Drake Bay is famous for its tours, a great way to see the area and learn all about the flora and fauna. We have 3 national parks close by. Corcovado, Caño and the Terraba-Sierpe Mangrove. The most popular activities are featured below. Why not try something else as well. You can go for a night walk in the jungle or, float down a cool river to the Pacific Ocean. Go sport fishing, horse riding or bird watching.
If you’re not sure what to do, just let us know your likes and dislikes and we’ll create your own bespoke itinerary. Tours and activities are available as part of wider groups or, private – just let us know your preference. To support the Drake Bay community we only work with trusted local companies and guides who are fully licensed and certified. Check out our package deals for accommodation and tours. Contact us to find out more about bookings, packages, private guides and tour variations to suit you.
Whether you’re staying for 2 nights or 10 check out our recommend tour itineraries.
Corcovado National Park*
One of the most biodiverse places in the world and, the best place in Costa Rica to see animals and birds in their natural jungle environment. From Drake Bay, you enter the park at the Sirena or San Pedrillo ranger stations, on the Osa Peninsula coastline.
Tours include boat transportation, captain, park entrance fee, a bilingual ICT certified guide with telescope and food. Tours all start around 5.45 – 6.00am from the main beach. The below itineraries are typical. Timings and activities may differ.
Day Tours
Sirena Ranger Station – the gentlest of the hikes suitable for all ages. Around 75mins to Sirena by boat followed by a 4hr walk. You usually see the most wildlife on this tour including monkeys, birds, peccaries, coatis, sloths and tapirs. After lunch at the ranger station you arrive back at the village around 2.00pm.
San Pedrillo Ranger Station – reasonable level of fitness and a love of hiking required. 30 minute boat trip. 2 walks in total. A 3-4 hour walk in breathtaking primary jungle, back to the ranger station for lunch. A 30 minute hike to a waterfall, hopefully a refreshing swim and back to catch the boat to take you back to the village, arriving back around 2.00pm.
Sirena & San Pedrillo combo – Amazing and highly recommended and challenging. You need to be fit for this one as there’s around 15km of hiking in jungle humidity. If you’re up for it, it’s extremely rewarding and the stuff forever memories are made of. This tour requires a minimum of 4 people. You start the day with the Sirena tour, followed by a 45 minute boat ride to San Pedrillo ranger station around 12:30pm. There you’ll have a 30-minute break for lunch and begin the hike to the waterfall (hopefully squeezing in a swim). You’ll finish off with a hike through Corcovado’s most pristine primary rainforest, over 2,000 years old. After exiting the park boundary you’ll be picked up from a nearby beach. Back to the village main beach around 3:30-4:00 p.m.
All Corcovado tours require a non refundable deposit and you’re required to register your passport number and name at the time of booking.
Caño Island*
Caño Island’s clear, warm water has a superb array of marine life. Snorkelling or SCUBA diving is available. This makes it the best place to visit in mainland Costa Rica. The island is a biological reserve and you’ll get the opportunity to view rays, dolphins, turtles and whales.
Snorkel – includes entrance to the reserve, snorkelling gear, boat, captain, ICT certified guide, lunch and soft drinks. A typical day starts at the beach around 7.30am and back for 1.30-2.30pm. It includes a 1 hour boat ride to the island. 2 immersions (snorkelling) about 30-45 minutes. There’s a 20 min break at the ranger station on Caño Island. Sometimes if conditions/time allow there’s break on San Josecito beach too. Sea life can include sea turtles, stingrays, manta rays, moray eels, barracudas, tuna, snapper, parrot fish, puffers, and more.
Scuba – Caño Island is one of the world’s best dive destinations, there are numerous dive sites with lots of variety. Coral reefs, reef sharks, rays, schooling fish, channels, tunnels, holes, caves and caverns.
A typical day starts around 6.30am at the dive shop finishing up back at the beach around 1.00pm. It’s about a 45min boat ride to Caño Island. There’s 2 dives with breaks spent on the island itself. It includes the equipment, park reserve fee, guide, boat, captain, lunch and soft drinks.
Mangrove Tour
Explore the largest protected mangrove area in Central America. Avid wildlife watchers can expect to see raccoons, caimans, crocodiles, monkeys, river turtles, sloths and coatis. This trip is a birders delight. You can expect to see the yellow mangrove warbler, the common potoo, and the frigate bird to name a few.
Dolphin/Whale Watching Tour
Costa Rica’s Pacific coast one of most biologically diverse ocean ecosystems in the world. It has a healthy marine habitat for a variety of creatures. Whales, dolphins, tuna, marlin, manta rays, sea turtles, and more live in these waters. We’re fortunate to host two migrations of humpback whales and see large pods of dolphins. Year round you can see the bottlenose, rough tooth, and spotted dolphins.
*We strongly recommend booking Corcovado National Park and Caño Island early to ensure the best guides and to secure your places, at least a month in advance if visiting from December to March.