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TRANSPORTATION: How to get to Drake Bay Costa Rica

CALETAS - DRAKE BAY - OSA PENINSULA - COSTA RICA

Below are some of the options to get to Copa De Arbol from the airport in San Jose. This information is intended to assist travelers who have booked complete packages as well as travelers who would like to build a custom itinerary. Please be sure to let us know which options you choose or any special needs that you may have, especially if you opt for a rental car, local bus, or the Drake Bay boat, so we can coordinate all the proper arrangements.

Additionally, please note that some car rental companies offer the service of retrieving the vehicle in Sierpe for an additional or extra fee. If you plan to utilize this option, be sure to communicate your preference so that we can assist in organizing a seamless experience for your journey in visiting Drake Bay.

For incoming international flights to San José, we advise that your arrival is no later than 8:30-9 am in the high/dry season (mid-November – April) to make the connecting domestic flights, morning boat transfers, and thus, the entire trip in one day. In the low/rainy season (May – November), the regional carriers do not offer as many options, and the ones they do are quite early in the morning, so it may require an overnight stay in San Jose. If you are unable to arrive early enough in the high season or are traveling during the low season, we can offer San Jose hotel recommendations.

The Quickest Way
The Other Way

AIRPLANE

If you’re wondering how to get to Drake Bay, Costa Rica, the quickest way is to take a flight to either the Drake Bay or Palmar airstrips from the airport in San Jose (approx. a 40-minute flight). We recommend Sansa (www.flysansa.com) Sansa flies from a terminal right next door to the international airport, and is a great option if you have a tight connecting flight (Sansa is very convenient). 

OPTION 1

DRAKE BAY AIR STRIP

We will have our shuttle pick you up at the airport for the 15 minute drive to the small town of Drake Bay. From there, it is a 5 minute boat transfer to Copa De Arbol.

A white and red plane flying through a cloudy sky.
A small airplane parked on a dirt road.

OPTION 2

CARMONA PRIVATE CHARTER

We can arrange a private charter flight with Carmona Charters, an excellent way to avoid an overnight in San Jose or travel to or from another location in Costa Rica. Please inquire for availability and rates.

OPTION 3

PALMAR AIR STRIP

Sansa is currently not flying to and from Palmar but hopes to do so in the near future.

A small plane is parked on a tarmac next to a fence.

TRAVELLING FEES

  • Transportation: 13% tax will be added to all transfer rates

  • Drake Bay Airport to Copa De Arbol: Pick up or drop off (taxi and boat) $40 per person each way

  • Palmar Sur Airport to Copa De Arbol: Pick up or drop off (taxi and boat) $115 per person each way (2 person minimum)

  • Sierpe to Copa De Arbol: Pick up or drop off (boat only) $120 per person each way. Includes a boat ride from Sierra to the hotel, which travels through the stunning mangrove forests of the Sierpe River. Approximately 1 hour (2 person minimum / discounted group rate for 5 or more guests)

  • Domestic flight: Round trip San Jose to either Drake Bay Airport or Palmar Sur Airport $280 per person ($140.00 each way, this price may vary depending upon season)

  • Private Charter flight with Carmona Charters, an excellent way to avoid an overnight in San Jose or travel to or from another location in Costa Rica. Please inquire for availability and rates.

 If you have questions, please contact Summer, our reservation manager in the US at 831-246-4265 or summer@copadearbol.com. She will be happy to help.

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Visit Drake Bay, Costa Rica and discover an untouched gem of biodiversity where rainforests meet crystal-clear waters, offering a mesmerizing blend of natural beauty, unique wildlife, and local culture, all waiting to be explored.

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