Wild South & Coastal Charm: A Journey from Drake Bay to Manuel Antonio
Begin your journey in Alajuela, a charming city near San José known for its markets, volcano views, and welcoming vibe—perfect for a gentle start to your Costa Rican adventure. From there, catch a domestic flight to the remote and biodiverse Drake Bay, located on the Osa Peninsula. Spend three days in Drake, where you can explore the stunning Corcovado National Park, snorkel at Caño Island, and immerse yourself in the untouched rainforest.
After the wild beauty of Drake, travel north to Manuel Antonio, a coastal gem blending pristine beaches with lush jungle. Over three days in Manuel Antonio, enjoy the famous national park, spot sloths and monkeys, relax on white-sand beaches, and savor the vibrant seaside atmosphere.
Wrap up your trip with a smooth departure (OUT) from the area, carrying memories of Costa Rica’s rich nature and warm culture.
Itinerary
Welcome to Costa Rica! For your added comfort, once you have passed immigration and customs and stepped out of the airport doors, you will have one of our representatives waiting for you outside with a sign with your name on it. He will drive you to your hotel in San José.
Accommodation: AC Hotel San Jose Airport Belen (1 Night)
Bahía Drake is one of Costa Rica’s most remote and wildlife-rich destinations, nestled next to Corcovado National Park. Howler monkeys echo through the rainforest, macaws fly overhead, and dolphins swim in the turquoise bay near Isla del Caño. Its isolation helps preserve its wild beauty, with secluded lodges offering a true escape. Reaching Drake Bay by boat from Sierpe is part of the adventure—cruising through mangroves and along the coast. Once there, nature is all around. Whether relaxing in a hammock or exploring through optional outdoor activities, it’s a perfect spot for wildlife lovers.
Accomodation: Pirate Cove Hotel (3 Nights)
Corcovado National Park, located on Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. It’s home to scarlet macaws, toucans, tapirs, jaguars, monkeys, sloths, and more.
The Sirena Station is the park’s main ranger station and the best spot for wildlife sightings. Though it’s the most remote and challenging to reach, it offers the unique chance to stay overnight in the heart of the park.
The boat ride to Sirena takes about 1.5 hours.
We recommend that you bring sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, bug repellent, binoculars, bathing suit
and most importantly hiking shoes.
Included:
Transfer, tickets and guide.
We leave each day at 7:00 a. m. The transfer to the island takes between 50 minutes to 1 hour. When the boat arrives to the Island, the instructor will go to the Minaet Station on the Island in order to give the register and show the documents with the reservation and the entrances fees. After that the divers go with the instructor for the first dive.
The dive takes 40 minutes or less, depending on the group. Afterwards the group can rest in the island and drink water. It is not allowed to eat on the island, neither are there toilets. After the short rest we will do the second dive. Our diving groups are small and always accompanied by PADI dive masters, assistant instructors or instructors.
Included:
Transport, Equipment, Bilingual Guide
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio is Costa Rica’s smallest yet most popular national park, known for its white-sand beaches, lush rainforest, and abundant wildlife like sloths, monkeys, and tropical birds. Voted one of the world’s most beautiful places, it offers stunning ocean views and year-round greenery. The nearby town features upscale hotels and restaurants with panoramic vistas. Visitors can enjoy activities like rainforest hikes, water sports, snorkeling, and sunset cruises.
Note: The park is closed on Tuesdays. Optional activities are available but not included.
Accommodation: Si Como No Hotel (3 Nights)
Our Local trips are all boat dives mainly in front of the Manuel Antonio National Park which has a beautiful coastline with 12 islands, giving us the pick of many dive sites.
We have an abundance and wide variety of marine life here. We have many tropical reef fish and an array of Puffer Fish, Trigger Fish, octopus, turtles, eels and lobsters. In season you may get the chance to see Manta Rays! We have a variety of soft and hard coral formations, though here on the pacific coast we cannot boast the coral gardens of the Caribbean. We do have an amazing underwater environment formed by the intense volcanic activity that formed this area. Visibility in the rainy season can vary depending on weather conditions; normally (June to November) is between 15 – 30ft and in the dry season it normally (December – May) is between 30 – 65ft.
All trips include 2 tanks, all dive equipment, and dive master, plus snacks, water and fruit juices. We have trips leaving in the morning at 7:30am and afternoon at 12:30pm (afternoon trips only run in the dry season and weather permitting).
Included:
Snacks in the boat (fruit, cookies, water and soft drinks) and soft drinks) Specialized PADI dive guide All diving equipment.
Join us for the ultimate guided hiking tour through one of the world’s most stunning national parks. Spot monkeys, sloths, exotic birds, reptiles, and butterflies as you hike a scenic 2-mile trail through lush rainforest to a beach ranked among the world’s most beautiful by Forbes.
Enjoy a refreshing beach break with crystal-clear waters and white sand, while your expert guide helps you spot incredible wildlife using high-quality Pentax and Swarovski scopes—perfect for unforgettable photos!
Note: Manuel Antonio National Park is closed on Tuesdays.
Included:
Transportation from and to hotel, bilingual guides, park entrance fee.
Enjoy your last night in the country and take some time to relax as you prepare for your departure tomorrow.
Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton Cariari (1 Night)
What´s Included
Accommodation Services:
- 1 Night at AC Hotel San Jose Airport Belen, Breakfast Included
- 3 Nights at Pirate Cove Hotel, Full Board Included
- 3 Nights at Si Como No Hotel, Breakfast Included
- 1 Night at DoubleTree by Hilton Cariari, Buffet Breakfast Included
Transfers services:
- Private Transfer from International Airport to San José
- Private Transfer from San José to International Airport
- Shared Taxi-Boat Drake Airstrip – Drake Bay – Sierpe
- Private Transfer from Sierpe to Manuel Antonio
- Private Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San José
- Private Transfer from San José to International Airport
Excursions:
- Shared Excursion | Corcovado National Park, Sirena Station
- Shared Excursion | Scuba Diving at Caño Island
- Shared Excursion | Local Dive at Manuel Antonio. 1/2 day
- Shared Excursion | Guided Hike to Manuel Antonio National Park
Extra Services:
- Air Ticket | San José to Drake Bay
Extra information for divers
What to pack on your diving trips
Spare parts and accessories to carry in your suitcase for diving equipment. An extra mask strip or a replacement mask. So you do not have to abort for this inconvenience that can be solved as easily as carrying an extra one.
Fin strips. Think that each fin is a world and has its own strips, some will not serve you for others. Take at least one refill.
A spare snorkel clip. A replacement for the clip that holds the snorkel to the mask in case it breaks or you lose it.
American tape. It is very resistant and a good invention if at any given moment you need to make an improvised fix because something is breaking.
Multi-tool for diving. A multipurpose tool, a spanner or Allen keys, will be necessary if you need to change or adjust any part of your regulator, plate or arms of the camera.
Equipment for underwater photography and video equipment.
Anti humidity bags. If your case has anti-humidity bags to avoid fogging, do not forget to bring them. Bring enough to be able to do several dives in one day. You already know that if the case gets foggy while diving, it’s over to take pictures.
Extra batteries. Both for your dive computer and for the camera, flashes, etc. The ideal is to have rechargeable batteries. Thus, between dives you can leave some batteries charging while you use the others and always have the batteries ready. Keep in mind that if on a diving trip you do 3 or 4 dives a day, the most likely thing is that you will run out of battery.
Extra SD cards. When we are going to spend days diving and taking photos, believe us if we tell you that with a card you are going to fall short. The best thing is that you have several SD cards if you do not have a computer or hard drive where you can store them at the end of the day of diving.
Microfiber towel. To maintain your optimal equipment it is necessary to remove the salt and / or sand from the equipment once the photographic day is over. You will need to submerge all the equipment in a bucket with plenty of fresh water or use a hose to desalt it. Then you will have to dry the equipment with a dry and soft cloth, especially the front of the case, the viewfinders and the lenses, to avoid limescale.
Electricity and adapters
Universal electrical adapter, prevention is always better than cure. If you find that the electrical outlets at that dive site do not fit the plugs on your equipment, you will not be able to charge anything. Therefore, we recommend a universal adapter that is valid for any type of plug and for any part of the world. In which you can connect several things at the same time.
Strip with several sockets. Continuing with the electrical issue, if you need to charge several batteries, those of the flashes, the camera, the computer, the mobile … You may find that in the boat or center you only have a couple of shots available for you. Well, everyone wants to load their equipment. This would mean having to wait for each battery to charge one by one. And you may not have time to load everything you need before the next dive. That is why it is super useful to carry a power strip where you can load everything at once, without waiting.
Keeping the images you take during the trip safe is simple.
First of all, to avoid unforeseen events, take extra memory cards in case one fails or fills up. This way you will always be able to continue taking pictures during the trip. It may also be advisable to bring a hard drive to back up your photos. Especially if you shoot in RAW, because the files will take up much more and you may need extra space.
Waterproof plasters or bandages to heal the chafing or blisters that may come out during a week of diving. Cotton socks are also a very good option. Wear a sock to prevent chafing that occurs on your feet when doing repetitive dives.
Pills for seasickness, if you are one of those who get seasick. Especially if you are going to embark on a life on board and you are caught in bad weather.
Sunscreen, essential when we are going to be outdoors all day. Please use biodegradable sunscreen. If not, we recommend putting it on for at least an hour before going to the water so that the skin has absorbed it and has less impact.
Solution to prevent external otitis. Prolonged exposure to water can cause external ear infections and prevent you from diving. When diving several times a day for several days, such as on dive trips, this ailment can occur. To do this, we recommend that you visit your doctor or pharmacist and they give you a solution to use after diving or at night to prevent the growth of bacteria that cause external otitis.
Other medication you need, such as for headaches, repellent against mosquitoes (especially in tropical areas), etc.
Documentation for diving trips – what to bring in your suitcase diving trip documentation
Copies of documentation. This includes certifications for diving, nitrox, diving and travel insurance, flights and reservations. You can take them on paper and / or on your mobile. Although if at the moment you need them you are without battery or all your luggage is stolen, that would be bad luck … We recommend that you send yourself a copy by email or store it in the cloud, so you can always access them from your email!
It is always good to carry a copy of the documentation in case you lose your diving card or cannot find it. Or in case, let’s touch wood, you need to use your insurance policy. Thus, make sure you have the insurance telephone number for medical emergencies and all the reservation documentation, tickets and hours mentioned.
It is most recommended that you carry all the documentation in a waterproof bag.
Travel insurance
When purchasing dive and travel insurance, it is important to read the fine print. Not all companies cover air delays that prevent you from carrying out the contracted diving packages, for example. We trust Dive Assure with the Dive & Travel Plus plans, make sure you are covered in case of loss of diving luggage. They also offer unlimited medical coverage. So if you need prolonged medical attention, you will not find that they stop covering you and you have to start paying for it yourself. Or in the worst case that you have to interrupt the treatment because you cannot bear the cost. Remember that prevention is better than cure!
- International flights.
Price From US$ 2,575.00
Price Per Person, based on double Occupancy.
