Kayak Tour from Drake Bay
All tours
5.0 · All skill levelsFlexible · by the hour1 per kayak
Ocean & Water · Self-paced

Kayak Tour from Drake Bay

Stable, comfortable kayaks by the hour — paddle Drake Bay's coastline, hidden beaches, rivers and mangrove edges at your own pace, for any skill level.

About this trip

What to expect

Rent a kayak by the hour and explore Drake Bay independently — calm coastline, hidden beaches, quiet river mouths and the edge of the mangroves.

Each kayak is single-person and stable and easy to handle, suitable for all skill levels. Basic fishing equipment is available on request. Bring your group and paddle together, each in your own kayak.

Trip highlights

Explore at your pace

Coastline, hidden beaches and rivers.

Wildlife from the water

Tropical birds and shoreline life.

Stable & easy

Comfortable kayaks for any skill level.

Optional fishing gear

Basic equipment available on request.

Your day, hour by hour

The itinerary

Flexible

Pick up your kayak

Quick briefing on the bay and conditions.

On the water

Paddle the coast

Beaches, river mouths and mangrove edges.

Return

Return

Bring the kayak back whenever you're ready.

What's included

  • Kayak rental (by the hour)
  • Life jacket & paddle
  • Quick safety briefing
  • Optional basic fishing gear

Not included

  • Guide (self-paced tour)
  • Sunscreen & repellent
  • Drinking water
  • Personal items
$15per hour
Reserve this trip
Before you go

Good to know

What to bring

Sunscreen, a hat, drinking water and a dry bag or waterproof pouch for your phone. Wear something you do not mind getting wet.

Who it's for

Everyone. The kayaks are wide and stable, the bay is sheltered, and you set your own distance. Families and complete beginners do this happily.

Best season

All year. Mornings are almost always calmer than afternoons, whatever the month, so an early paddle is the better paddle.

Where we meet

At the beach in Drake Bay, whenever suits you. We give you a short briefing on the conditions and the bay before you push off.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a guide included?

No — this is a self-paced rental, which is why it costs what it does. You get a briefing, a life jacket and a paddle, and the bay to yourself. If you would rather have a guide with you, ask us and we will arrange one.

How is it priced?

By the hour, per kayak. Bring it back whenever you are done — we settle up at the end.

Where can I paddle to?

The bay itself, the coastline in both directions, several small beaches and the river mouths at either end. Stay inside the bay unless the conditions are flat and you know what you are doing.

Can I fish from the kayak?

Yes. We have basic fishing gear available on request — ask when you pick up and we will sort you out.

Is it safe for children?

In the sheltered bay, with a life jacket on and paddling near an adult, yes — kayaks are single-person, so each child needs their own kayak and enough paddling ability to handle it. We size the jackets before you leave and we will tell you honestly if the water looks wrong that day.

Is this tour refundable?

Yes. If you need to cancel, contact us as soon as possible so we can arrange your 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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Small groups, licensed local guides, 100% wild. Tell us your dates and we'll get you out on the water.

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