The Whale and Dolphin Pelagic Tour is my personal favorite Drake Bay adventure. Although many websites state that the season for this activity is during September and October. I think that if we were anywhere else on Earth it would always be whale and dolphin season, due to the sheer number of species that reside here.

Of the 10 species of resident dolphins, 4 can be found in megapods all year. If you do some research online, you’ll find that groups of 35-50 are considered to be extremely large and also very uncommon. The Whale and Dolphin Pelagic Tours from Drake Bay can commonly find pods of dolphins in the thousands- all year round.

Spinner Dolphins are the world’s most playful dolphin and the the Central American Spinner Dolphins are the least studied of all Spinner sub-species. The family lives just a little beyond Cano Island in an area of around 90 square miles. Their total population is approximately 10,000 and they are usually broken up into smaller pods of 2-3,000. The large group sizes and the relatively small residential area is why the search for our resident Spinners is a relatively easy and regular feat to accomplish.

The second most playful dolphin is also the world’s smartest. The Bottlenose dolphins that are found around Drake Bay, consist of both resident and migratory groups. The resident group (we call them homeboys) can be found in pods totaling more than 1,000 all year round and can also be found mixed into the pods of our other dolphin species. I have personally even seen Spotted-Bottlenose and Bottlenose-Spinner dolphin mixed breeds.

Now, on to the whales! The largest family of Humpback whales on earth visits the oceans around Drake Bay from July 15 until the end of December. When they leave here, they travel to their Chilean feeding grounds. It has been my common experience to see 15-20 Humpbacks during only one day of August, September or October. This is when the world’s largest whale family is most active: giving birth; catching the attention of females; performing mating rituals; feeding their babies; or teaching them how to breach.

At the beginning of December, the Northern Hemisphere sends a smaller family of humpbacks to Drake Bay for the same purposes. In fact, this is the only place on Earth where 2 families of humpback whales can be found in the same breeding grounds, at the same time. There is no data to conclude that breeding between the families has ever occurred, but this is the only chance where any humpback family could possibly mix DNA with that of another family. It’s hard to believe, but even during these months, I commonly hear that visitors have been told that it’s not the season for whales.

The simple truth is that because 90% of travelers only have 3 days available for activities in Drake Bay, people rarely find the chance to do activities that go beyond the standard Corcovado, Cano Island and a day at the beach. I am constantly amazed how many activities exist in this area (I’m talking about truly amazing activities) and even more amazed by how few people set aside the time to experience more than 3 of them. If 90% of visitors had 4 days to spend here, then it is my belief that the whale and dolphin tour would be one of the tours that everyone traveling to Drake Bay would do.

There are a total of 12 whale species (excluding dolphins) that either reside here, migrate here, or pass through during the year, so it’s obvious that some variety of whales can always be found.

Yeah, it’s that good.

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In general, all Drake Bay Cano tour operators provide the same timelines and price. Cano Island has been rated amoung the top 10 best places for snorkeling and scuba diving. Funnily enough, it’s not rated so well on TripAdvisor. I’ll explain why in a moment.

The reason Cano Island is held in such high regard, stems from its biodiversity. This place simply has so much to offer. There are so many beautiful fish; some solitary, some in small groups, some in groups large enough for you to disappear inside of. Sometimes the fish are teeny tiny, and sometimes they’re bigger than you.

The tour is completely safe and allows people to experience the wonders of what it’s like to be in the water with creatures like stingrays, devil rays, manta rays, octopus, various eel species, turtles, whale sharks and so much more. You never know when something bigger than you will appear out of nowhere.

Roughly 90% of snorkelers will experience sharks, but there has never been an attack of any sort. Although dolphins never approach divers or snorkelers at Cano Island, they are regularly spotted on the way to or from the island. Two groups of humpbacks visit the area, so there is virtually always a chance to see them or one of the many other whale species found in this incredible paradise.

