Drake Bay
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| Fligths | Car Rental | How to get there? | Where to Stay? | Tours |
Bahía Drake (Drakes Bay) is a small bay on the north side of the Osa Peninsula on the coast of southwestern Costa Rica. The main attraction is Corcovado National Park, it occupies about a third of the peninsula, and this is known for being one of the largest and without human intervention park of the country, there are a lot of endemic species, also the efforts made by the Costarican government through the MINAE for the preservation of this area are really admirable, the private enterprise has been really helpful in these conservation efforts. The area has been accessible only by sea until recently, and consequently remains a largely pristine low-land tropical rainforest. It is one of the last such remaining areas on the Pacific coast. Since about 1990, eco-tourism has been the principal economy of the area.
Believed to be a port used by Sir Francis Drake in the 16th century and the location of one of the British pirate’s fabled hidden treasures. The main town of Bahía Drake is Agujitas and has a population of about 1,000 residents. The bay is not on the beaten track and can only be reached by highway during the dry season. Boat service up the Sierpe River and air travel connect Bahía Drake to the rest of the world during the rainy season. There are miles and miles of beautiful coastline with rocky crags and sandy coves that extend from Agujitas, where the village of Bahía Drake is located southward toward the boundary of Corcovado National Park about 12 miles to the south. Along this stretch of beach are located some of the most remote and spectacular ecolodges in Costa Rica.
Simply known as Drake by the Ticos, Drake Bay is exclusively accessible by boat with only a limited number of lodges and cabinas in the area. Most of the lodges here offer all inclusive vacation packages and run on solar power generators making them ‘eco-lodges’ in the truest sense of the term. Due to the remoteness of this region, many of the lodges and hotels here offer their own pick up services from towns like Sierpe by boat.
Once in Drake Bay, you will find that there is much to do including a visit to the ‘biologically intense’ Parque Nacional Corcovado. With the tallest primary rainforest on the planet, this national park is home to many endangered animal and bird species as well as a huge number of indigenous wildlife and flora.
Attractions
Corcovado National Park is the backpacking experience of a lifetime. It encompases the only remaining old growth wet forests on the Pacific coast of Central America, and 13 major ecosystems including lowland rain forest, highland cloud forest, jolillo palm forest, and mangrove swamps, as well as costal marine and beach habitats. There is a good chance of spotting some of Costa Rica’s shyest and most endangered inhabitants here; Baird’s Tapirs, Jaguars, Scarlet Macaws, Harpy Eagles, Red-backed squirrel monkeys and White-lipped Peccaries. It is wet, remote and rugged, but the trails are relatively good, and the camping areas near the ranger stations are grassy and well drained.
If you have ever imagined yourself swimming up to a deserted golden sand beach lined with coconut palms, then rinsing off under a waterfall surrounded by the verdure of the rainforest. Then you’ll find Corcovado’s 23 miles (39 km) of beaches appealing. We walked 11 miles (18 km) of beach one day and saw one other person. Take care where you swim, there are areas where hammerhead sharks school (there has never been a reported attack), and crocodiles are common in Corcovado Lagoon and the estuaries of the Ríos Claro and Sirena.
From Drake Bay you can also visit the biological reserve of the Isla del Caño which offers some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in Costa Rica. This tiny island has a wealth of underwater beauty, and gives tourists the opportunity to swim amidst beautiful brightly colored tropical fish and dolphins. Horseback rides are available in the area as well as some excellent sport fishing off the coast. Canoeing and kayaking trips can also be arranged. However, if you enjoy nature there are some fantastic bird watching opportunities, in addition to some excellent hiking trials to a number of beautiful remote beaches.
Weather:
13 feet (4,000 mm) of rain fall annually. The drier months are January through April. the wettest are September and October.
