Coming from the NORTH:
Make your way down the Coast or over the mountains all the way to PALMAR NORTE. Do Groceries there and check your Cash, as there is the last ATM. Keep heading South until you reach the Gas Station “CHACARRITA” on your right hand side. Gas up, last “official” Gas Station and make your way to the direction Puerto Jimenez. After appr. an hour you will reach the town of RINCON at the Golfo Dulce. There is an old 2 rotor Helicopter on the left. Pass that and after 2 miles of so you will leave the paved road to your right, just before the Rincon River Bridge. There are signs there “DRAKE” and “Parque Nacional Corcovado Sector Los Planes” (Note: Los Planes is the location of Su Chante). Best put in your 4 Wheel Drive now, as from now on you will drive on a narrow gravel road and have to cross several rivers. After an hour and a half you will get to the beach and the main town of AGUJITAS in Drake, as soon as you get up the hill in the town center turn left following the sign of “Parque Nacional Corcovado Sector Los Planes” after 3 miles more and 1 more river crossing you have reached your destination.
Coming from the SOUTH:
Get Groceries and Cash, last ATM in RIO CLARO before you Keep heading North until you reach the Gas Station “CHACARRITA” on your left hand side. Gas up, last “official” Gas Station, and make your way to the direction Puerto Jimenez. After appr. an hour you will reach the town of RINCON at the Golfo Dulce. There is an old 2 rotor Helicopter on the left. Pass that and after 2 miles of so you will leave the paved road to your right, just before the Rincon River Bridge. There are signs there “DRAKE” and “Parque Nacional Corcovado Sector Los Planes” (Note: Los Planes is the location of Su Chante). Best put in your 4 Wheel Drive now, as from now on you will drive on a narrow gravel road and have to cross several rivers. After an hour and a half you will get to the beach and the main town of AGUJITAS in Drake, as soon as you get up the hill in the town center turn left following the sign of “Parque Nacional Corcovado Sector Los Planes” after 3 miles more and 1 more river crossing you have reached your destination.
OFFROAD ADVENTURE (SIERPE-Sabalo-Estero Guerra-El Progreso, Drake):
Get from PALMAR NORTE to the town of SIERPE. Get to the river where there is a yellow float (“BALSA” in Spanish) and let the Ferry Man take you across the Sierpe River. Thats where your Offroad Adventure starts! Drive thorugh the gravel, dirt road enjyoing beautiful views of the TRERRABA Mangrove Estuary. At the first crossroad drive straight to the direction of “Sabablo Lodge” and from there you continue your ride through the mangroves to the direction of “Estero Guerra” after approx. 1.5 h you will enter the little town of “El Progreso” which is in Drake… turn right after the school to cross the drake river in the dry season and continue to Agujitas and Los Planes… in the rainy season you have to turn left, then cross a little creek and after 200 mts the first entry to the right you will find a back road which has a bridge over the drake river…
CAUTION:
Don’t rush yourself once you are on the Gravel Road to Drake. It is narrow and there is opposite Traffic. Sometimes big Trucks or fast Motorcycles, so take it easy, slow down and enjoy the ride:)
River Crossings: Contrary of what Hollywood action movies show us you don’t dash full speed through a river, never ever! It can be pretty deep or the water gets over the hood and thus into your air intake, thous staling your car and well make you a very expensive float. So go in slow, make a curve first a little down stream and then upstream again. If you are not sure about the best place to pass wade through first! Or ask somebody.
AS OF 2022 YOU CAN REACH CORCOVADO GUEST HOUSE WITHOUT RIVER CROSSINGS AS THERE ARE BRIDGES NOW ALL THE WAY.
YOU WILL STILL NEED A 4X4 DUE TO GRAVEL ROADS, MUDDY CONDITIONS AND STEEP HILLS.