Everything you need to know about

The Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

The Osa Peninsula, located on the Southern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, is a world premier rainforest destination that houses 2.5% of the world's biodiversity. The Osa Peninsula offers breathtaking, untouched scenery, secluded beaches, and abundant wildlife encompassing the last primary, coastal rainforest on Earth. Thriving marine life never cease to astound visitors on trips to Caño Island, dolphin and whale tours, or simply snorkeling along the coast. The following information is for the adventurous looking to explore the last frontier of Costa Rica.

What region is Osa Peninsula?

The Osa Peninsula (Spanish: Península de Osa) is a peninsula located in southwestern Costa Rica, in the Puntarenas Province, with the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Golfo Dulce to the east. The peninsula is home to at least half of all species living in Costa Rica. The Osa Peninsula remains one of the country's most remote destinations, and this wild region is worth a trip.

Why is it called Osa Peninsula?

The Osa Peninsula was named by explorer Gil Gonzalez Dávila when he met a tribal chief named OSA some 20 years after Christopher Columbus lands on the beach near Limon, Then in 1569, Sir Francis Drake visited the shores of the OSA and was alleged to have buried a treasure somewhere along the coastline, that has yet to be discovered.

How do I get to Corcovado from Sierpe?

The Corcovado National Park requires a certified guide and permits to visit. In order to visit the national park or Cano Island, you must stay in a lodge in or around Drake Bay and take a tour. To get to Drake Bay from Sierpe, you will have to take a boat.

Sierpe to Drake Bay Boat Schedule

Sierpe to Drake Bay - 11:30am $20 per person

Sierpe to Drake Bay - 3:30pm $25 per person

Drake Bay to Sierpe - 7:30am $20 per person

Drake Bay to Sierpe - 2:30pm $25 per person

Can you drive to Drakes Bay?

We do NOT recommend driving to Drake Bay. The dirt road often floods out and although there are some bridges being built, there are still multiple river crossings and poor signage. You certainly cannot drive to Drake Bay without a 4x4 vehicle. If you are staying at any of the lodges that are boat access only around Drake Bay like Jungla del Jaguar, you will not need a car anyway.

How long is the boat ride from Sierpe to Drake Bay?

The boat ride from Sierpe to Drake Bay takes about 1 hour. Taking the boat from Sierpe to Drake Bay is very fun and has gorgeous views. The launch point for the boats is in Sierpe, so whether you’re driving, going with a shuttle or taking the bus, you need to get to the La Perla del Sur restaurant next to Hotel Oleaje Sereno.

When you arrive, the people that work at the dock will tell you where to park if you have a car. It costs $6 per day for secured parking.

The boats hold around 12-25 passengers and they don’t wrap your luggage so make sure your belongings are nicely zipped up and wrapped in plastic bags if you have expensive electronics. They’ll take your bags and load them into the boat. You can keep your backpack or purse. They’ll start calling hotels once boats are ready so listen for your hotel (Jungla del Jaguar).

Once everyone is ready, you’ll begin your journey through the Sierpe river and the biggest mangrove forest in Central America.

After about 40 minutes or so, it’s time to merge into the ocean. This part is a bit bumpy depending on the tide, so hold on! The boat captains are experts in navigating this river mouth and they do it every day.

Tips for Taking the Boat From Sierpe to Drake Bay

You can’t pre-book reservations so arrive in Sierpe at least 30 minutes early. In high season, at least 1 hour.
Wear sunscreen. At 11:30 AM the sun is high and bright!
Wrap your bags in plastic if its raining
Listen to the captains directions. When you arrive and the captain instructs, you should get off the boat as quickly as possible and the captains helper will pass your luggage to our staff. Do not linger on the boat. During periods of large swells the boat landing must be quick. Your belongings will be offloaded for you. Do not get up unless the captain instructs you to do so.

How do I get from Uvita to Drake Bay?

From Uvita, you can take a bus leaving at 8:30am or earlier to Sierpe or Palmar Norte. If you end up in Palmar Norte, you will have to take a taxi to Sierpe (~$20). There is a collectivo van that is easy to find to get back from Sierpe to Palmar ($5 per person).

The most convenient way to get from Uvita to Sierpe is to schedule shared or private transfer with someone like Pedro +506 8703 2121.

How many days should I stay in Drake Bay?

The most common duration of a vacation to Drake Bay is 4 days, 3 nights. Most of the lodges in the area recognize this and sell packages that way. Less time is simply not enough.