Bahia Drake
We anchored at 08 41.88N 83 40.09W
14ft of water
SUMMARY
Fuel - Reported at the dock up the small river. We didn't verify it.
Cell Service - Yes
Wifi - No
Dingy Landing - small to medium surf - You can also take it up into the river.
Garbage - Yes - Bins at the tourist info center. They also have recycling.
Potable Water - Reported at the dock up the small river. We didn't verify it.
Showers - No
Laundry - Yes - Up the hill.
Groceries- Yes - Up the hill
ATM - No
Water Taxi - Other cruisers report using a water taxi here. We didn't verify this.
Cell Service - Yes
Wifi - No
Dingy Landing - small to medium surf - You can also take it up into the river.
Garbage - Yes - Bins at the tourist info center. They also have recycling.
Potable Water - Reported at the dock up the small river. We didn't verify it.
Showers - No
Laundry - Yes - Up the hill.
Groceries- Yes - Up the hill
ATM - No
Water Taxi - Other cruisers report using a water taxi here. We didn't verify this.
Bahia Drake
Drake was a real treat.
It was the first place where everything surrounding us was really really green. This was finally the Central American Jungle we were waiting for. Honestly we never knew there was "Dry Jungle" and "Wet Jungle" until we started traveling this route. In the dry jungle there is little to no rain in the dry season and everything really dries. This makes the landscape really brown and not very pretty until it starts raining again.. We even saw plenty of cactus on shore all the way down into Costa Rica!!
Once you get to wet jungle it rains year round. It just rains a lot more in the "Rainy Season" This keeps everything lush and green.
Apparently the dividing line is somewhere up the coast near Quepos. Who knew?? :-)
It was the first place where everything surrounding us was really really green. This was finally the Central American Jungle we were waiting for. Honestly we never knew there was "Dry Jungle" and "Wet Jungle" until we started traveling this route. In the dry jungle there is little to no rain in the dry season and everything really dries. This makes the landscape really brown and not very pretty until it starts raining again.. We even saw plenty of cactus on shore all the way down into Costa Rica!!
Once you get to wet jungle it rains year round. It just rains a lot more in the "Rainy Season" This keeps everything lush and green.
Apparently the dividing line is somewhere up the coast near Quepos. Who knew?? :-)
Anyway, this bay is the jumping off point for the Eco-Resorts that are peppered down the coast and in the vast amount of National Park land accessible from this area. Bahia Drake is a long way down bad roads with multiple river crossings. This has kept the town pretty small and very much isolated. It still is a hub though. Tens of thousands of people flow through this town on the way to their destinations and it's the last chance to buy any supplies needed before disappearing into the jungle or down the coast. This all means that you can get almost anything here (even if it is really expensive)...
We took the dingy to shore and took a walk up the small road that parallels the beach. You really feel like you are in a small lost outpost here except that everything is well kept and there are stores, restaurants and places to stay. Since it was hot and we were thirsty we decided to stop and have a few beers. We found a small bar with a great view of Liquid anchored out in the bay, had a cervesa or two and then headed up into town to get a few supplies.
In "town" we were surprised to find not one but two extremely well stocked General Stores with a good supply of frozen goods and fresh produce. They also had a variety of hardware. plastics, fishing supplies and on and on. On top of all that there was a small pharmacy and even a Lavanderia under one of the restaurants.
And lots of restaurants. It didn't seem like there were enough people around to justify all the restaurants and places to stay but I guess it was also low season. I suppose that in high season there are a lot more people around.
It would have been nice to spend a bit more time exploring but we had places to go and people to meet in Golfito.
The next morning we were off.
One thing to note if you approach in the dark. There is A LOT of long line fishing activity around this area at night. While we were here there were long lines starting right at the mouth of the bay heading out a few miles.
And lots of restaurants. It didn't seem like there were enough people around to justify all the restaurants and places to stay but I guess it was also low season. I suppose that in high season there are a lot more people around.
It would have been nice to spend a bit more time exploring but we had places to go and people to meet in Golfito.
The next morning we were off.
One thing to note if you approach in the dark. There is A LOT of long line fishing activity around this area at night. While we were here there were long lines starting right at the mouth of the bay heading out a few miles.
Anchoring
Anchoring
Another reason to be careful if you come in in the dark. There are a few mooring balls in deeper water outside of the waypoint we anchored in. If we came in at night we would anchor farther out and come in closer the next day.
Water temp and Clarity
Temperature was in the mid 80's and clarity was anywhere from 10 - 25ft.
Another reason to be careful if you come in in the dark. There are a few mooring balls in deeper water outside of the waypoint we anchored in. If we came in at night we would anchor farther out and come in closer the next day.
Water temp and Clarity
Temperature was in the mid 80's and clarity was anywhere from 10 - 25ft.
Dinghy Landing
We landed our dingy in the southwest corner of the bay. It was low tide and some medium surf to deal with but nothing unmanageable. There are a few rocks to watch for as the beach starts to curve to the Northwest so don't go right to the edge of the beach.
Others have reported that it is possible to bring your dingy into the river and tie up to the small pier. You could then walk down the trail to get back to town. We didn't do this as the surf was up at the river mouth and it looked a little challenging.
Others have reported that it is possible to bring your dingy into the river and tie up to the small pier. You could then walk down the trail to get back to town. We didn't do this as the surf was up at the river mouth and it looked a little challenging.
Garbage
As you walk down the small road that parallels the beach there is a small information center that has bins on the east side. They have a full set of garbage and recycle bins.
Groceries
There are two extremely well stocked stores across the street from each other a short walk up the hill. They both have a General Store kind of feel to them and have a lot more than just groceries.
ANNOYANCES
The bay isn't very well protected and the swell gets in pretty easily. It did get a little rolly.
![]()
|
Download our Google Earth KAP files for use in OpenCPN. |
![]()
|
Download our gpx track to approach this area
|
OTHER ANCHORAGE GUIDES
Copyright © 2016