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
The Drake Bay Cruise Port is at the Marenco private reserve. There is no dock so the ship uses its Zodiacs to get passengers ashore on a wet beach landing. Figure you will get wet up to your knees. The water in the area is very choppy.
Getting around
Excursions normally offered are:
The snorkel excursion to Cano Island. Waters can be very rough so book at the last moment.
The Nature Walk. The path is very muddy but well maintained. You can easily do the path on your own, without a guide. It leads to a nice overlook of the bay.
Horseback riding excursion. The horses are rather small.
If you plan to travel outside the towns: protection against mosquito bites is very important, wearing lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts and using insect repellents with high concentrations of DEET is recommended by the CDC
Nearby places
Costa Rica is Spanish for rich coast. As such, one can expect to find this place to be the ideal tropical paradise. A native song is that the Virgin Mary came down to Costa Rica and never went back to Heaven.
Costa Rica is often called the Switzerland of Central America.
There is such biodiversity in Costa Rica not only because it's a land bridge between North and South America, but also because the terrain is so varied and there are weather patterns moving in from both the Pacific and Atlantic/Caribbean. There are impressive volcanoes, mountain areas, rivers, lakes, and beaches all throughout the country. There are many beautiful beaches - most of the popular ones are on the Pacific side but the Caribbean has many excellent beaches as well.
Food and shopping
Finding a place to eat out isn't difficult in Costa Rica and generally speaking wherever you head for, the standards of hygiene in the kitchens are high and you run little risk of getting food poisoning. Expensive restaurants may not necessarily offer the best food and visitors are encouraged to try the smaller establishments, known as sodas, which the locals tend to frequent and the food is as authentic as it gets, while frequently of a standard equal to or higher than expensive venues.
Money
The local currency is Colón(es). The rate of exchange is about 575 Colones for 1 US Dollar. You can find ATM's in most places. They normally dispense US Dollars and Colones.
Staying connected
Spanish is the main language in Costa Rica. English is used widely in areas populated by international tourists.
The emergency number in Costa Rica is 911
Cafes which offer free WiFi for customers are fairly easy to find in tourist areas.
Opening Hours and
Shopping hours Mon-Sat 0900-1800/1900. There may be variations between areas.
Costa Rica is a Catholic country and its holidays are mostly church-related. Most businesses, including banks, close on official holidays. The country closes down entirely during the biggest holiday time, Easter Holy Week, but only during Holy Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, by Holy Sunday, some services might be available, but don't count on it in remote parts of the country.
Most Ticos now take the whole Christmas holiday week through New Year as an unofficial