Boat tour over the reefs of Caño Island near Drake Bay
13 tours · 3 categories

Every tour in Drake Bay

Thirteen ways to explore Corcovado, the Pacific and the rainforest — guided by a local family who lives it every day.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I book a tour?

Send us the form on this page or message us on WhatsApp with your dates and how many people. There is no automatic calendar — we read every request and reply by hand, usually the same day. Nothing is charged when you ask.

How far ahead should I book?

For most tours, a few days is fine. For the Sirena overnight and three-day trips, book as early as you can — the park caps the bunks and they go months ahead in the dry season. December to April is busy across the board.

Do you pick up from my hotel?

Pickup is not included, but Drake Bay is small enough to walk. Tell us where you are staying and we will tell you exactly where and when to meet us.

Can I book more than one tour?

Yes, and most people do — a Corcovado day, a Caño Island day, and something short in between. Tell us how many days you have and we will suggest an order that works with the tides and the early starts.

What happens if the weather is bad?

Normal rain does not stop a tour. A heavy storm or sea conditions sometimes do, and that is the captain's call on the morning. If we cancel, you are moved to another day or refunded in full — we do not run a boat we are not happy with.

Are the guides licensed, and do they speak English?

Yes. Corcovado requires certified guides and ours are certified and bilingual in English and Spanish. On the water you are with a captain who ran commercial boats out of this bay long before it had tourists.

Is there a refund?

The policy depends on the tour. Tours that require park tickets, permits or other third-party reservations are non-refundable once confirmed; the others are refundable. Check the FAQ on each tour page before booking. If we cancel due to force majeure, we will offer another date or a full refund.

From our guests

Hear from travelers who chose us

13 reviews on Google

We booked two tours with Bucaneros and were very satisfied. We especially enjoyed a trip with Carlos on the boat, where we saw a huge pod of dolphins and were treated to a delicious meal in a beautiful bay. Carlos is a relaxed, caring, and friendly guide. If you're still hungry or thirsty after the tour, the family-run restaurant El Bucanero is a great option.

Mats Ahlgren

The bioluminescence tour was wonderful. Carlos and Carlos or friend will take you out on a multipurpose boat, the same one their family uses to catch fresh fish for their restaurant. This type of bioluminescence is reactive to the touch. In Drake Bay in mid-July, we went out into the middle of the bay and swam in life jackets. They were willing to do a private tour for a bit longer for a little more, and were very flexible and nice. I felt comfortable at night with a ratio of 1 guide to 3 people, so if swimming in a lifejacket at night in the bay is scary for you, you might inquire about that. It is difficult to climb up to the boat without a ladder on your own, but extremely easy with the captain's helping hand. This bioluminescence is not easily photographable and requires at a minimum a very very large aperture DSLR with very high ISO and sensitivity, and even then it's extremely faint. Think of it as bright as small ephemeral stars in the water, a few dozens whenever you move. The snorkeling goggles are not compatible with prescription glasses, but I preferred personally the clarity of no goggles (which can get foggy), while my companions preferred with goggles. Any night is good as long as the moon is not up in the sky (new moon or near new moon is fine any time of night, but anything else and you have to check the lunar hour by hour moonrise moonset time table). Very nice family, who helped us out a few times when we forgot an item or two. Tasty drinks and food at their restaurant too. Another unnamed popular agency across the street cancelled another bioluminescence tour we booked, disingenuously claiming "weather" (seemed fair weather; I think they didn't get enough customers that night), but Bucaneros Corcovado Tours is very good. Bucarenos Tours honored the scheduled time and has always been straightforward and honorable, and we greatly enjoyed their kindness/hospitality and experience. Muchas gracias para todos 🤎

Dominik Müller

Thanks Carlos for the amazing kayak tour showing us the bioluminescence! After paddling out in the sea for a while, the biolumnescence was clearly visible from the kajak and even more while swimming in the sea. It was magical!

Christoph Hammer

We booked the Sunset & Bioluminescence Tour as a family, and it was absolutely amazing. Carlos and his friend did an outstanding job throughout the experience. Our kids especially loved when they cut fresh coconuts from the palms and prepared sugar cane for us to try. They even brought along cold beers, which we enjoyed while watching the sunset from the boat. Later, swimming in the glowing water under the pitch-black, starry sky felt truly magical. We can without hesitation recommend this tour. If you're interested, it’s best to visit Bucaneros Restaurant and arrange it directly with them, as the website still needs a bit of improvement . Its worth it! :)

Ron Mitchell

My wife and I were impressed by the professionalism and knowledge of Carlos during our inshore fishing tour today. He tried different spots, different techniques in pursuit of the best experience. We caught Bonito Tuna, Red Snapper, Spanish Mackerel, and Jack. The Jack fish was served at the El Bucanero Restaurante in a Ceviche dish - muy deliciosa!

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+506 6194 7003 info@bucaneroscorcovadotour.com
Drake Bay, Osa Peninsula · Costa Rica
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