Cano Island’s high rating certainly did not derive from its colorful corals. Cano Island actually has lots of coral species, and the clarity of the water is much better than many of the surrounding areas. But it’s not the Red Sea, Hawaii, Belize, The “Good” Barrier Reef, or what Aruba once was. The species of corals found in these areas are vulnerable to being clogged by sediments and could not survive in the waters surrounding Cano Island. The corals that have evolved here are more resilient to the unique waters of the Eastern Pacific.

Having said this, Cano Island is situated far enough from the mainland to possess more clear water than other islands in the region. A current runs north between the mainland and Cano and acts as a filter for many of the sediments that are pushed from our rivers during rains.

Now, back to why TripAdvisor doesn’t rate Cano Island as highly as I would.

Because there are some sediments in the ocean here, there are also better and worse times for visibility. The best time to go snorkeling from the shore with regard to visibility would be high slack tide. This is the time when the high tide has ended and the low tide begins.

All Drake Bay tour operators leave at the same time and return at the same time, every day, all year. Some people get optimal conditions and you can read about those experiences on TripAdvisor. Some don’t and you can read about that on TripAdvisor as well.

In reality, there are two options for Cano Island reservations. There is an AM time slot and there is a PM time slot. The PM option is never utilized because it is difficult to get groups of people that are going off of the norm. We suggest that you check the tide charts for the dates that you have planned in Drake Bay and book your adventure based off whether AM or PM provides the best opportunity for your group.

If the tide is not as important to you, The PM tour would be the better option in all cases, because you will experience Cano Island without all of the other tourists. Having the island all to yourself is a different level of awesome!

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Of all the things faced by travelers planning a trip in Drake Bay, lack of time seems to be the one that causes the most frustration. Because of time constraints and an abundance of available activities, I see opportunity in the fact that just 2 hours of snorkeling at Cano Island is sufficient for visitors to understand how impressive the location is. Thus, I recommend combining your Cano Island snorkeling with a Whale and Dolphin Pelagic Tour.

The whale and dolphin tour by itself, passes by Cano Island, on the way to the Furuno Bank (30 miles offshore), but it doesn’t stop. If one were to add a Cano Island certified tour guide and entrance pass to the whale and dolphin tour then the group can also make the Cano Island stop, accomplishing the equivalent of both activities in just one day. In addition to saving time, this combo costs much less than doing the two activities separately.

Not only do you get more potential snorkeling time, but the tour allows for visiting Cano Island either in the late afternoon, when most tourist boats have already left. I personally prefer to have space when exploring nature and this is a non-issue when you are in the only boat in the vicinity.

You have probably done the math by now and realized that this combo tour is 8.5 hours long. It’s not for everyone! You will be tired when you return to Drake Bay but the experience gained from maximizing your opportunities definitely deem it worthy of the long nap afterwards! Most that visit Drake Bay are here for adventure, so if you think that you are ready, then this combo day should be on the top of your to do list.

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Nevertheless, travelers from around the world visit Drake Bay’s Isla del Caño based on the amazing tales of adventure and experience that are offered here. Most commonly, visitors talk about experiencing the thrill of swimming with marine species that are often larger than oneself!

Isla del Caño is located between 2 ocean currents that follow the Pacific coastline. Between the mainland and Isla del Caño the current flows north, and beyond the island a current flows south. Many migrating creatures use Isla del Caño as a “rest stop”- a place to enjoy the bounties and relax before continuing their impressive journeys.

For this reason, our island receives visitors such as: many varied whale species; dolphin species; sharks; whale sharks; Manta Rays; and enormous groups of reef fish in all sizes and shapes. I would estimate that 90% of snorkelers experience sharks and rays when visiting the island. 80% will swim with turtles and also witness dolphins on the way to or from Caño.

Bottom line from my perspective, Isla del Caño has been rated among the top 10 places to snorkel or SCUBA in the world. A bad day here should be better than a good day at most other locations. I personally have not experienced a bad day on any of my Isla del Caño visits. I normally snorkel and find friends to “babysit” my life jacket while I free-dive. I am new to free-diving so I cannot travel to impressive depths but this is not really necessary during the snorkeling tours. I simply dive down whenever it seems like I need more clarity.

