Highlights
- Spot exotic birds in the jungle during a bird-watching tour around Drake Bay
- Sleep in luxurious eco-lodges between each day's adventures
- Explore Corcovado National Park on a guided nature hike
- Snorkel or dive in the clear waters of the Isla del Caño Biological Reserve
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Drake Bay & Take a Bird-watching Tour | Drake Bay |
| Day 2 | Hike in Corcovado National Park | Drake Bay |
| Day 3 | Snorkel at Isla del Caño Biological Reserve | Drake Bay |
| Day 4 | Drake Bay to San José, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Drake Bay & Take a Bird-watching Tour
Welcome to Costa Rica! From San José International Airport, you'll board a short flight to Drake Bay on the Osa Peninsula. When you land, you'll be transferred to your hotel. The luxurious Lapa Rios Lodge is an excellent option.
This evening, you'll embark on a bird-watching adventure. Starting in time to see the sun setting over Drake Bay, the tour will take you into the wild jungle at one of the peak times for avian activity. Your experienced guides will help you to identify the bird species, pointing out their different behavior and food sources, as well as their colors, sizes, and calls. You may spot various tanagers, toucans, motmots, trogons, flycatchers, hummingbirds, and several birds of prey.
After your jungle hike, you'll return to Drake Bay. For more travel inspiration, you might like to check out Ultimate Guide to the Osa Peninsula.
Day 2: Hike in Corcovado National Park
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Starting at Agujitas Beach on Drake Bay, today's exciting adventure takes you to an interesting and remote part of Corcovado National Park. The park is home to species, including the endangered giant anteater, harpy eagle, tapir, and jungle cats like the jaguar and puma.
Begin your journey with a 30-minute boat trip south down the peninsula's western shore to the San Pedrillo Ranger Station, one of the park's checkpoints. Boats here come in bow first, and you must splash the final distance to shore—an exciting experience reminiscent of what early explorers of this remote region would have done. You'll be in the San Pedrillo area for approximately five to six hours, with time for hiking, wildlife spotting, relaxing on the beach, and cooling off in waterfalls and swimming holes. Afterward, you'll return to Agujitas Beach by boat.
Find out more about activities in the area by reading this article on the best things to do on the Osa Peninsula.
Day 3: Snorkel at Isla del Caño Biological Reserve
Today, you'll explore the waters of the Caño Island Biological Reserve (Isla del Caño) on a scuba or snorkeling excursion. This protected marine area is just off the Osa Peninsula's northern tip.
The excursion begins when you board a boat and take a safety lesson geared to all ages and experience levels. Then it's time to plunge into the water, where you'll find abundant marine life, including reef sharks, sea turtles, parrotfish, eels, manta rays, puffer fish, snappers, sea cucumbers, and octopus. There's also a wide variety of coral-building organisms and 19 different species of coral. Visibility is excellent throughout the year, making Caño Island a perfect site for underwater photography.
Find out more here about snorkeling and diving in Isla del Caño.
Day 4: Transfer to San José, Depart
The trip ends today. You'll transfer to the airport to catch your flight out. Safe travels!
More Great Costa Rica Itineraries
Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Costa Rica? Check out these other Costa Rica itineraries, explore different ways to spend four days in Costa Rica, or discover the best time to visit Costa Rica.
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