Playa San Josecito
Beach · Osa Peninsula
A long, palm-backed beach at the end of the Drake coastal trail, with calm water and good snorkeling off the rocks. Snorkel tours from Isla del Caño stop here for lunch.
- Cost
- Free
- Time there
- 3 h
- Best time
- midday
- Kids
- 5 / 10
- View
- 9 / 10
- Crowds
- 4 / 10
- Swimming
- 8 / 10
- Effort
- 6 / 10
- Location
- 8.6715, -83.7158 — Google Maps
Tip
Hike out in the morning and ride back with a returning tour boat between noon and 2 pm (cash, about $10–20).
Be careful
No services and little shade: pack water, food and sun protection, and check the swell before snorkeling.
Getting there
On foot only via the coastal trail (about 6 km, with the Río Claro ford) or by boat.
Places nearby
- Soda Los PaniquinesSodas & Local FoodA tiny family soda along the Drake Bay coastal trail, reached by a signed path behind a soccer field and past a few small houses — a good lunch stop for hikers, with a solid casado.
- Osa Outdoors Adventures (Osa Brus Adventures)Parks & WildlifeFamily-run operator with 20+ years of local guiding: small-group Corcovado trips and off-trail primary-forest hikes from Drake Bay, plus ocean tours and a Coto Brus coffee day.
- Claudio's Grill (Hotel Jinetes de Osa)Food & CoffeeA beachfront restaurant at Hotel Jinetes de Osa, right by the trailhead to Playa San Josecito, so hikers stop here to refuel: shrimp or chicken curry, pork ribs with passion-fruit sauce, surf and turf and octopus; casados, nachos and burgers at lunch.
- Costa Rica Adventure DiversSurf, Boats & Diving · takes 6 h · from $105PADI dive center in Drake Bay running daily scuba and snorkeling trips to Caño Island Biological Reserve.
- El Bucanero Restaurant (and Corcovado Tours)Food & Coffee · from $110Small family restaurant right on the water in Drake Bay: whole fried snapper, stuffed king crab, grilled lobster and home-style casados, with ingredients from the family's own farm and sunset tables over the bay.
- Aguila de Osa InnStays · takes 5 h–7 h · from $120Small hillside inn above Drake Bay focused on diving, fishing and trips to Corcovado and Caño Island.
Sources: OpenStreetMap way/266170191 · https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/playa-san-josecito/ · https://sallysees.com/drake-bay-hiking-trail/ · https://www.aaa.com/tripcanvas/attraction/playa-san-josecito-VA100930 · https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/266170191