How do I get to Drake Bay?

Drake Bay is a remote town on the southwestern coast of Costa Rica that is best reached by water or through the jungle. Here are some ways to get to Drake Bay:

Option #1: Plane

Option #2: Bus and boat

Option #3: Car

In the following article I will describe in detail how you can best find your way to this paradise...

Unfortunately, many people skip this little place because it is "so far" or "too remote" or "too difficult" to get here.... Believe me... It's worth it. Especially if you're looking for an experience in true and green Costa Rica.

Drake Bay evening atmosphere

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Option #1: Plane

The fastest and most convenient way to reach Drake Bay is by plane. There are flights from San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, to Drake Bay. These flights take about an hour and are offered by Sansa Airlines, for example.

If you book a hotel directly through me, I can even give you the transport to the hotel for free. If you decide to book a hotel through Booking or Airbnb, you will either have to arrange transport yourself, or you should contact the hotel you choose so that they can help you with the organisation, because without contacts in Drake Bay beforehand, it will be difficult or time-consuming to find a trustworthy transport company.

Here is the airport in Drake Bay, it is quite small and I found it an adventure to fly the small plane close over the green land of Costa Rica.

Option #2: Bus and boat

Another way to get to Drake Bay is by public transport. First, take the bus (Tracopa) to Palmar Norte or directly to Sierpe (note that there is only one direct bus from San Jose to Sierpe per day, it leaves around 8:30 in the morning). Then you take the boat. The boats that go from the nearby town of Sierpe to Drake Bay take about 1-1.5 hours for the crossing. There are also boats leaving from other towns on the coast (Uvita or Quepos), but these are usually more expensive and less reliable.

There are many times on the internet for departure times. However, these are the exact departure times:

-11:30 in the morning or

-16:00 in the afternoon

The cost is 20-25 dollars (depending on the exchange rate) or 13 thousand colones currently.

In any case, it is advisable to be there about 30 minutes to an hour before departure. It is also always advisable to book your place on the boat in advance, especially in high season. If you would like to come by boat, get in touch with a hotel so that they can reserve your place at least one day before arrival. Personally, I found the boat ride incredibly impressive. It's like going away from the world you know and you arrive in this paradise called *DrakeBay*... right on the beach.... just beautiful. Even while driving: you can admire the beautiful scenery through the mangroves and if you are lucky you can see crocodiles in the river or monkeys on the trees on the banks.

Here is the point on Google maps where the boats leave: Boat stop sierpe to Drake

You can also find the point on Google maps by searching for "La Perla del sur Sierpe".

You can also drive to Sierpe if you are travelling by car and then park the car here during your time in Drake Bay. It is a secure and private car park. Cost per day: about 3000-5000 Colones.

Then there is also the ultimate option for people who are very budget conscious and only want to get to Drake Bay by bus:

First you take the bus to Puerto Jimenez and from there you take a private taxi "Colectivo" to Drake Bay. However, this taxi only runs once a day (around 11:30) and not every day. It is therefore advisable to always make a reservation. I also recommend that you speak directly to the hotel you have booked to organise transport with the colectivo. The cost of the private taxi is about 6000 Colones.

Option #3: Car

It is possible to drive to Drake Bay, but it is a long and difficult road. The road is not paved all the way (it is currently being paved) and can be very muddy and difficult to drive on, depending on the weather conditions (especially in the rainy season). The drive from San Jose to Drake Bay takes about eight hours.

Many come to DrakeBay and visit Quepos (Manuel Antonio) or Uvita on the way.

Also recommended is Perez Zeledon.

You can shorten the trip with stops like these.

Puerto Jimenez also has very beautiful beaches and can serve as a stopover.

Here is the example route from Uvita to Drakebay:

Here is the route (a bit more adventurous) via Sierpe by ferry (Uvita-Sierpe-DrakeBay):

The cost of the ferry is 6000 colones for the vehicle. You as a person pay nothing.

If it is too far for you to drive, you can leave your car at the car park in Sierpe and take the passenger ferry to Drake Bay. You save about a full hour.

So depending on your preferences and budget, there are several ways to get to Drake Bay. The fastest and most convenient options are by plane or boat, but if you're looking for adventure, you can also opt for a car or bus ride.

Personally, I love the boat ride. However, if you want to enjoy more flexibility, I recommend driving to Drakebay.

In any case, it also depends on whether you want to stay in the centre (very small) or in the pure nature outside. I recommend you to have a look at my hotel series, which I can heartily recommend. You can find them under the category "Accommodation".

I hope I could help you a little bit to make your journey a little bit more relaxed. I can still remember the first time I went to DrakeBay.... It was pure stress because I just couldn't find accurate information on the internet and in Sierpe everything seemed like pure chaos with the captains and the messengers. I recommend you just stay relaxed: Even if it doesn't seem like it, the people in Sierpe, the captains and their helpers, they have everything under control, even if their process sometimes seems a bit chaotic....;)

Pura Vida and welcome to Drake Bay,

Yours Kirani