Corcovado · San Pedrillo (1 Day) from Drake Bay
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5.0 · Wildest trailsFull day · ~8 hrsSmall group · bilingual guide
Corcovado National Park · Full day

Corcovado · San Pedrillo (1 Day) from Drake Bay

An unforgettable day in one of Corcovado's wildest corners: boat to San Pedrillo and hike jungle and coastal trails, crossing pristine rivers far from the crowds.

Reserve this trip$95per person
About this trip

What to expect

San Pedrillo is one of the park's wildest, least-visited sectors. The boat ride down the Pacific coast often brings dolphins and whales too during the season.

From there an expert guide leads you along jungle and coastal trails — fewer crowds, tougher going, and wild beauty at its purest. Permits, boat, lunch and guide are included.

Trip highlights

Wild, uncrowded trails

Corcovado's least-visited station, jungle and coast.

Rich wildlife

Tapirs, monkeys, macaws, sloths and coatis.

Dolphins & whales

Seasonal sightings on the Pacific crossing.

Small groups only

Expert bilingual guide, never a crowd.

Your day, hour by hour

The itinerary

5:50 AM

Meet at Drake Bay beach

Gather on the beach and get ready to depart.

6:00 AM

Boat departure

Ride the coast toward San Pedrillo, watching for dolphins.

7:30 AM

Jungle hiking begins

Trails through jungle and along the coast.

11:00 AM

Lunch at the station

A hearty meal before the return trails.

1:00 PM

Boat back to Drake Bay

Depart San Pedrillo along the Pacific.

1:45 PM

Arrival in Drake Bay

Back on the beach by early afternoon.

What's included

  • Certified local guide (EN / ES)
  • Round-trip boat from Drake Bay
  • Park entrance fees & permits
  • Lunch at the ranger station
  • Guided rainforest hike
  • Safety gear & first aid

Not included

  • Breakfast before departure
  • Alcoholic beverages & snacks
  • Flashlight, sunscreen & repellent
  • Tips for your guide (appreciated)
$95per person
Reserve this trip
Before you go

Good to know

What to bring

Closed shoes with grip, quick-dry clothes, a hat, water and repellent. There are river crossings, so expect wet feet and pack a dry change for the boat home.

Who it's for

Walkers who want the harder, emptier option. The trails are rougher than Sirena's and there are rivers to cross, but the reward is a station most tours skip.

Best season

Year round. Rivers run higher from September to November, which makes crossings more interesting; December to April is drier and the coastal boat ride is smoother.

Where we meet

On the beach in Drake Bay at 5:50 AM, same as Sirena. The coastal run south often turns up dolphins, and humpbacks in season.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How is San Pedrillo different from Sirena?

Sirena has the denser wildlife and the bigger reputation, so it draws the crowds. San Pedrillo is closer to Drake Bay, sees far fewer people and mixes jungle trail with coastline and river crossings. If you have done Sirena, or want the park to yourself, this is the one.

Are the river crossings difficult?

Normally you wade shin to knee deep and your guide goes first. After heavy rain the water can be higher, and if a crossing is not safe we simply take a different trail. Nobody swims anything.

Will I see whales or dolphins on the boat?

Often, but never on demand. Spotted and bottlenose dolphins are around the coast most of the year. Humpback whales pass Drake Bay in two seasons, roughly July to October and again around December to April.

Is a guide required here too?

Yes — the same rule applies to every sector of Corcovado. Your certified bilingual guide and your park permit are both included.

Is lunch included?

Yes, a hot meal at the ranger station, plus water and fruit. Tell us in advance if you are vegetarian or vegan and we will arrange it.

Is this tour refundable?

No. Once this tour is confirmed, we purchase non-refundable park tickets, permits or other third-party reservations. 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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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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