Isla del Caño is still the amazing place that it was when I first experienced it 8 years ago. The main reason for this is likely due to the fact that all tourists enter the water from a boat. The benefit of this is not putting groups of people, of varied experience levels, in the shallow waters. I have seen the destructive effects of allowing tourists to walk into the snorkeling area during numerous visits to Caribbean Islands, particularly in Aruba. The organisms living in the shallows form part of an ecosystem that is necessary for sustaining life in deeper waters. The human impact is usually most destructive in areas where people are able to stand. Evidentially, keeping things beyond a reachable distance is preventative measure enough. This is why it is so important not to touch anything when experiencing the aquarium-like environment that is Isla del Caño.

Many ask whether they should do the snorkeling option or the SCUBA. I often tell divers to do both. Most frequently I have found that snorkelers experience more biodiversity and the divers experience more groups of larger creatures. They are both great for different reasons.

The visibility here may not always be crystal clear, but the life is always present. Of course, not having the ability to see when the water is cloudy will detract from experience. If you have oxygen tanks, then you can normally find clarity. Snorkeling is more susceptible to the 2 directions of oceanic currents previously mentioned. The 2nd most significant piece of data would probably be the timing of the day’s tide.

It could be said, if you enjoy staring at fish tanks, snorkeling is great, but if you need to actually be in the fish tank, definitely choose SCUBA.

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According to National Geographic, Corcovado National Park is “the most biologically intense place on Earth”. As far as the opportunity for spotting animals, Sirena Ranger Station is the most biologically intense place within Corcovado. Understanding the history of this land helps to see why the animals seem to flock to this section of the park more than any other.

Sirena was once a village settled by 7 Costa Rican families. The families were encouraged to move to the area as a way to protect it from Panamanians that might move north and claim the land for themselves. The families cut much of the vegetation in the Sirena area to make room for cattle farming, banana plants and orange trees- sustaining the families while they searched for gold. After years of success as gold miners, the Costa Rican government sent men to Sirena with boats, guns, and no notice to take the families from their homes. They were given some compensation by the government and many then settled in Drake Bay. October 14, 1975 Corcovado National Park was born.

Almost all of the gigantic primary forest trees were removed prior to eviction day, so when the area became a protected national park sunlight was able to reach the soil, promoting quick regrowth. Young plants produce significantly more food for animals than the large trees of primary jungles, so animals quickly returned to the area. Sirena also has abundant clean water from Rio Sirena and Rio Claro. Basically, if an animal in Sirena is hungry, it eats. If it is thirsty, it drinks. With so much abundance, animals here are more picky than in other regions of Costa Rica and work very little for their food.

Almost everyone who visits Drake Bay goes to the Sirena Station. The fact that so many biologists pay to do it over and over again proves how impressive it is. If you are traveling with only one other person and you are here for 3 activity days, do the Sirena Station. It has a very high level of satisfaction amongst those with little time and a desire to see animals.

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San Pedrillo Rangers Station is my favorite place inside Corcovado National Park. Other than the rugged trails, life there is as if humans never happened. Being located in the least trafficked part of the most bio-intense place on Earth, I hold a strong opinion that this is the truest experience of the Osa Peninsula that can currently be accessed by visitors.

I estimate that 90% of those that come to Drake Bay are here for 3 days. Those days are; a day at the beach, Isla del Caño (snorkeling or diving), and Sirena Rangers Station. All of these days are absolutely well-spent and guests rarely depart without feeling that they will always remember their experiences here. For those few that are here for more than 3 days, it is often difficult to arrange tours that go beyond these activities. Regardless of how amazing said activity may be, smaller groups often need to find other visitors with time to participate in order to organize a tour group. San Pedrillo’s primary jungle is only one of those amazing activities.

