The Osa Peninsula is one of Costa Rica’s most magical spots. With most of the land covered in rainforest and abundant nature all around, it’s a must for eco enthusiasts. But fitting this faraway destination into your itinerary can be challenging. In this post, we’ll unravel the mystery of traveling to the Osa Peninsula and share a sample 12-day itinerary.
Itinerary Overview
For this itinerary, you can fly into either Costa Rica’s main airport in San Jose (SJO) or the smaller airport, Liberia (LIR), in northwestern Costa Rica. Both are the same distance (about 2.5 hours) to your first destination, La Fortuna/Arenal.
Your first few days will take you to Costa Rica’s most famous volcano, Arenal. After exploring the old lava flows and soaking in the natural hot springs, you’ll head to Manuel Antonio on the central Pacific coast. This is a longer drive (about 4.5 hours) but will get you closer to the Osa Peninsula for the third leg of your trip.
From Manuel Antonio, you’ll travel 2 hours down the coast to catch the boat taxi to Drake Bay. After a few nights in the heart of the Osa, you will take a different route back to San Jose, stopping in the mountains on the way (about 3 hours). San Gerardo de Dota is in the cloud forest so will have a completely different feel from everywhere else you will have visited.
After San Gerardo, you’ll end the trip with a 2-hour drive back to San Jose to catch your flight.
Days 1-3 – Arrive in San Jose or Liberia. Drive to La Fortuna/Arenal Volcano.
Getting to La Fortuna/Arenal
From either San Jose or Liberia Airport, the trip to La Fortuna will be about 2.5 hours along well-maintained paved roads.
Tip: This itinerary works best with a rental car but if you’re not comfortable driving, you could easily take private shuttles. If you decide to rent a car, be sure to check out our Rental Car Discount to save 10% and get free extras like an extra driver and car seats for kids.
La Fortuna/Arenal: Town Setup and Things to Do
La Fortuna is a small, but popular destination, located in Costa Rica’s Northern Highlands. The busy downtown has a quaint central park surrounded by several restaurants and shops. Although this destination is popular, it still has a local feel.
Several roads lead out of town towards the volcano and Lake Arenal, or to smaller communities set in the jungle. Many hotels are located in these quieter areas. Lodging in La Fortuna is abundant and ranges from luxury resorts and boutique hotels to ecolodges, family-run cabins, and basic hostels.
For things to do, the Arenal area has almost limitless choices. Many people take advantage of the elaborate hanging bridge facilities, which are some of the best in the country. Other notable activities include zip lining, waterfall rappelling, whitewater rafting, and wildlife tours like river floats, nature hikes, sloth tours, and night walks.
La Fortuna is also a great place to experience the culture. Not only will you see Costa Ricans in their day-to-day life, but you can do activities like coffee/chocolate tours and local cooking classes.
For more information about visiting La Fortuna, read our full destination guide, La Fortuna: What to Expect.
Days 3-6: Head to Manuel Antonio.
Getting to Manuel Antonio
The drive from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio will be about 4.5 hours. This is the longest drive of the itinerary but will be worth it. After your time in Manuel Antonio, it will only take a couple of hours to reach the riverside town of Sierpe (where boat taxis to Drake Bay leave from).
Tip: A great stop to break up the drive from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio is the Tarcoles River. From the bridge right on the highway, you can see the giant crocodiles below. Or take a short boat tour along the river to get a closer look.
Manuel Antonio: What to Expect and Things to Do
Manuel Antonio is one of Costa Rica’s most popular destinations, and for good reason. Although this beach town is fairly developed, it’s still full of rainforest and wildlife. You could be staying in a five-star hotel with all the amenities and have monkeys and iguanas right out your window.
The town is situated along one main road that starts in the small locals’ city of Quepos and ends at the national park and beach. Along this stretch are lots of eateries, shops, and hotels. With most things close by, Manuel Antonio is a very convenient destination.
The main beach in Manuel Antonio is the focal point of town. It’s decent for swimming, though the waves can be bigger. Other popular activities are the national park (known for its easy wildlife viewing), mangrove boat or kayak tours, catamaran tours, whitewater rafting, zip lining, and a spice farm.
For more information on Manuel Antonio, read our full post, Manuel Antonio Trip Planning.
Days 6-9: Travel to Drake Bay (Osa Peninsula) via the Sierpe Boat Taxi.
