• Please contact Drake Bay Backpackers and let us know how you will be arriving in Drake Bay, so that we can organise transfers if needed. If you have any problems, call, email or ask for the Corcovado Foundation office in Drake Bay.
• Plane
• Both Nature Air and Sansa offer daily flights from Juan Santamaria International Airport, San José, to Drake Bay. We offer a free airport transfer service for our guests arriving or departing from Drake Bay airport.
• Boat
• Two boats leave daily from Sierpe (near to Palmar Norte) to Agujitas (Drake Bay) at 11:30am and 3:30pm. From San Jose, take any bus going to Palmar Norte (5.5 hours) departing from the TRACOPA terminal or take the Transportes Alvarez and Morales shuttle service directly to Sierpe.
• At Palmar Norte you can take a taxi to Sierpe. A ‘colectivo’ taxi is much cheaper ($4) than a private one (up to $20). The boat journey (1 hour) costs $15-$20.
• When you arrive in Agujitas (Drake Bay) you can either make use of our boat transfer service ($20) or take advantage of the local bus ($3) that leaves Agujitas for El Progreso (15mins) at 2pm and 6.30pm Monday to Saturday during dry season.
• Bus
• From San José, take the 8:00am bus to Puerto Jiménez from outside Terminal Transportes Blanco (Address: Calle 14, between Avenida 9 and 11). The ticket costs around $13. Tell the driver that you wish to get off at La Palma (Osa) (8 hours). A local ‘colectivo’ minibus leaves La Palma for Drake Bay at around 4:45pm (Monday to Saturday only). Tell the driver that you wish to get off at Fundación Corcovado in El Progreso (1 hour). It’s a bumpy ride! This journey costs around $5.
• Car
• From San José take either the coastal highway (via Quepos; route 34) or the mountain route (via San Isidro and Buenos Aires; routes 2 and 237) to Palmar Norte, before continuing on the Pan-Americana highway (route 2) toward the Panama border. At Chacarita turn West into the Osa Peninsula toward Puerto Jiménez (route 245). At Rincón de Osa, turn West onto the unsealed road and follow signs to Drake Bay. Once you have passed through the village of Rancho Quemado you will climb over the last mountain range and begin to see the sea. Immediately after the third river crossing you will see the hostel on your left, recognizable from a large sign saying Fundación Corcovado.
• Note: There are three rivers to cross and some steep inclines and so it is highly recommended that you have 4WD. It is not recommended to attempt the journey at night.