Drake Bay is a horseshoe shaped bay carved out of the Pacific Ocean featuring a picturesque strip of rainforest sloping from large hills to the seaside. Teeming with life, the blue water tides wipe clean the hard-packed, sandy beaches daily while scarlet macaws feast on the many fruit and nut trees. Pelicans fly overhead by the dozens, and the lush, blindingly green jungle provides an incredible backdrop to an array of wildlife.
The small village of Agujitas (Agujas to locals) with it’s basic restaurants, general stores, and other small establishments and residences is the hub and commercial centre of Drake Bay.
Agujitas as well as the hamlets of Los Planes and Progreso are built modestly , tucked in amongst the trees and babbling brooks of the tropical rainforest. The people are kind, and eager to share with you their waterfalls, hiking trails and knowledge of the jungle, the sea and it’s inhabitants.
Drake Bay’s laid back, barefoot attitude is a refreshingly slow pace for those used to the hustle and bustle of the proverbial rat race. Flashlights are a must, as the power goes out (often). The town ‘road’ is at times impassable due to high tides, heavy rains, or an occasional broken down delivery truck. Monkeys have been known to steal sugar bowls off porches and iguanas gobble flowers before you can pick them for the table. It’s a slightly less travelled path, so a sense of adventure is required and a sturdy pair of hiking shoes recommended.
Day trips to Cano Island give you world class diving and/or snorkeling opportunities, and hikes through nearby Corcovado National Park (which National Geographic calls; “ the most biologically intense place on earth“) guarantee glimpses of wildlife flourishing in their natural habitat. If a full day seems like too much, horseback riding through the jungle, or along the beach is a lovely way to pass the morning or afternoon.
It’s the ideal place to photograph a troop of monkeys, scuba dive with white tipped reef sharks, zip through the canopy treetops, or just lay back on the beach and watch the day go by….
Drake Bay is a tropical paradise, and it’s just waiting for you to visit.