Getting to Drake Bay can be an adventure in itself. There are various options to get here; You may choose to fly, drive or take a bus. Depending on how much time you have in the country, you might want to contact our office and speak with Andrea, our office manager who can help you with your transportation. If you are traveling without an itinerary, try to arrange your next stop before arriving to La Paloma. As we are somewhat isolated, it is difficult to book your travel plans from the lodge.
La Paloma SHARED VAN service
See Costa Rica and save money with this land + boat shared ride option. Our comfortable air conditioned 6 passenger van will pick you up at your hotel in the Central Valley between 6am and 7am. You will then travel to the Pacific Coast through the beautiful Costa Rican countryside. After passing through the Carara National Park, you will stop at the Tarcoles River, to look for crocodiles at the famous Crocodile Bridge. The drive will continue along the Costanera Sur past the well-known surf towns of Jaco, Playa Hermosa and Dominical. This scenic tour will allow you to take in the spectacular sights of our coastline, especially as you approach the Ballena National Park.
As you leave the Costanera Sur, you will come to Palmar Norte, an old banana plantation town once home to the United Fruit Company. This area is best known for its collection of stone spheres and artifacts dating to the pre-Columbian era. Much mystery still surrounds how these stones came to be, with one local legend stating that the native inhabitants had a potion that softened the rock. After a short drive through the palm and banana plantations, you will arrive in the small picturesque town of Sierpe. You will have 15-30 minutes to use the restroom or enjoy a cold drink. From there you will take the water taxi, which departs at 11:30am. This 1-hr boat ride will take you through the canals of the Sierpe/Terraba Mangrove Estuary and into the Pacific Ocean, reaching your final destination, La Paloma Lodge, at 12:30pm. Lunch will be served upon your arrival and you will have the afternoon to explore our grounds, kayak, swim in the pool or relax in your hammock!
FLIGHTS
Sansa Airlines flies out of the SJO International Airport and offers direct flights to Drake Bay. Once you land in Drake Bay, a taxi will take you on a 20 minute drive to the beachside town of Drake Bay where you will board one of our boats for a short (5 min) ride across the bay to the La Paloma Lodge dock. Please keep in mind that the airline has strict weight restrictions (between 30 and 40 lbs) and they charge for any extra weight. Contact us and take advantage of our discounted rates.