Getting to Drake Bay is part of the adventure! Drake Bay can be reached by plane, bus, boat, taxi, shuttle and 4×4.
There are several flights every day to Drake Bay from San Jose for most of the year and a couple of flights in the morning in the lowest season. The flight is about 40 minutes unless there is a stop in Puerto Jimenez. This is the easiest and fastest way to get to Drake Bay. We are happy to make your flight arrangements for you. Use our Reservation Request Form to tell us your flight requirements.
Getting to Drake Bay by Bus
The earliest bus from San Jose leaves the Tracopa bus station (near Clinica Biblica) at 5 am. The ticket counter opens at 4.30 am and you should buy tickets at least one day ahead in the high season. You reach Palmar Norte around 11am and should then take a taxi to Sierpe. Once in Sierpe, go to the big sign that says DONDE JORGE at the restaurant of Hotel Oleaje Sereno. Sierpe is a very small town, so don’t worry, you will find it! The 11:30 am boat is $15 per person and the 3:30 pm boat is $20 per person.
For a complete bus schedule for Costa Rica, click here. Enter where you are leaving from and that you are going to Palmar, you date and click “Search connection.” If you want to take the bus all the way to Sierpe, enter that you are going TO Sierpe VIA Palmar. However we do not recommend this as you might not reach Sierpe on time for the 11:30 am boat to Drake Bay.
Driving to Drake Bay and Sierpe
If you want to drive to Drake Bay, you must have a 4×4. Once you turn off onto the road leading to the Drake Bay area, it is unpaved and there are big dips, streams and rivers to cross.
It is not recommended to drive to Drake Bay in the rainy season. However, if you are feel confident behind the wheel of a 4×4, it can be a fun and scenic adventure to get here in the dry season.
A much easier and faster way to get to Drake Bay by car is to drive to the town of Sierpe and either turn your rental car in there, or leave it in the enclosed parking area adjacent to Hotel Oleaje Sereno.
Adobe Car Rental can deliver or pick up a car in Sierpe for a fee of around $20. When making your reservation, choose the closest office, which is Uvita, and then add your details in the comment section of the rental form. You can say something like “I would like to drop off my car in the town of Sierpe, please advise of any fees.”
You can then take one of the community boats that leave from Sierpe and travel up the Sierpe River to Drake Bay twice a day, at 11:30 am and 3:30 pm. The boats leave from the dock at the restaurant of Hotel Oleaje Sereno. There is a big sign that says DONDE JORGE. Don’t worry, Sierpe is a very small town and you will find it.
The morning boat is $15 per person and the late afternoon boat is $20 per person.
If you can make it on time, the first boat at 11:30 am is recommended for maximum chill time in Drake Bay. The late afternoon boat gets you into Drake Bay with less than an hour of good daylight to find your way around.
The boat ride from Sierpe to Drake Bay is about an hour long. Be sure to tell the captain which hotel you are going to before you leave Sierpe.
Driving Directions to Drake Bay and Sierpe from San Jose
Directions to Sierpe by Car (Recommended)
From San Jose, take Highway 27 from near La Sabana and the National Stadium to the coast. As you drive towards the coast, just past Orotina, turn left (south) on the coastal highway called the “Costenera”, Highway 34.
Continue on this road all the way to Palmar Norte. At Palmar Norte turn right and cross over the Terreba River Bridge, and then make a quick right again right after the bridge. This takes you through Palmar Sur on Highway 223 to Sierpe, which is about 15 minutes away.
Drive to the far end of Sierpe by the river to Oleaje Sereno Restaurant and ask the owner, Jorge, about parking and water taxis. You should plan to arrive at least one hour before the 11:30 am or 3:30 pm departures. The drive from San Jose to Sierpe is about four hours.
Directions to Drake Bay by Car (For the adventurous only)
Take the Pan American Highway towards Panama. Turn right at Highway 245 at Chacarrita. There is a restaurant and a gas station there. Fill your tank up as there are no more gas stations, including in Drake Bay. Follow the signs towards Puerto Jimenez. From Chacarrita you have about two hours to go to reach Drake Bay.
Just before a new concrete bridge and across the street from Montana Rio Restaurant, you will turn right, now leaving the paved road. There will be small signs for Drake Bay. If you reach La Palma, you have gone too far.
You will pass a small village called Vanegas and go up and down a mountain ridge towards Rancho Quemado and up over another ridge and drop down towards Drake Bay. This is a winding and occasionally single lane road, with several streams and when it rains, rivers.
Use your 4 wheel drive up and down the two ridges. Drive slow and watch for trucks and motorcycles.
As you drop back to sea level you will pass the town of Progreso, which is also where the Drake Bay Airport is.
Shortly you will reach the Drake River, which can be a challenge when it has been raining. If you are unsure, wait for a car to follow, or walk across first. Continue on and in about 10 minutes you will see beautiful Drake Bay.
Getting to Drake Bay from Puerto Jimenez
Directions to Drake Bay from Puerto Jimenez by Bus
Take the bus from Puerto Jimenez to La Palma, which leaves at 11 am or 3 pm. Get off in La Palma catch the connection to Drake, which passes twice a day at 11.30 am and 4.30 pm.
You can also get reservations for the bus from La Palma to Drake by calling Diego 8330-5548.
Taxi to Drake Bay from Puerto Jimenez
The easiest way from Puerto Jimenez is to take the collective taxi. Call Julio at 8924-8025.
Getting from Uvita or Dominical to Drake Bay or Sierpe
The driving distance between Uvita to Drake Bay is 96 miles and from Dominical, 120 miles. You will need a 4×4 even in the dry season.
If you are wanting to make a tour leaving in the morning from Drake Bay, driving from Uvita or Dominical is possible, but we recommend staying the night before in Drake Bay so that you don’t have to leave so early and rush in the morning. We are happy to help you arrange your hotel in Drake Bay. Use our Reservation Request Form to set it up!
We offer rental cars at a discounted rate. Click here to rent a car!
You drive (or take the bus) to the town of Sierpe, take the community boats which leave Sierpe at 11:30 am and 3:30 pm and arrive in Drake Bay an hour later. Community boats leave from the dock at Hotel Oleaje Sereno.
You can then leave for Sierpe at 2:30 in the afternoon after the tour on the community boat. Or, even better, stay longer in Drake Bay and enjoy our immense beauty and wildlife! You will not regret it!
For directions to Sierpe or Drake Bay from Uvita or Dominical, see the directions above from San Jose..