in ALL of Costa Rica. When you get to the top of that mountain, it almost feels like you’re on top of the world and you're watching life as we know it down below. 

Another great trail would be the Los Patos Sirena Trail which offers the beauty of the luscious beaches while sticking to the rainforest theme. It's kind of like the best of both worlds. You can choose some of the less intense hikes or even some of the more advanced options. Either way, you're almost guaranteed a great view of the beach and an immersive experience within the rainforests.

Best Drake Bay tours

Planning what to do while you’re in Drake Bay? It can be tough! If you haven't been before, it can be time-consuming to figure out what you'd like to do and how you'd like to do it. Well, guess what? There is a more convenient way to do that. 

If you’re looking for an easier way to experience the sites, try booking an organized tour. These are the best ways to explore the area, in my opinion. While I’m usually an advocate for going it on your own, Drake Bay’s off-the-beaten-track nature is both a pro and a con when it comes to getting around. 

With Drake Bay tours, not only do you get the insight of a local guide, but your transportation and sometimes meals are included in the cost of the tour, so this can be a tremendous help in terms of planning.

Here are two wonderful day tours in Drake Bay:

Full-Day Tour of Corcovado Sirena Station with Lunch

This tour is roughly eight hours long and will take you through Corcovado National Park. You'll start your adventure by taking a boat ride to Sirena Station. This takes approximately one hour and is honestly part of the fun!

Once you arrive, you’ll have five hours to hike and explore, with a delicious lunch included. Park fees, tickets, and transport are all included. Once your tour is nearly over, you'll head back on the boat to Drake Bay. This is a great way to experience Corcovado without some seriously extensive planning.

Snorkeling Tour on Caño Island with Lunch

On this excursion, you will spend six hours snorkeling on Cano Island. The tour starts at 7:30 am when your driver will pick you up. The driver will take you to the main beach in Drake Bay, from where you’ll board a boat to Cano Island Biological Reserve. 

The speed boat out to the reserve takes around 45 minutes to an hour. You’ll then have time for a brief introduction and training session before enjoying two different snorkeling sessions with your guide. You’ll have loads of opportunities to see octopus, rays, tropical fish, and many others.

After snorkeling, you get even more time to relax and experience the golden sands of Playa San Josecito before heading out to one of the local restaurants for a mouth-watering lunch. They were even able to whip up something amazing for this vegan traveler.

Scuba Diving in Drake Bay

Scuba divers are WELCOME in Drake Bay! You might even find this underwater treasure trove to be the highlight of your trip. The city itself is right on the Pacific Ocean, which is known for its clear, warm waters. 

You’ll find all sorts of marine life here, including rays, dozens of species of fish, lobsters, and crabs. If you're lucky, you might even see some larger mammals, such as dolphins and whales. 

Don't forget the variety of coral that lives here! Many species of coral live along the bottom of Drake Bay. The coral formations are vibrant, bright, and downright stunning. The coral formations are also a great home for the other animals in the sea.

The best place to scuba dive in Drake Bay would be Cano Island’s biological reserve. This area, in general, is where thousands of species of animals call home. It's the perfect place for aquatic life to thrive, and the perfect place to witness it too.

New to diving? I would recommend learning to scuba dive here if it's something you've wanted to try. Generally, it is much cheaper to get your scuba lessons done here than back at home, and the training itself seems to be much more thorough. You can even do a taster dive if you’re not yet certified to see if the diving life is for you.

How Many Days Do You Need in Drake Bay?

This is such a subjective question because it depends on what you like to do. If you’re really into the whole wildlife thing, then you should plan for at least two weeks in Drake Bay to make the most of all the opportunities in the area. If you’re looking for more of a relaxing getaway, a week will be enough time to experience Drake Bay. 

Because of the array of activities available, a few days here just won't cut it, and you may leave disappointed.

How to Get to Drake Bay, Costa Rica

Drake Bay is reachable by a variety of methods of transportation. You can spend as little as $30 if you’re ok with spending the day getting there, or you can splurge and take a flight.

Public Transport

If you’re looking to save some cash, you can opt for a bus/taxi/boat adventure. Buses leave from San Jose Tracopa bus station (near Clinica Biblica) starting from 5 am every day. 

Top tip: During high season, I suggest you buy your ticket at least one day in advance for this trip to secure a spot.

If you take the first bus (recommended), you should reach Palmar Norte around 11 am. From here, grab a taxi to Sierpe. Once in Sierpe, go to the big sign that says DONDE JORGE outside the Hotel Oleaje Sereno restaurant. The 11:30 am boat is $15 per person, and the 3:30 pm boat is $20 per person.

This is one of the best routes in terms of connections, but you do have a few other options if you’re not up for getting up for an early bus. Here’s a handy website to help you plan out your travels around Costa Rica by bus.

Flying

This is the most convenient way, but it can get pricey. Plan for around $130-350 roundtrip, depending on the season. You will have to fly into San Jose first and then transfer via a domestic airline. 

I recommend SANSA Airlines, as this is by far one of the best domestic airlines in Costa Rica. They offer daily flights from San Jose to Drake Bay.

Driving

Getting to Drake Bay by car is possible, but really only reserved for those looking to really test their travel mettle. You’ll need to have a 4x4 as the road into the Drake Bay area is unpaved with streams and rivers you’ll need to cross. I would advise against attempting this at all during the rainy season.

The conclusion here is that Drake Bay is something special. It's a treasured paradise that shares its beauty with the world every day. The diverse wildlife, warm, white-sand beaches, and intense but interesting culture are what drive many to visit. 

So, Is it Worth Going to Drake Bay?

Personally, it’s one of my favorite places to travel to. Whether you choose to visit the tropical island of Cano, venture through the luscious pathways of the Corcovado National Park, or just relax on the beach with a tropical drink in hand, you will get the ultimate Costa Rican experience that visitors long for. There are so many things to do in Drake Bay, the hard part is deciding how to spend your time.

Overall, Drake Bay is a fantastic place to let loose and seize the adventure. The final question would be, is it worth it? I definitely think so, but definitely let me know in the comments what you think.

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