Getting to Drake Bay
After three nights in Manuel Antonio, you’ll continue down the Pacific coast to the riverside town of Sierpe. Here, you’ll catch the boat taxi to Drake Bay, which is like a tour in itself. Your boat captain will lead you down the scenic mangrove-lined river, out to the ocean, then drop you off at your hotel in Drake.
Tip: You won’t need a car in Drake Bay since there aren’t many roads. Instead, you can leave it parked safely in Sierpe for about $6 per day.
Drake Bay: What It’s Like and Activities
Drake Bay has a very small town center with a few simple lodges and restaurants. More accommodations can be found in the thick jungle outside town. It’s important to note that several hotels and resorts are remotely located so include three meals per day.
Although small, Drake Bay boasts many options for lodging. You’ll find a mix of luxury ecolodges and ocean-view bungalows to rustic lodges and even tent camps.
For activities, most people come to Drake Bay to visit the famous Corcovado National Park. Tours leave by boat early in the morning for a half day of hiking at San Pedrillo or Sirena Ranger Station.
Corcovado is truly an amazing wildlife destination. You can see all four types of monkeys that live in Costa Rica, Baird’s tapir (the largest land mammal in Central America), sloths, rare birds, and much more.
Another popular activity is snorkeling or diving at Cano Island. The reefs around this protected island are one of the best places in Costa Rica for underwater exploration. On our visits, we have seen many types of schooling fish, turtles, and even white-tip reef sharks. It is also common to see dolphins or even whales (seasonal) on the boat ride to and from the island.
For more information on visiting Drake Bay, including details on taking the boat taxi, read our post, Drake Bay: Costa Rica Unplugged.
Days 9-11: Leave Drake Bay for the Cloud Forests of San Gerardo de Dota.
From Drake, you’ll take the boat back to Sierpe then drive about two hours to San Gerardo de Dota. This drive is a little adventurous, as the last part winds through the high-altitude mountains south of San Jose. The roads are all in good condition, though, and fine for daytime driving in all but the rainiest months (usually September and October).
For tips on navigating Costa Rica’s roads, be sure to read our post, Driving in Costa Rica: What to Know Before You Go.
San Gerardo de Dota: Town Overview and Things to Do
As you ascend the mountains to reach San Gerardo de Dota, you’ll notice a dramatic change in the landscape and climate. The hot, palm-tree-filled coast will quickly turn to cooler montane forest. This misty cloud-forest environment is stunning in its own way. Layers of moss and lichens grow on top of plants and trees, making the forest feel very dense. Bursts of colorful flowers adorn the completely green setting.
San Gerardo de Dota is a very small town. Lodging is limited but there are still plenty of good choices for ecolodges, which fit nicely into the natural environment.
Some highlights for things to do in San Gerardo are hiking in the cloud forest, visiting a waterfall, and birding. Most visitors want to see the elusive Resplendent Quetzal, a gorgeous green and red bird with long tail feathers.
Since there isn’t much to do in San Gerardo, two nights is plenty of time for a visit.
Here’s the link to our full post on San Gerardo de Dota with hotel recommendations.
Day 12: Drive to San Jose
Feeling refreshed from the cooler mountains, you’ll head to San Jose for your flight home. The drive will be around two hours with traffic.
If you need an overnight near the airport, we have recommendations for hotels in scenic locations that make for a great way to end the trip. Here’s the link to our post, Best Hotels Near SJO Airport.
Conclusion
Although the Osa Peninsula is remote and harder to get to, with some careful planning, it’s easy to plan a visit. This itinerary not only takes you to the Osa, but also incorporates a few of Costa Rica’s other amazing destinations.
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Have a question about visiting the Osa Peninsula or still aren’t sure about your itinerary? Ask a question below.
Looking for more information to plan your trip? Check out these posts:
Costa Ballena: Uvita, Dominical, and Ojochal – If Manuel Antonio sounds too busy, you could easily swap it out for one of these more off-the-beaten path towns on the southern Pacific coast.
Puerto Jimenez: An Outpost to the Osa – This is the other major (but still small) destination on the Osa Peninsula. You could visit Puerto Jimenez, right on the mainland, instead of Drake Bay if you’d prefer to drive directly and not take a boat taxi.
First-Time Visit to Costa Rica: Why You Should Go, What to Expect & Tips to Plan – Learn the basics about traveling to Costa Rica. The many microclimates, approximate temperatures, safety, and much more.