Questions & Answers

No, no, definitely no. As the whole world goes cashless, Drake Bay remains in the age of little colored pieces of paper. Although many businesses do accept credit card- you will need plenty of colored pieces of paper in order to pay taxi drivers, boat captains and restaurants. Although you may not want to leave Drake Bay after your experience here, please make sure you account for the boat to Sierpe and collectivo taxi to Palmar on your way out. We cannot tell you how many times we have seen tourists forget this. Hide $40 in your shoe- do what you have to do! The closest ATMs are located in Palmar Norte and Puerto Jimenez.

No. Please Don’t try to do this. Since 2014, government regulations require a pre-reserved pass with the Ministry of Environment and a local guide. You cannot purchase a pass nor hire a guide on the borders of the park. It is in the middle of nowhere. We think it is important for people to respect these regulations (despite the extra cost), because of the need to limit human impact within the park and also due to the dangers of getting lost. Corcovado National Park is not a quick stroll, like Manuel Antonio, it is, quite literally, a jungle out there. The best way to visit the park is on a day trip or overnight from Drake Bay.

You can also read more about Corcovado Regulations and why they are important, on our latest blog.

For our adventure packages and individual tours, we ask for a 50% deposit in order to confirm your reservation (payable via bank transfer or PayPal). These deposits are refundable up to a week before your arrival in Drake Bay, less a $20-50 administration fee. For adventure packages, depending on your accommodation choice and date of cancellation, there may be a further cancellation fee.

The exception to this rule is Corcovado Overnight Tours. These deposits are only refundable up to 30 days before your trip, less a $50 administration fee.

These cancellation policies are needed because many tour operators must pre-pay for passes, food, guides, boat captains and gasoline. Wages here in the Osa Peninsula can be as low as $500 per month for an entire family and we don’t want to leave them out of pocket.

In the unlikely event that the local operator cancels for any reason (such as extreme weather conditions), you will be fully refunded or rescheduled for that tour or activity.

This is a summary of our recommendations. Click here to download a complete packing checklist, or read more about packing for Costa Rica on our blog.

Luggage: We strongly recommend backpack-style luggage. Suitcases with wheels are very difficult to maneuver on our dirt roads and boats are all wet landings. You should also bring dry bags or ziplock bags for any electronics, to combat the humidity.

Footwear: Flip flops are excellent for walking around town or on the beach. However, for other activities we recommend either Crocs or sandals with good thick straps (both worn with socks). Perhaps not the most fashionable look, but they are lightweight, will dry quickly and will provide sufficient protection on any activities. We do not recommend heavy-duty hiking shoes. They will get wet. They will not dry and you will end up ditching them at your hotel. For those planning night hikes, rubber boots are provided by tour guides.

Flashlights: Absolutely essential for walking around at night and also in case of power cuts.

Insect Repellent: There is no Malaria in Drake Bay, but Dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases do exist. We recommend bringing a natural insect repellent such as Citronella or Lemon Eucalyptus as repellents containing DEET are harmful to your health.

Sun Protection: Even on cloudy days, you can get very badly burnt in Drake Bay especially if participating in snorkeling, diving or whale and dolphin tours. Sunscreen is very expensive at the supermarkets here, so bring plenty of 50+ with you. You should also bring a hat, sunglasses and lightweight clothing that covers your skin.

Camelbaks: These are very handy when traveling to Costa Rica. No matter what activity, it is essential to remain hydrated and you should drink a minimum of 1 liter of water per day to counteract the tropical heat. Water will probably be the heaviest item in your bag when traveling about and the Camelbak is designed to keep this weight as close to your body as possible, making it easier to carry and to access when you need a drink.

First Aid Kit: Pharmaceutical items can be very expensive and difficult to find in Drake Bay. You should consider bringing bandaids, antiseptic cream, alcohol swabs, tweezers, after sun cream, diarrhea and constipation remedies and seasickness tablets. Although you are very unlikely to be bitten by a snake, you might feel more comfortable if you bring a Bite and Sting kit. You should also bring plenty of your prescription medications including birth control.

Fishing, Surfing and Snorkel Gear: It is not possible to rent these items in Drake Bay. Count on paying extra for flights, boats and buses when transporting surfboards and fishing rods. Snorkel gear is included on tours, but bring your own if you want to explore coastal snorkeling spot independently.

Camera and Electronics: Waterproof cameras are highly recommended. Other types of cameras should always be placed in a dry bag or ziplock bag with silica gel pouches. You should have dry bags for all other electronics as well. Not only can it rain at the drop of a hat, but the general humidity level will fry your iPhone in no time.

Power Adapters: Costa Rica uses two and three pronged US electrical outlets. USB battery packs are also extremely handy in case of power cuts.

Binoculars: Useful for all kinds of wildlife spotting.

Compass: Highly recommended for those wanting to explore independently.

Spanish Translator/Phrasebook: Apart from tour guides, very few locals in Drake Bay speak English.

Money and Security: Padlocks are very useful for securing valuables in lockers. You may also want to bring a money belt or travel safe. Since there are no ATMs in Drake Bay, you will need to bring a sizable amount of cash. The local currency is Colones, but US dollars are also accepted everywhere. We appreciate small bills!

