Frequently Asked Questions

Drake Bay Birdwatching recommends you to start your reservation process at least three or four months in advance if possible. Remember there are limited number of visitors to the parks everyday, and advance reservations is necessary in most cases.

We offer both private and group tours with Drake Bay Birdwatching. To get a more personalized and intimate trip, please inquire about booking your group on private outings. All rates reflected are for group trips. Please be aware private trips will have a higher cost.

Drake Bay Birdwatching will be please to schedule your entire travel itinerary to Costa Rica, or just parts of it. Please fill out this form, and we will be in touch with your travel inquiries very soon!

Although Costa Rica as a country is small, its terrain is diverse and extreme. There ranges from first growth forests to rolling hills, mangrove, volcanos, valleys, and mountain ranges. The lowlands are typically near the coast, which boasts warm tropical climates, often with severely humid conditions. The interior of the country is more mountainous with large valleys and cooler air. The Caribbean coasts and pacific coasts have considerably different weather patterns throughout the year.

Costa Rican weather is very dependent on two factors. Where you are and what time of the year it is. On the south Pacific coast of Costa Rica, the dry season from December through April has considerably hot weather. with virtually no rainfall. The rainy season begins in June and increases in severity through October.

Through the months of July to October you get into prime months for whale watching, specifically the humpback whales who migrate long distances to breed and give birth around the bay. The coves act as protection during this time of their annual trip.

The Osa Peninsula attracts two types of Humpback Whale. Those that visit from January through April are Atlantic humpbacks, while their Antarctic counterparts frequent in much higher numbers between the months of July through October. Drake Bay is considered to have the longest humpback whale season in the world!

GETTING TO DRAKE BAY

By Boat

The water transfer from Sierpe is the most efficient way to get to Drake Bay. The boat leaves from the dock next to La Perla del Sur Hotel every day at 1130a.m and then 4p.m in the afternoon and is 1 hour long. There is also a boat every day from Drake Bay to Sierpe at 7a:15a.m and then 2:30pm.

Morning boat $15 p.p

Evening boat $20 p.p

Driving

The roads of the Osa Peninsula are made for 4WD vehicles only. If you come by car, we don’t recommend to drive with anything other than a 4×4 vehicle due to the constantly changing road conditions and river crossings.

By Plane

This is the fastest way to get to Drake Bay from San Jose. There are three Airlines that offer the service:

Aero Bell Airlines www.aerobell.com

Sansa Air www.flysansa.com

Sky Way  www.skywaycr.com

We can gladly arrange flight and car rental services when you book our tour packages.

By Bus

Travel to Sierpe de Osa direct by taking a single bus from T.R.A.C.O.P.A  in San Jose, the company offers a bus route that departures every day at 8:30 am, takes 6hrs arriving to Sierpe by 2p.m depending on traffic.

Once there you take the water transfer boat in the dock next to La Perla del Sur Hotel.

Drake Bay does not have any banking institution, nor does it have an ATM machine. You will need to bring enough cash with you before departing. There are several banks in the Palmar Norte area.