In the southwest corner of Costa Rica, the Osa Peninsula encompasses lush primary rain forests and a complex systems of freshwater and marine resources. The area includes multiple protected areas including Corcovado and Piedras Blancas National Park, and Caño Island Biological reserve.

If you are visiting Costa Rica hoping to enjoy its biodiversity and its nature, the Osa Peninsula is as goods as it gets for nature lovers.

You can start your trip to Osa from several different spots: Dominical, Palmar Sur, Drake Bay or Puerto Jimenez, among others. We will explain to you how to get to Drake Bay and/or Puerto Jiménez, since these two are the furthest and most popular places visited by tourists in Osa.

How to get there?

You can get to the Osa in several ways: you can fly, drive or take the bus.

If you decide to fly:

You can fly to four different locations in Osa:  Golfito, Palmar Sur, Drake Bay or Puerto Jiménez.

If you fly to Golfito, you can visit Piedras Blancas National Park, Playa Pavones (one of the best “left” waves in the world of surfing), playa Zancudo and others.

If you fly to Drake Bay or Puerto Jiménez, you can visit Corcovado National Park from either one side or the other.

If you fly to Puerto Jiménez, you can visit the beautiful beaches of Carate, Matapalo and use the Corcovado National Park entrance of La Leona to visit the park.

If you fly to Drake Bay, you can visit the Drake Bay area, nearby towns and Caño Island Biological Reserve. Caño is famous for its world class diving and for being an important archeological historical site.  This is also the best way to reach Sirena Biological Station and San Pedrillo Ranger Station in Corcovado National Park.

There are two main domestic Airlines: Nature Air (www.natureair.com) and  Sansa (www.flysansa.com)

By car

From San Jose to Palmar / Sierpe / Corcovado
There are 2 ways to go:

1-Starting From San José take the Pan-American highway towards Cartago then South over the mountains to San Isidro.

2- From San Isidro take the road and follow the signs to Dominical. Once at Dominical continue following the coastline south to Punta Uvita. You will pass the beaches of  Tortuga and the town of Cuidad Cortez, just keep driving towards Palmar Norte. Once at the stop sign of the Panamerican Highway South turn right, cross the bridge, and turn right again to Sierpe. Follow this road through the Banana plantations and it will lead you to Sierpe.  In Sierpe you will need to catch a boat to take you to Drake Bay.  We suggest you make it to Sierpe no later than 11:30 a.m. in order to find a collective boat and share the cost of the trip to Drake Bay.

3- From San Isidro del General take the Panamerican Highway south to Buenos Aires. After Buenos Aires continue on the highway along the side of Terraba river until you reach Palmar Norte. Cross the bridge of this river and turn right to Sierpe. Continue through Banana plantations and this road will lead you to Sierpe. In Sierpe you will need to catch a boat to take you to Drake Bay. We suggest you make it to Sierpe no later than 11:30 a.m. in order to find a collective boat and share the cost of the trip to Drake Bay.

From San José to Puerto Jiménez / Corcovado

From San Isidro take the road and follow the signs to Dominical. Once at Dominical continue following the coastline south to Punta Uvita. You will pass the beaches of Tortuga and the town of Ciudad Cortez just keep driving towards Palmar Norte. Turn right at the stop sign on the Pan- American highway. Continue for 45 minutes until you reach Chacarita. You will see a big sign that says “Puerto Jiménez turn right”. Follow the road until you reach Rincon.  In Rincon you can make the decision of driving to Puerto Jiménez or to Drake Bay.   

By bus

There are two companies that take you to Osa.  Tracopa will take you to Palmar Sur, where you will need to take a taxi to drive you to Sierpe and from there you will need to take a boat.  You should buy your ticket in advance. In San José take a taxi and tell him to drive you to the “Parada de Tracopa” which is located “De licencias del Mopt 100 oeste y 75 sur, Antigua parada de buses de Cartago”. Tel 2222-26-66

The other option is taking Transportes Blanco, which will take you to Puerto Jiménez.  To take this bus, you will need to take a bus to San Isidro del General and then the Transportes Blanco bus in San Isidro del General, located by the “Centro Llantero” tel. 2257-4121 or 2771-2550 .