Costa Rica - Osa Peninsula, Drake Bay and Corcovado National Park

My Impressions

Located in the southeastern part of Costa Rica, is the second largest national park in Costa Rica, and the last ecosystem of its kind in Central America. Christmas in Bahía Drake was Christmas in paradise, Pura Vida indeed!

Our starting point was the Las Caletas Lodge, which can only be reached by boat or a 30-minute walk. The tour to the southern Corcovado National Park at La Sirena also starts with a boat ride directly from the lodge.

The guide with his telescope shows animals and plants during a walk through the rainforest that are easily overlooked.

There are various animals to discover such as all 4 types of monkeys in Costa Rica, peccaries, coatis, frogs, and snakes. With some luck, you might also see a sloth or a tapir.

With this basic information, you can also try your luck on the small forest trail of the lodge - we at least saw a tapir footprint.

Another must-do activity is a snorkeling tour to Isla del Caño to see sea turtles.

I definitely want to go there again and this time hike from Golfo Dulce through Corcovado with Las Caletas as the destination.

My Insider Tip

The boat ride from Sierpe to Las Caletas is already an experience on the wide mangrove river Sierpe. For arrival or departure, a domestic flight is recommended. Before boarding the boat, be sure to try Pipa Fría: a small coconut that you first drink from, and then eat the flesh. The batidos (smoothies with or without milk) made from fresh fruits are also highly recommended.

Bahía Drake with Corcovado was the highlight of our Costa Rica trip, thanks to the competent advice and organization from Latin Travels.

...and something else: if you are driving a rental car, it is recommended to choose an SUV and not be in a hurry. In sparsely populated areas, many roads are not paved and washed out. On the west coast highway, you might even find a school or a beach with a pedestrian crossing 😊

Contact Person on Site

The owner of Las Caletas Lodge, David, speaks several languages including German and provides good tips for excursions and also makes reservations.

Author

D.K.