Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TO CORCOVADO VIA BAHÍA DRAKE
The Bahía Drake route is one of the principal overland routes to Parque Nacional Corco-
vado. This route starts in the town of Sierpe in the Valle de Diquis, at the northern base of
the Península de Osa. From here, the valley stretches west to the basin of the Río Grande
de Térraba and south to Sierpe, from where the Río Sierpe flows out to Bahía Drake. Al-
though most travelers make a direct route between Sierpe, Drake and Corcovado, those
who opt to take it slower may also meander through the Humedal Nacional Térraba-Si-
erpe, a vast reserve that protects an amazing array of jungle swampland and overgrown
mangroves. The Drake route has more options for folks who want to explore the jungle
with a few more comforts.
WORTH A TRIP
SIERPE SPHERES
Wander Costa Rica long enough and you may notice the odd decorative stone sphere in a
garden, or their enormous counterparts gracing local museums. These pre-Columbian
artifacts remain something of a mystery, from the methods of their manufacture to their
very meaning. Few of theseesferas(spheres) survive intact in situ but you'll find two such
specimens just outside of Sierpe in a newly-established archaeological site maintained by
ca6@museocostarica.go.cr
; 4km north of Sierpe; admission US$6; 8am-4pm Tue-Sun) offers the
rare opportunity to view these spheres in their originally discovered locale, near culturally
significant mounds 20m and 30m in diameter. You'll also see several spheres that have
been moved, or exploded with dynamite to find the treasure inside (myth: busted). The
onsite museum displays other fascinating artifacts discovered here, such as sculptures
andmetates(grain-grinding stones) - mysterious vestiges of Costa Rica's ancient
people.
Sierpe
This sleepy village on the Río Sierpe is the gateway to Bahía Drake, and if you've made a
reservation with any of the jungle lodges further down the coast, you will be picked up
