Drakes Bay

Drakes Bay (Bahía Drake) is a small bay on the north side of the Osa Peninsula on the coast of southwestern Costa Rica. The main feature of Bahia Drake is Corcovado National Park. This wildlife preserve occupies about a third of the peninsula, and this is known for being one of the largest and most pristine parks in the country. The preservation of endemic species in the area has been made a priority by the Costa Rican government through the efforts of MINAE. Bahia Drake has been accessible only by sea until recently, and consequently remains a largely pristine low-land tropical rainforest. It is one of the last such remaining areas on the Pacific coast. Since about 1990, eco-tourism has been the principal economy of the area.

Believed to be a port used by Sir Francis Drake in the 16th century and the location of one of the British pirate's fabled hidden treasures. The main town of Bahía Drake is Agujitas and has a population of about 1,000 residents. The bay is not on the beaten track and can only be reached by highway during the dry season. Boat service up the Sierpe River and air travel connect Bahía Drake to the rest of the World during the rainy season. There are miles and miles of beautiful coastline with rocky crags and sandy coves that extend from Agujitas, where the village of Bahía Drake is located southward toward the boundary of Corcovado National Park about 12 miles to the south. Along this stretch of beach are located some of the most remote and spectacular ecolodges in Costa Rica.