Logistics · Destination Guide
Protected Pacific reefs by day, Osa rainforest by night.
Use this travel brief to set arrival flow, local transit, and gear movement before you lock your itinerary.
Caño is marine boat access only and requires approved reserve booking and registered guide supervision. This is not an independent ferry to island accommodation. Local scuba and snorkel operators commonly describe crossings of about 40-60 minutes, depending on conditions and boat; verify what is included in the booked activity. The official reserve rules, including landing status, take precedence over commercial schedules.
Drake Bay Airport
DRK • MRDK
Local Drake Bay arrival airstrip; exact road distance varies by lodging. • Prearranged local transfer; time varies by accommodation and road conditions.
Domestic airstrip serving the Drake/Agujitas land base. SANSA currently lists the destination. Arrange road pickup with lodging; flights and baggage can change with weather and aircraft.
Transport: Lodge pickup, Locally prearranged taxi
Juan Santamaria International Airport
SJO • MROC
Remote from Drake Bay; not a local airport. • Varies materially by domestic connection or long road-and-boat routing.
Primary international entry airport at San Jose/Alajuela. Travelers connect to Drake domestic air service or continue by road and boat through Sierpe.
Transport: Separately booked domestic flight to DRK, Prearranged road journey to Sierpe plus boat to Drake Bay
Agujitas is a small land base. Some lodges are reached by local taxis, 4x4 or boats; confirm if lodging is near the central Drake landing or a farther coastal sector. On wet boat landings, passengers may wade between boat and beach. Avoid assuming a public pier, rental-car access to every property or the ability to drive onto Caño. The Sierpe water taxi is a transfer gateway, not a recurring in-destination scuba shuttle. For Corcovado, use the separately authorized park operator and sector.
Costa Rica requires valid travel documents, nationality-specific visa compliance, proof of return or onward travel, and possible evidence of financial means. The immigration officer determines the permitted duration; eligibility for up to 180 days is not a blanket promise for all nationalities. Travelers entering from certain yellow-fever risk countries may face a vaccination certificate requirement. Verify the rules for your passport and itinerary on the official tourism board entry page. Bring the same passport or ID details for the separate SINAC reserve reservation. Caño is not an international port of entry.
Dive and snorkel products commonly list gear inclusion, but confirm sizes, wetsuits, tanks, weights, computer availability and equipment service. Bring personal mask if fit matters, certification, medical declaration, refillable water and a dry bag. SINAC lists no potable drinking water at Caño and bans single-use plastic within the reserve. If traveling by small plane, confirm baggage allowances. Keep all essential medications in weatherproof carry-on access. No verified independent technical-gas, decompression-gas or apnea-training logistics were found.
Costa Rican colon (CRC)
Costa Rican colones are the national currency; USD is commonly quoted for marine tours and lodging. Cards may work with established operators but smaller Drake restaurants, taxis and boats can require cash. Avoid assuming every seller accepts USD or that exchange rates are fixed. Tourism board.
Several local sources report no bank or reliable ATM in Agujitas/Drake. Withdraw enough cash in Palmar Norte or another mainland stop, check card surcharges and protect money in a dry bag. An occasional cash-advance offer at a store is not a substitute for an ATM. Local FAQ.
120 V • 60 Hz • A, B
US-style type A/B sockets are standard, though remote lodges may have temporary outages. Use the appropriate plug adaptor and check device voltage. Electrical Safety First.
Communications
Spanish is the operational language and lodging/tour operators may communicate by WhatsApp or email. Costa Rica tourism guidance describes prepaid SIM availability; check carrier coverage at the specific lodge and do not assume offshore mobile reception. Save contact details offline, bring a charger/power bank and agree on a return plan before a remote boat trip. A phone signal is not a substitute for the boat radio or emergency beacon.
Language
Spanish is the national language. Some dive providers, including Drake Divers, advertise English-speaking guides. Confirm the language of dive briefings and reserve instructions directly, especially for technical medical or safety information. Knowing simple Spanish travel phrases is useful for taxis, boats and small restaurants.
Insurance
Buy travel medical cover suitable for remote Costa Rican travel plus specific recreational scuba or snorkeling benefits as needed. Dive accident, hyperbaric treatment, emergency evacuation and the actual depth/activity should be included; many ordinary policies exclude scuba or nonstandard breath-hold activity. No specialized freedive or technical program was validated. Carry insurer 24-hour contacts, DAN information and documentation; medical facilities may require payment arrangements. UK FCDO; DAN.
Packing list
Pack reef-appropriate swimwear, mask if you prefer your own, rash guard or wetsuit for exposed days, closed-toe trail footwear, lightweight rain layer, hat, refillable water bottle, sunscreen, insect repellent, personal medicine, power bank and a dry bag. Bring certification and medical records when scuba diving. Avoid carrying single-use plastics into the reserve per SINAC and expect wet landings in Drake. For night walks take long sleeves, trousers and a flashlight. Do not bring a drone for reserve use without specific aviation authorization.