There are 2 families of Humpback Whales that visit Drake Bay each year. The first is a group of approximately 2000 whales (the largest family on earth), which arrives in mid-July and remains until mid-December. The second family arrives in early December and departs in mid-May. The only times of year that you are unlikely to see humpbacks on a tour are May, June and July.

Having said that, there are 22 different species of Whales and Dolphins that reside in Drake Bay or pass through on a regular basis, so it is always Whale Season for us!

You can learn more about all of these amazing species on our Whale and Dolphin Blog.

We have two rules for animal safety in Drake Bay. 1- Watch where you are putting your feet; and 2- don’t poke it with a stick. It is true that Drake Bay is home to 7 species of venomous snake, however there are no deadly scorpions nor spiders (the worst case is something akin to a bee sting). Interestingly, studies have been done in the Osa Peninsula as to why our venomous species will not chase people, as they do in other parts of the country. The jury is still out, but the theory is that it has something to do with the abundant food supply. In the incredible intact ecosystems of Drake Bay and Corcovado, why would a snake or shark or crocodile take a bite out of something as bony as a human? According to locals, an attack has not happened in at least 40 years. In areas such as Manuel Antonio, animals (particularly monkeys) have come to rely on tourists and will often steal food. Not so in Drake Bay. As long as you refrain from showing your teeth (smiling) at the White-faced Capuchin Monkeys, they will largely ignore you. We encourage visitors to conserve our environment by refraining from feeding, touching or removing wildlife.

Yes and no. If your hotel is located in or near the town center, they are likely to be connected to the grid or “town water”. This stuff is not good. Not good at all. Unless of course you are brushing your teeth, having a shower, or boiling the s*@t out of it. Most restaurants and hotels will provide filtered water for their guests, but do scope this out with a member of staff first. Hotels that are located off-the-beaten-track are likely to have their own water supply. This is usually very drinkable. Again, check with a member of staff before purchasing bottled water in order to reduce your plastic footprint.

A long, long, time ago, I can still remember when it was 500 colones to the dollar. In the past few years, the exchange rate has fluctuated between this, and about 600 colones to the dollar. In Drake Bay, due to the high percentage of cash-only businesses, people often give you an exchange rate based on the rate they got when they last had to buy something. They may even stick to 500 to the dollar, in lieu of buying a calculator. In general, it is better to bring colones rather than dollars, as you will likely get a better rate from your bank than you will once you get here. The closest ATMs are located in Palmar Norte and Puerto Jimenez.

Most activities in Drake Bay require a boat ride. If you experience motion sickness, you should be prepared. Motion sickness tablets can be purchased at the supermarkets, but they don’t always have the “non-drowsy” type in stock. We recommend instead; to drink lemon, honey, and ginger tea; before your tour. Fresh ingredients are available at the stores, just boil and serve! Even for those with very bad motion sickness, in our experience, ginger has proven effective 100% of the time. Please ask us if you would like some tea prepared for any of the exlcusive tours that you reserve with us. Another good trick is to get into the water, or look at the horizon. For goodness sake don’t close your eyes or look at the floor of the boat.

There are a wide variety of accommodations in Drake Bay depending on your budget and expectations. Take a look at our interactive community map for all the links you will need! You can also use our full service local travel agency to make custom hotel reservations on our adventure packages page.

The best option for surfing in Drake Bay is by the mouth of the Rio Claro. The wave is considered to be of medium difficulty and the beach has soft powdery sand, however there are several rocks both jutting from the water and hiding under the surface. To get to Rio Claro you can take a 2 hour jungle hike along the coast, or take a 10 minute boat ride to the neighboring beach of San Jocecito. Surfboards can be rented at Rio Claro. Other surfing spots in the region are:

Matapalo: A small community located on the opposite side of the Osa Peninsula with three surfing beaches. Arguably the best right-hand break in Costa Rica.
Pavones: Located on the opposite side of the Gulfo Dulce and known as the best surfing spot in Costa Rica (left hand break).

Most travelers plan their vacations in Drake Bay during dry season, from December to March. Although your activities certainly will not be spoiled by rain, Drake Bay is extremely hot and dusty at this time of year. March is the worst time of year to visit as there is less chance of wildlife and the village has been baking under the sun for several months with no relief.

The months with the most rain are generally September and October, but these are also peak whale watching months. May and June tend to be the quietest months for tourism. We would encourage travelers to visit at any time of year (excepting March), as each season has it’s benefits.

Check out our blog What Time of Year Should I Visit Costa Rica? for more information.

Drake Bay is not known as a party town. There are two relatively late night bars, located at the top of the hill in the town center- “La Jungla” and “Ficus”. These establishments are mostly popular with local men, and play reggaeton, bachata, cumbia and merengue music.

For a different kind of “nightlife” we recommend either the Jungle Night Hike or Bioluminescent Plankton Tour

Yes. The “standard” vacation activities of Corcovado National Park and Isla del Caño are by no means the only attractions in Drake Bay. There are a wide variety of activities that can be done without guides at minimal cost. Check our list of Free Activities for more details.

If you are overwhelmed by all the options for tours and activities in Drake Bay, we invite you to use the form below and we will contact you within 48 hours with our customized recommendations. We can even help you to reserve your activities before you arrive.