The Complete Boat Guide
Sierpe to The Jaguar's Jungle Lodge

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The launch point for the boats is in Sierpe, so whether you’re driving or taking a private shuttle, you need to get to the La Perla del Sur restaurant next to Hotel Oleaje Sereno. The boat leaves at 11:30am and 3:30pm.

To get to Sierpe from Palmar Norte you will need to take a taxi.

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From San Jose:

The best shuttle service to Sierpe from San Jose is Osa Private Transport. They are the only shuttle company that communicates directly with boat captains to be sure guests have the best experience. Private transport is the most comforatble way to make the trip from San Jose or anywhere else in Costa Rica.

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Roads and Parking:

There are no roads to paradise! We are boat access only and recommend catching the taxi boat from Sierpe. Please leave your rental car in Sierpe, preferably at the Drake Bay Boat Shuttle parking lot at a cost of $6 per day. You should reserve your parking spot ahead of time due to limited space. Regardless of what part of the country you are travelling from, we never recommend driving to Drake Bay. The roads are terrible and involve multiple bridgeless river crossings, you could be stranded for days and cause severe damage to your vehicle. Just take the boat from Sierpe, you'll be glad you did.

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Returning a rental car in Sierpe: 

There are no car rental companies in Sierpe but Adobe and Solid Rental  have offices in Uvita and will pick up the car there for a reasonable fee. So you can drive to Sierpe dock, have Adobe pick up the car and then hop on the boat, so you don’t need to worry about leaving the car if you are going to fly back to San Jose from Drake Bay.

If you want to rent a car after your adventure with us, Adobe or Solid can deliver the car to Sierpe dock when you arrive so you don’t need to go to their office in Uvita. The latest they can deliver the car is 4:30 PM.

You cannot book a rental car to be picked up in Sierpe online, which is why we always book the car when we arrive to the SJO airport or call to reserve. Note: The Solid Rental office in Uvita is closed on Sundays.

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The Boat Ride

The boats hold around 12-25 passengers and they don’t wrap your luggage so make sure your belongings are nicely zipped up and wrapped in plastic bags if you have expensive electronics. They’ll take your bags and load them into the boat. You can keep your backpack or purse. They’ll start calling hotels once boats are ready so listen for your hotel (Jungla del Jaguar).

Once everyone is ready, you’ll begin your journey through the Sierpe river and the biggest mangrove forest in Central America.

After about 40 minutes or so, it’s time to merge into the ocean. This part is a bit bumpy depending on the tide, so hold on! The boat captains are experts in navigating this river mouth and they do it every day.

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From there, it’s about 20 minutes to Drake Bay. The views of the coast are spectacular! After the Drake Bay stop, you may stop to let people off at a few other locations along the way. The Jaguar's Jungle will be the last and closest stop to the Corcovado National Park. Do not get up unless told to do so. 

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Tips for Taking the Boat From Sierpe to Jungla del Jaguar

• You MUST pre-book reservations via www.drakebayboat.com. Any website stating otherwise is outdated.

• We DO NOT recommend driving to Drake Bay with a rental car.​

• We always recommend the 11:30am boat from Sierpe as it is less expensive and gives you the afternoon at the lodge.

• Wear sunscreen. At 11:30 AM the sun is high and bright!

• Listen to the captains directions. When you arrive to the lodge you should get off the boat as quickly as possible and the captains helper will pass your luggage to our staff. Do not linger on the boat. During periods of large swells the boat landing must be quick. Your belongings will be offloaded for you.

• Please have all your belongings such as shoes inside a bag. Avoid having loose items. ​

• If you have a rental car, make sure to book your parking spot ahead of time HERE (We do not own or have control of parking or boats. All inquires about boats should be directed to the Drake Bay Boat Shuttle).