Arrived in Sierpe (far southwestern Costa Rica) yesterday for a bite of lunch, not sure if we would stay or move along. We need to be in Bahia Drake this afternoon. There is the “main” road which gets you somewhat close to Drake, then the dirt with river crossings. Reading on the web, some people call the dirt road “treacherous”, others say it is fine. Our rule, if the delivery trucks and buses can do it, we can.
This is Marino Ballena National Park – maybe 40 km north of Sirepe. Wide shallow beaches , great for walking and not very crowded.
When we got to Sierpe, we took a little boat tour of the mangroves and saw there it a ferry across the river. Chatting with our guide, he said the dirt road is good, cuts an hour off the longer paved route and has some breathtaking views. Of our 3 paper maps and 2 phone maps the road only shows on one map… Our kind of road.
Those with smaller vehicles got tired of waiting. This guy rowed the moto across.
Got to the ferry – after viewing the only Costa Rican archaeological heritage we have found – stone balls from 300 bc to 800 ad. Tooted the horn to call the ferry. Tide going out (20 km inland) with a pretty strong current, ferry having motor trouble (pontoon with a small boat on the side) and floating down river…. We wait 30 minutes while he gets the motor fixed and finally cross. Thought we might have to wait for the tide to come in and bring him back….
Finca 6 (in the middle of a banana plantation and found int he 1940’s) – perhaps the only tourist site with Costa Rican antiquities. Costa Rica is just beginning to find what has not been destroyed of their indigenous heritage.
And the ferry finally came! $12 USD. Nothing is cheap in Costa Rica.
The drive up and over the mountains to the Osa Peninsula was as spectacular is we had heard and the drive into Bahia Drake (pronounced dra-kay) was fun with the river crossing and little bridges where we should have taken the alternate river crossings. A very laid back little town, geared towards tours to the Isa, but somehow does not seem too touristy.
A view up and over from Sierpe to Rincon before heading to Drake. Everything seems to be for sale – at least has a for sale sign on it…
Bahia Drake in the fading light
Tomorrow, 1 1/2 hour ocean boat ride and and overnight in the Corcovado National Park at the Sierna Station. You can hike, fly or boat to it. Looking forward to it.
Yes, Jimbo was here. Another Finca 6 stone.