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How to get from San Jose to Drake Bay
Drake Bay on the northern coast of Osa Peninsula is an unspoiled paradise looking out to the South Pacific Ocean.
It is fast becoming a tourist destination, mainly as a basecamp for Corcovado National Park. But don’t worry! The many eco-lodges that popped up in recent years are far apart and were made to be perfectly in tune with nature.
You will be surrounded by the grandness of nature everywhere you look, and there’s so much to do to enjoy all of it!
The beaches are often empty and the waves are calm. Swimming, kayaking, snorkelling, diving, and even dolphin-watching are all popular activities. Inland is just as exciting. You can go hiking, birdwatching, or mountain biking.
Drake Bay has something to offer for every nature-lover.
New to Drake Bay/Corcovado? Our compact Drake Bay/Corcovado guide shows you the best areas to stay, restaurants you don’t want to miss and many more tips for your visit to Drake Bay/Corcovado!
3 ways to get from San Jose to Drake Bay
There are 3 ways to travel the distance of 370 km from San Jose to Drake Bay: by minivan + boat for 5.5-7 hours, by bus + boat for 7-9 hours, and by flight for 1 hour 50 minutes (including airport transfers). Rates range between $32.00 (17,000 CRC) and $125.00 (67,000 CRC).
Getting from Drake Bay to Corcovado National Park
Drake Bay is one of two common jump-off points when visiting Corcovado National Park. From here, you’ll have access to two of Corcovado’s entry points: San Pedrillo and Sirena. Both ranger stations can be reached by boat.
- 30-minute boat to San Pedrillo
- 1.5-hour boat to Sirena
The boat ride from Drake Bay to any of the ranger stations is often part of the tour that you will get to enter Corcovado. This tour already includes roundtrip boat transfers, a registered guide, as well a permit to visit the national park.
Where to stay in Drake Bay?
Still looking for accommodation? Don’t forget to check out our favourite places to stay in Drake Bay at the bottom of this page.
San Jose to Drake Bay by Minivan + Boat
It is not possible to get from San Jose to Drake Bay completely by land. A popular way to travel this route is by a combined minivan shuttle and boat via Sierpe. On the upside, the boat ride is scenic and already an adventure on its own! Travel time is around 7 hours, excluding the waiting time for the boat.
Step 1: San Jose to Sierpe by Minivan
Super Shuttle and Easy Ride both offer minivans from San Jose to Sierpe. Both of them have 04:00 departures, with Easy Ride offering an afternoon trip at 14:00.
If you want to reach Drake Bay within the day, make sure to take any of the early morning trips! Otherwise, you’ll have to stay a night in Sierpe if you depart in the afternoon.
The minivan will pick you up at your hotel in San Jose and bring you to Restaurante Oleaje Sereno in Sierpe. This restaurant is often a meet-up place for tourists taking the ferry since it has a parking lot where you can leave your vehicle. Sierpe River Ferry Terminal is just a 5-minute walk from this restaurant.
A minivan ticket costs $75.00 (40,000 CRC) for the 4.5 to 6-hour journey.
Minivan schedule from San Jose to Sierpe
You can book with Easy Ride via BookAway, while you can book your Super Shuttle tickets via their website.
Step 2: Sierpe to Drake Bay by Boat
The boat is a scenic way to get from Sierpe to Drake Bay. This is why we recommend travelling by land (and sea) from San Jose to Drake Bay instead of taking a flight.
Travel time by boat takes around an hour from Sierpe to Drake Bay. A ticket costs $15.00 (8,000 CRC) for the morning trip and $20.00 (11,000 CRC) for the afternoon trip.
In the first 40 minutes of the boat ride, you will be travelling along Sierpe River, which is home to the largest mangrove forest in Latin America.
The ride may get a bit bumpy as your boat crosses the boundary from the river to the sea, but know that you are in the hands of veteran boat captains. After that, it should be a smooth ride again until you reach the picturesque shores of Drake Bay.
Boat schedule from Sierpe to Drake Bay
You can only buy your boat ticket by the dock.
San Jose to Drake Bay by Bus + Boat
There is also a way to travel from San Jose to Drake Bay by bus. This is much cheaper than taking a minivan, but its travel time can be erratic and you run the risk of missing your connecting boat in Sierpe. Combined rates start from $32.00 (17,000 CRC) for the 7 to 9-hour journey.
Step 1: San Jose to Sierpe by Bus
Tracopa operates one daily bus trip from San Jose to Sierpe. This departs at 08:30 in the morning.
The advertised travel time with the bus is around 6 hours. But this can easily take 7 to 8 hours depending on traffic and the number of bus stops. This means that when taking the bus, you might not make it in time for the last boat from Sierpe to Drake Bay.