I believe that the popularity of Sirena Rangers Station is due to the economics of the local area. With most visitors only having 1 day dedicated to Corcovado National Park, the place where the most animals are seen gets the biggest smiles. Sirena’s jungle has only been growing since 1975. The jungle is much less dense, flatter and provides more food for animals.

Conversely, San Pedrillo has more hills with thicker jungles. It is not possible to see all of the wildlife. There is no questioning the intensity of life around, but it may be blocked by the foliage. If Sirena is the best place to see larger wildlife, then San Pedrillo is unquestionably the 2nd best. Aside from animals, San Pedrillo best shines when one can appreciate the evolution of the area on all scales. From microscopic life to the largest trees of 77 meters tall, this place lives and breathes as a whole, with many convergent evolutionary paths and symbiotic relationships to experience.

The biodiversity yet to be discovered in the Osa Peninsula continues to attract studious minds from around the world to Costa Rica, seeking new species and biological data. San Pedrillo is where I would like to send them.

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When people of the Osa Peninsula talk of overnight tours in Corcovado, it is commonly assumed that they are speaking of staying at the Sirena Ranger Station portion of the park. The San Pedrillo Ranger Station is the only other ranger station that also possesses overnight capabilities but it is much less known and it has never been as comfortable as the now newly built Sirena Ranger Station.

There are very reasonable people that choose to accept the slightly less comfortable conditions of the San Pedrillo Station over the experience found in the Sirena Ranger Station. It has many benefits over Sirena when it comes to experiencing the jungle in its purest form, which you can read about in the San Pedrillo section of the site.

Overnight tours in the Sirena Ranger Station have always been very popular and there are 3 ways that tour operators generally structure the adventure:

1) La Leona-Sirena-Los Patos

The greatest traffic of Sirena overnight visitors come from Puerto Jimenez, which is located on the southeastern tip of the Osa Peninsula. Guides originally hiked people from La Leona Ranger Station to Sirena for dining, sleeping, breakfasting and then they returned to La Leona. Puerto Jimenez produced lots of business using this model and within a couple of years the traffic on the trails of La Leona caused many of the animals to jump ship, creating many disappointed visitors. Nowadays, the Puerto Jimenez tour guides generally begin at La Leona Ranger Station and hike to the Sirena Ranger Station where people dine, sleep, breakfast and then they end the tour with the walk to Los Patos Rangers Station. This is nice because it allows guests to experience 3 of the 4 major ranger stations, with varying elevations and ecosystems.

My problems with this are:

1. Visitors often express dissatisfaction with the La Leona Station because of the effects of mass tourism in the area.
2. Los Patos is at high elevations which creates an environment with less water and comparatively less life.
3. The distance and terrain of this hike is too much for most people. They often comment that they didn’t have a chance to enjoy it because the trails are difficult, even during dry season. After rain, the steep trails leading to Los Patos Rangers Station also become very slippery.
4. Most comment that there is not enough time to be at Sirena Station.
5. Tours organized from Puerto Jimenez often have guides that only pretend to be from the Osa Peninsula.

2) The Reverse Option
This tour starts at Los Patos Rangers Station and the group treks to Sirena Ranger Station where people dine, sleep, breakfast and then conclude the tour walking to La Leona Ranger Station.

I think that this is better than the first option because it is easier to walk down from Los Patos Ranger Station than up to it.

3) Sirena from Drake Bay

The 3rd option of doing an overnight tour to Sirena Rangers Station is to do the adventure from Drake Bay. Here, guides take visitors directly to Sirena by boat. This experience usually begins with a hike of 2-3 hours through one of Sirena’s 5 trail loops. The guests then sign in at the station and relax before lunch. After lunch is an afternoon hike which is completed by 4pm. Dinner is served at 5:30 and guests are encouraged to sleep early.

The next morning will start with a 3am wake up call and breakfast at 3:30. The morning hike begins at early in order to experience the jungle as it awakes. After the morning hike ends, guests will eat lunch, gather their things and meet up for the return boat to Drake Bay.

