DESTINATION

Bahia Drake

Costa Rica · Provincia de Puntarenas

Tucked between rainforest and Pacific on Costa Rica's remote Osa Peninsula, Bahia Drake is wild, untouched adventure at its purest. Home to scarlet macaws, monkeys, dolphins, and humpback whales, it's the daily gateway to Corcovado National Park and Cano Island, two of the planet's richest biodiversity hotspots.

30° / 25°

31° / 25°

29° / 25°

31° / 25°

29° / 25°

Overview

Costa Rica's most remote and biodiverse coastline — the gateway to Corcovado.

Drake Bay sits on the wild northwest tip of the Osa Peninsula, reached only by boat from Sierpe or a slow dirt road from Rincón. There are no paved streets and few hotels: the draw is what's around it. Corcovado National Park covers a third of the Osa and shelters jaguars, scarlet macaws, all four monkey species, and Baird's tapirs.

Corcovado day hikes — San Pedrillo or Sirena ranger station, certified guides only
Caño Island — snorkel and dive a marine reserve with bull sharks and turtles
Whale watching — humpback migration peaks July–October
Night walks — frogs, snakes, and kinkajous on rainforest trails
Sierpe mangroves — bioluminescent kayak tours after dark

Best time to visit

December through April is the most reliable window — boat access from Sierpe runs daily and Corcovado trails stay open. From May through November the rivers swell and the dirt road to the bay can close, but wildlife sightings and humpback migration peak (July–October).