Making the most of Bahia Drake
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Drake Bay's cruise arrival is within the private Marenco reserve. With no quay, passengers use the ship's Zodiacs for a wet landing on the beach and should expect water up to their knees. Conditions in the bay can be extremely choppy.
Getting around
The usual excursion choices include:
A snorkelling trip visits Cano Island. As the water can become very rough, wait until the last moment before booking.
The Nature Walk follows a well-kept but very muddy track. It is easy to complete independently without a guide and leads to an attractive viewpoint over the bay.
Horse riding is offered, using horses that are fairly small.
Anyone travelling beyond the towns should take mosquito protection seriously. The CDC recommends lightweight long trousers, long-sleeved tops and repellent containing a high concentration of DEET.
Nearby places
Costa Rica means rich coast in Spanish and is presented accordingly as an ideal tropical paradise. One native song says that the Virgin Mary descended to Costa Rica and never returned to Heaven.
Costa Rica is regularly described as the Switzerland of Central America.
Costa Rica's exceptional biodiversity comes both from its position as a bridge between North and South America and from varied terrain exposed to weather systems from the Pacific and the Atlantic/Caribbean. Volcanoes, mountains, rivers, lakes and beaches occur throughout the country. Most popular beaches face the Pacific, although the Caribbean coast also has many excellent stretches.
Food and shopping
Restaurants are easy to find in Costa Rica, where kitchen hygiene is generally high and food poisoning presents very little risk. The costliest venues do not always serve the finest food. Small establishments known as sodas, popular with local people, often provide more authentic cooking at a standard equal to or better than expensive restaurants.
Money
The Colón(es) is the local currency. About 575 Colones equals 1 US Dollar. ATMs are found in most locations and usually dispense Colones as well as US Dollars.
Staying connected
Spanish is Costa Rica's principal language, with English widely used in places frequented by international tourists.
Costa Rica's emergency telephone number is 911.
Tourist districts generally have cafés providing customers with free Wi-Fi.
Opening Hours and
Normal shopping times are Mon-Sat 0900-1800/1900, although they can differ between areas.
Costa Rica is Catholic and most public holidays relate to the church, with banks and the majority of businesses closing on official dates. During Easter Holy Week, the whole country shuts down on Holy Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Some services may return by Holy Sunday, but should not be relied upon in remote districts.
Most Ticos now treat the entire Christmas week through New Year as an unofficial holiday.