The positives of overnight at the Sirena Ranger Station from Drake Bay are as follows:

1. The ability to stay in the much more natural village of Drake Bay is a huge plus when compared to staying in the city of Puerto Jimenez.
2. Visitors experience the maximum amount of time in the place with the most biodiversity of animals on earth. From Puerto Jimenez it is usual to arrive at Sirena just before the trails close with little to no energy for exploring.
3. The tour guides of Drake Bay work together by telling each other where they experienced something special. This relationship does not exist amongst Puerto Jimenez tour guides, so your chance of spotting something amazing are greatly increased when you go with Drake Bay.
4. In the Drake Bay model, the trails are flat and clean. The Puerto Jimenez routes contain many places where children, the elderly or the less-athletic simply cannot go. The trails are often too slippery and are too steep.
5. The Drake Bay to Sirena tour does not contain 1.5 hrs of driving on a hot, bumpy, dirt road.
   An hour and fifteen minutes on a boat, both going to and coming from the station, provides 2.5 hours worth of opportunity for whale, dolphin and other marine species sightings.

I have had 100% of Drake Bay visitors state that an overnight tour in the Sirena Ranger Station was too expensive before actually going on the tour. I have never heard a tourist say the same after their tour was over. I have never had someone visit the Sirena Ranger Station overnight and say that it was anything less than amazing.

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Drake Bay is well known for it’s biodiversity on land. Cano Island is well known for it’s marine biodiversity, but only a few people know that there are other oceanic activities available here. The unique location of Drake Bay allows for easy access to many excellent fishing spots and charter fishing tours here are just as amazingly biodiverse as anything that Drake Bay has to offer.

Offshore fishing, Bottom Fishing and Inshore fishing methods require an experienced fishing captain, and a seaworthy, well maintained fishing boat with the proper fishing tools. Because Drake Bay is home to just 500 residents and receives a relatively small number of visitors that usually only stay for 3 days, few people have the time to experience charter fishing tours. thus, there are only 2 boat captains who are licensed to conduct such trips. This is truly diamond in the rough opportunity.

The Inshore Fishing trips traverse the bountiful coastlines searching for signs of feeding grounds. The coastline leading from the Sierpe River towards Corcovado National Park contains many river mouths and lots of rock structures. The river mouths provide a constant amount of freshwater life that encourages huge fish to enter the shallower waters. The seemingly infinite number of shoreline rock structures also provide a safe haven for smaller bait fish. Just beyond, the fishing captain’s hungry targets await.

Inshore Fishing potential catches include:
Snapper, Sea Bass, Spanish Mackerel, Pacific Black Snook, and Rooster fish.

Bottom Fishing requires a captain with lots of experience. This is because one needs to have intimate knowledge of the rock structures and the sea floor of the area. Drake Bay is the upper rim of an ancient volcano, with Cano Island being the other side of the rim peaking above water. The volcano’s rim stretches 15 miles across and because of the ancient volcanic activity that existed millions of years ago, the ocean bottom has many rock structures that are located in rather random places.

Any of the significantly sized rock structures found around Drake Bay contain giant feeding fish. The types of fish caught when bottom fishing travel from place to place to feed.

Bottom Fishing species include:
Gigantic Amberjack, Red Snapper, Grouper, and Pompano.

Offshore Fishing from Drake Bay is where some of the biggest fish in the world can be caught, such as the Black Marlin, an enormous beast that can reach a weight of 1,560 lbs. These charter fishing trips travel 30 miles offshore to the Furuno Bank, where the ocean floor plummets from 30 feet to more than 3000. There is a major current that follows this bank and it is used as a superhighway for creatures migrating south. The fish that are caught on offshore trips are generally policing the waters as the current brings past their potential prey.

All fishing in Drake Bay is exceptional- but nature is nature. Not every journey will produce 300lbs of fish. However, from the information I have gathered over the years, Drake Bay is simply the best option for maximizing your opportunities.

Some of the more popular types of fish caught offshore include:
Marlin (Black Blue, and Striped), Sailfish, Tuna, Mahi Mahi and Wahoo.

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