How to Get To Osa Peninsula: From My Experience

The Osa Peninsula is in the South Pacific, extending to the Pacific Ocean. Golfo Dulce separates the Pacific Ocean and mainland Costa Rica. The infrastructure in the Osa Peninsula started developing in the 1970s. However, even as tourism grows, the Costa Rican government strives to maintain many natural resources. 

Getting to the Osa Peninsula was easier than I thought. There are direct flights, so you won’t have to spend two days on the road. My husband and I took a domestic flight from San Jose Airport to Puerto Jimenez, our base for various destinations. 

Key Takeaways From This Article

Osa Peninsula is one of Costa Rica’s most remote regions. Reaching the various towns in the region requires a combination of air, ground, and water transportation. Most travelers prefer to fly from San Jose to one of the airstrips in Osa before completing the rest of the journey by boat or shuttle. Here are my key takeaways on Osa Peninsula and how to get there. 

  • Driving from San Jose takes 8 hours, and you might have to spread the journey over two days. I recommend a four-wheel drive, as most roads on the Osa Peninsula are rough. 
  • You can connect from Liberia International Airport through San Jose Airport to Puerto Jimenez, Plamar Sur, and Drake Bay airstrips. 
  • Once you alight on any of the airstrips, you might have to take a boat, a shuttle, or rent a car, depending on your destination. If driving, first ask the locals about the road conditions. 
  • You can get a flight from San Jose airport to Golfito airstrip. 

How To Get To Osa Peninsula From San Jose

How To Get To Osa Peninsula From San Jose

The best time to visit the Osa Peninsula is during the dry season (December to May). The many river crossings are passable, and the roads are smooth. However, many roads are rough and might become impassable when it rains. Foggy weather might also make it impossible to fly. 

Road

You can rent a car and drive to either Puerto Jimenez or Sierpe town. The roads are smooth, and the trip should take about 6–8 hours. The Sierpe route (34), which locals call Costanera, follows the Pacific coast until Palmar. Take a right turn and join Route 223, which takes you through the farmland and ends at Sierpe. 

Alternatively, after reaching Palmar, proceed for another 30 km until the intersection at Route 245 to Puerto Jimenez. The port town is 78 km away. Instead of renting a car, you can also book a shuttle. You should use map apps when driving to avoid getting lost. 

Most other roads after these two are rough and might take through rivers. From Sierpe town, you need to cross a river to reach Drake Bay. These river crossings can be risky during the rainy season. I recommend you take a boat taxi and leave your car at a restaurant parking lot. Ensure to talk to the restaurant’s staff to watch over your vehicle. 

Air

Several airlines are offering domestic flights to various destination towns on the Osa Peninsula. Flights will reduce the journey time from 6–9 hours to less than an hour. You should book an overnight stay in San Jose, as flights to Osa start in the morning. However, private charter flights are also available. 

Palmar, Golfito, Drake Bay, and Puerto Jimenez have airstrips. Choosing the airstrip to land in will depend on the hotel you’ll stay in and which part of the peninsula you want to explore. 

  • Puerto Jimenez: Sansa Air has three daily flights from San Jose (45 minutes). Mainly uses the 14-passenger aircraft. 
  • Drake Bay: Aerobell, Sansa, and Skyway Airlines have daily flights from San Joe to the bay. The airport serves the northern side of the Osa Peninsula. 
  • Golfito: Depending on the season, Sansa Airlines has up to four daily flights from San Jose to Golfito. The airport is near the Panamanian border. 
  • Palmar Sur: Nature Air and Sansa offer one flight each from San Jose to Palmar Sur. You can take domestic flights from Palmar to Uvita, Dominical, and Ojochal. 
  • Carate: Getting enough people to fly to this airstrip is difficult, as most people prefer landing at Puerto Jimenez. They then get a shuttle to Carate. 

You can charter a private plane from Puerto Jimenez to the Sirena Station landing strip. After landing in Puerto Jimenez, you can drive to Cabo Matapalo, which should take about 45 minutes. A four-wheel drive is essential. 

Bus

You should head to the bus station, Transportes Blanco, at the San Carlos Terminal in downtown San Jose. The first bus leaves San Jose at 8 AM and the second at noon to Puerto Jimenez. 

The table below shows the bus schedule to various towns in Osa. 

Departure Point DestinationTown Cost ($) Duration
San Jose La Palmar 11-19 2 Hours, 53 minutes
Puerto Jimenez 15 9 hours
Golfito 17-26 7 hours
Jaco La Palmar 11-32 5 hours

Boat

Expect many boat rides around the Osa Peninsula, as most areas are only accessible by boat. When you reach Sierpe town, a boat ride is necessary to reach Drake Bay. You can still drive, but a river needs crossing, which might be impassable during the rainy season. 

There are various boat tour operators in every town in Osa. You can take a boat from Sierpe to Drake Bay, San Isidro de General, Ojochal, Manuel Antonio, and Dominical. 

After landing at Puerto Jimenez, boat rides are also necessary when traveling to Golfo Dulce. If you land at Golfito, you can take a 30-minute boat ride to Puerto Jimenez.

How To Get To Osa Peninsula From San Jose

How To Get To Osa Peninsula From Liberia

While major international flights land at San Jose, a few land at Liberia International Airport. San Jose is closer to the Osa Peninsula than Liberia. You can take a taxi, get to a hotel near San Jose Airport, and spend the night. In the morning, catch a flight from San Jose to the various airstrips in the Osa Peninsula. 

You can take a private charter from Liberia International Airport to Osa Peninsula. Sansa, Costa Rica Green, and Nature Air offer connecting flights to Drake Bay, Palmar Sur, or Puerto Jimenez through San Jose. 

Alternatively, you can take a bus from Liberia to San Jose, which will take about 3 hours and 30 minutes and cost between $7 and $10. 

You can also rent a four-wheel drive in Liberia and drive to Puerto Jimenez. The distance between Liberia and Purto Jimenez is 459 km, and driving will take about 11 hours. 

Travel Tips for Osa Peninsula

The Osa Peninsula is more remote than other Costa Rican regions, so you might lack some amenities. I highlighted some  fun things to do in Osa Peninsula

  • If you want to travel by road, get a four-wheel drive and ensure that it has full insurance coverage. 
  • When you park, don’t leave any valuables in the car. Close and lock the doors, and the windows should be fully up. 
  • Before leaving your hotel, check the road conditions, especially if driving to Drake Bay or Carate. 
  • Most places, apart from Puerto Jimenez, have no ATMs or banks. Hence, carry enough cash. In an emergency, some areas in town can advance your money against your card, but at a fee. 
  • In October and November, the Osa Peninsula experiences heavy rainfall. Some places, like the Corcovado National Park, might close, and the rivers might swell, making some areas inaccessible.

Once you’re there, be sure to explore one of the 11 Best Places to Stay in the Osa Peninsula (Hotels and Eco-Lodges) for an unforgettable experience.

Conclusion

The fastest way to the Osa Peninsula is by flight or private charter. Flights from San Jose take about 45 minutes. Four towns on the Osa Peninsula have airstrips; from there, you can rent a car, pay for a shuttle, or take a boat ride. Buses only reach Puerto Jimenez, Golfito, or La Palmar. 

Which means you used it to reach your Osa Peninsula destination? Please share your experience. 

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About 

Born in California, Michelle traveled extensively through the USA and Europe before moving to South Florida during the pandemic. Her career in Marketing has taken her all across the world. Her favorite country is France but she'll never turn down a beach vacation! Make sure to download the AllWorld Travel Hacks FREE ebook.

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