By air: From San José, Costa Rica’s capital, you can take a domestic flight with SANSA Airlines directly to Bahía Drake. SANSA’s terminal is located next to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO). To get there, exit the international terminal, turn left, and walk about five minutes. You’ll find the SANSA terminal on your left.
Check flight schedules here:
https://www.flysansa.com/destinations/drake-bay

By car: There are two main routes to drive from San José to Bahía Drake, both taking around 6 – 7 hours.

Here are the directions from San José to Bahía Drake, following the «coastal route (the fastest)»:

1. Head west from San José through Quepos, then follow the southern coastline.

2. At Palmar Norte, join the Pan-American Highway (Route 2) and continue south toward the Osa Peninsula.

3. Around 30 km past Palmar Norte, you’ll reach Chacarita, where there’s a large gas station on the right. This is your critical turn-off.

   Instead of continuing straight for Puerto Jiménez, at Chacarita, you will turn right onto Route 245.

4. Follow Route 245 for approximately 42 kilometers until you reach Rincón de Osa.

5. Just after Rincón (about 3 kilometers past it), turn right onto an unpaved road that leads towards Bahía Drake. Look for small signs indicating «Bahía Drake» or «Drake Bay.»

6. Continue on this road. A 4×4 vehicle or at least a high-clearance vehicle is highly recommended, and often necessary, for this section, especially during the rainy season (roughly May to November).

7. You will eventually reach the village of Agujitas, which is the main town of Bahía Drake. There’s a new bridge over the Rio Drake, which makes the crossing easier than in the past.

Important Considerations for Driving to Bahía Drake:

• Road Conditions: While the initial highways are paved, the road from Rincón to Bahía Drake is unpaved, with potholes and varying conditions depending on the weather.

• River Crossings: While a new bridge has improved access, traditionally, some river crossings were required. It’s always a good idea to check current road conditions if you’re traveling during the rainy season.

• Gas: Fill up your tank in Chacarita. There are no gas stations in Bahía Drake.

• Alternative (and often recommended) way: Many visitors drive to Sierpe (which is accessed by turning right just after the bridge in Palmar Norte onto Route 223) and then take a boat taxi from Sierpe to Bahía Drake. This avoids the challenging unpaved road to Drake Bay and is a very popular and scenic option. If you choose this, you can leave your car in a secure parking lot in Sierpe.

 By bus: Transporte Blanco-Lobo operates a daily bus from San José to Puerto Jiménez, departing at 12 pm. The trip takes approximately 8 hours and costs about $18 USD (9,400 colones, taxes included). You can buy tickets directly at the bus station. If you’re taking a taxi, ask the driver for “the bus to Puerto Jiménez, San Carlos stop.” The station is 75 meters north, on the left.
We recommend checking the bus schedule directly on the company’s website:
http://www.grupoblanco.cr/rutas/
Scroll down to find route #699BS BLANCO LOBO, San José – Puerto Jiménez.

Bahía Drake is a small town but offers a variety of services for residents and visitors alike. Some of the services that can be found include:

• Restaurants and cafes: A selection of places to eat ranging from local restaurants to more international options.
• Shops and supermarkets: Small grocery stores, supermarkets, and local markets to stock up on food and other basic supplies.
• Transportation: ATV rental agencies, taxis, and public transportation services to move around within and outside the area.
• Internet connection: Some restaurants offers internet connection.
• Laundry and cleaning services: Local laundries and cleaning services for those in need during their stay.

We usually recommend hiking shoes, sandals, or Crocs for river crossings. If you’re accustomed to rubber boots, they’re an excellent choice. If you don’t want to take them back, you can donate them for future hikers.

We offer the option of secure payment through our platform with Credit or Debit cards with our provider, Tilopay. You will find the corresponding link on each of our tours on the website. If you want more information about our payment process or if you need an account number to make a deposit just get in touch with us.

It’s not allowed to bring food into the park, except if you’re doing long hikes (La Leona-Sirena or Los Patos-Sirena), where you can bring your own food. However, vegetables, fruits, and canned foods are not permitted. You can bring energy bars, cookies, sandwiches, dried fruits, or a mix of nuts. You can buy some snacks at the Sirena store (cookies, empanadas, artisanal bread, seasonal fruit drinks, coffee, tea, and chocolate). Full meals at Sirena Station and other establishments must be booked in advance. All our packages include dinners, lunches, and breakfasts.

Bringing food is only permitted in exceptional cases, such as for children or people with specific medical conditions, such as diabetes for example.