A bus ticket costs around $12.00 (6,000 CRC). You can buy your tickets at the bus station.
Bus schedule from San Jose to Sierpe
Buses depart from Tracopa Bus Station in San Jose city centre and arrive at Sierpe Park, just 350m east of the River Ferry Terminal.
Step 2: Sierpe to Drake Bay by Boat
Boats from Sierpe to Drake Bay depart twice daily, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Considering the bus schedule though, you can only take the afternoon boat if you want to arrive in Drake Bay within the same day.
Tickets for the afternoon boat cost $20.00 (11,000 CRC) per person.
Boat schedule from Sierpe to Drake Bay
San Jose to Drake Bay by Flight
A faster way to get from San Jose to Drake Bay is to take a flight. Travel time is only about 2 hours, including the airport transfers. But aside from being expensive with combined rates from $130.00 (70,000 CRC), the flight will take away the opportunity of taking an exciting boat ride from Sierpe to Drake Bay.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to help reduce your impact on the environment.
Step 1: San Jose City Centre to San Jose Airport by Bus
You can get from San Jose city centre to San Jose Airport in two ways: via a 40-minute bus that costs $1.10 (1,000 CRC) or a 30-minute taxi with rates from $25.00 (13,000 CRC).
You will find the buses at TUASA Terminal every 10 minutes from 04:00 to 23:00. As for the taxis, you can hail them from the street or through the ride-hailing app Uber. Rates with Uber start from $50.00 (27,000 CRC) but keep in mind that Uber is not yet fully accepted by everyone in Costa Rica.
Step 2: San Jose to Drake Bay by Flight
Sansa Regional offers two flights from San Jose to Drake Bay daily. Flights depart at 11:40 and 14:00 every day and the journey takes around 50 minutes.
Airfares start from $115.00 (62,000 CRC) when you book months ahead. We recommend booking through Skyscanner for the cheapest fares.
Step 3: Drake Bay Airport to Town Centre by Shuttle
From Drake Bay Airport, you can take a shuttle to your hotel. This is normally pre-arranged through your hotel in Drake Bay. Let them know the carrier you’re flying with as well as your expected time of arrival on Drake Bay.
A shuttle ticket costs $10.00 (5,000 CRC) per person.
Our favourite places to stay in Corcovado-Drake Bay
Las Caletas Lodge - Treat Yourself
If you’re looking for a secluded escape from the world, then Las Caletas Lodge is your place. The only ways to get to this hotel is by boat from Drake Bay, or a walk along the jungle path.
Not to worry, both your breakfast and dinner are included in the price of the room. It’s practically impossible to leave without having released some of your stress, as the lodge oozes peacefulness. Adding to that, only steps away you’ll find the perfectly blue ocean.
- Secluded location in the jungle
- Breakfast and dinner included
- Steps from the sea
- Helpful and friendly staff
Double rooms start from $80 per night
Hotel Finca Marensia - Treat Yourself
Hotel Finca Maresia is set slightly further back from the beach of Drake Bay. It’s surrounded by lush forest and greenery, where all you’ll be able to hear is the thriving wildlife.
There’s also an onsite bar and restaurant, so you won’t have to venture far for some delicious food or a refreshing drink. The cabin-style rooms with balconies, offer the perfect place to relax and admire the magnificent view. This place gets booked up in advance, so if you want to stay here, you better get booking!
- Onsite restaurant and bar
- Situated within the jungle
- Breakfast included
- Balconies with hammocks
Double rooms start from $80 per night
Hotel Jacamar - Mid Range
Visiting Drake Bay and Corcovado is all about surrounding yourself in Costa Rica’s nature. Hotel Jacamar boasts the perfect balance between nature and luxury. Their flourishing gardens make you feel like you’re in the jungle, but their large and clean rooms create a space of comfort.
The staff are extremely hospitable, helping to organise your trip to Corcovado National Park. It’s location also makes it great for exploring the town.
- Large and luxurious rooms
- Beautiful gardens
- Great location
- Beach pick-up from arrival by boat available
Double rooms between $50-$80 per night
Casita Happy Feet and Tours - Budget Friendly
Entering Casita Happy Feet, you’ll feel as if you’re being welcomed into Javier and his wife’s home. Javier has been a guide in Corcovado National Park for over 25 years now. Having him as your guide, with his enthusiasm, knowledge and experience, you’re guaranteed an incredible visit!
Every morning, even the early ones, you’ll awake to a delicious and freshly cooked breakfast, perfect for your day of adventures. The rooms are clean and homely.
- The best guide for Corcovado National Park
- Delicious breakfast included
- Great location
- Beach pick-up from arrival by boat available
Double rooms between $15-$50 per night
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Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
