Aguila de Osa is a hillside adventure lodge at the mouth of the Agujitas River in Drake Bay, on the wild northern side of the Osa Peninsula. Long known as Aguila de Osa Inn, it’s built around the water: its own dive, snorkel and fishing boats head out to Caño Island and the open Pacific, while guides take guests into Corcovado National Park by land. Meals are included, and the lodge’s food comes largely from its own farm and boats.
At a glance
| Location | Drake Bay, at the mouth of the Agujitas River, Osa Peninsula |
|---|---|
| Style | Small all-meals-included lodge with suites and rooms on a hillside |
| Setting | Forested slope overlooking the bay, with its own dock |
| Best for | Divers, snorkelers, anglers and active couples or families |
| Getting there | Light aircraft to Drake Bay, or a boat from Sierpe through the mangroves |
| CST status | Not listed in the official directory (checked 2026-Oct-21) |
Where it is
The lodge looks over Drake Bay from the mouth of the Agujitas River, according to its location page, close to Corcovado National Park and the Caño Island Biological Reserve. Drake Bay has no easy road in, and the lodge’s travel page advises against driving there because of the dirt road and river crossings.
There are two usual ways to arrive:
- Fly to Drake Bay. Sansa and Skyway fly from Juan Santamaría International Airport, and Aerobell from Tobías Bolaños in Pavas. A taxi takes you about 15 minutes to the beach, where the lodge’s boat carries you a short way to its dock.
- Boat from Sierpe. Fly to Palmar Sur or drive to Sierpe (about 4.5 hours from San José on the coastal highway), then ride the boat for about an hour through the Sierpe mangroves to the river mouth, and another 15 minutes along the coast. The lodge’s boat leaves Sierpe at 11:30 am on most days.
Pack in a soft bag: you’ll probably step from the boat onto the beach or dock.
Rooms
The lodge has four categories, listed on its rooms page: a Master Suite, a Junior Suite, Deluxe Rooms and Standard Rooms. The lodge doesn’t publish counts by category.
- The Master Suite is a private hillside bungalow with a king and a queen bed, a 20-foot ceiling, a walk-in closet, a bathroom with a bay-view shower, a minibar, and a large wraparound balcony with two hammocks.
- The Deluxe Rooms come with one king or two queen beds, Italian tile and granite bathrooms, screened windows on three sides and a terrace with a hammock or rocking chairs. Two neighboring Deluxe Family rooms can be booked together as a private bungalow with a wraparound terrace.
Rooms are cooled by ceiling fans and the breeze off the bay. The lodge doesn’t mention air conditioning.
Food
Dining is all-inclusive. The Great Room restaurant looks out over the ocean, and the lodge describes its cooking as adventurous Pan-American food. Papaya, plantains, cacao and limes come from La Perla, the lodge’s coastal farm. Herbs and salad greens grow in a hydroponic garden on site. Fish comes from the lodge’s own boats and local fishermen. There’s also a bar for evening drinks. The website doesn’t cover special diets, so let the lodge know in advance.
On the water
This is where Aguila de Osa stands out.
- Caño Island: snorkeling and diving trips to the Caño Island Biological Reserve off the coast. SINAC describes the island’s waters as holding some of the most extensive and best-preserved coral reefs on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, and as an important nursery for humpback whales from both hemispheres. Only 10 people may be in each dive or snorkel zone at once, and fishing is banned inside the reserve.
- Sport fishing: the lodge’s fishing page describes two boats, a 31-foot sportfisher and a 26-foot center console, targeting marlin, sailfish, tuna and dorado offshore and roosterfish, snapper and wahoo closer in. The lodge says it was the first charter operation on the Osa to commit to catch and release with circle hooks, and its captains have set four IGFA world records in more than 30 years here.
- Whale and dolphin watching in season, mangrove tours on the Sierpe River and sea and river kayaking.
On land
Guides lead hikes into Corcovado National Park, birdwatching walks around Drake Bay, horseback rides, a zipline and night tours. Corcovado requires a licensed guide and advance reservations, so book through the lodge early in the dry season.
Sustainability
Aguila de Osa isn’t listed in the CST directory. Its sustainability page says it recycles, conserves water and sources food locally, and that it belongs to the Greentique Hotels group alongside Si Como No in Manuel Antonio and Santa Juana Lodge. The lodge’s owner was a founding member of the Corcovado Foundation, which works on sea turtle conservation, environmental education, responsible tourism and community development. According to the lodge, the foundation’s lawyer found 128 logging permits on the Osa, 112 of them illegally granted, and hotels bought out half of the remaining 16. A grant then funded 68 locally hired park guards for over five years, before the government took over their salaries.
Wildlife
Drake Bay’s mix of forest, river and sea means a wide range: scarlet macaws, toucans and monkeys around the lodge, and dolphins, sea turtles and seasonal humpback whales offshore. Sightings vary with season and conditions. Our guides to snorkeling and diving and whale and dolphin watching explain the timing.
Who it suits
Aguila de Osa suits divers, snorkelers and anglers who want boats and crews on the doorstep, and active couples or families who want to split their days between Caño Island and Corcovado with meals handled for them. It’s also a sensible choice if you’d rather not deal with Drake Bay’s logistics yourself.
It’s less suited to anyone who wants air conditioning, flat ground (it’s a hillside property, so expect steps) or a quiet retreat with no motorboats. For other Drake Bay options, compare Copa de Árbol, La Paloma Lodge or Corcovado Wilderness Lodge near the park boundary. More choices are in our Osa Peninsula eco-lodges section.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Aguila de Osa?
Fly to the Drake Bay airstrip and take a short taxi and boat ride, or fly to Palmar Sur or drive to Sierpe and take the lodge's boat through the mangroves, which leaves at 11:30 am on most days. The lodge doesn't recommend driving to Drake Bay.
Does Aguila de Osa run its own diving and fishing trips?
Yes. The lodge runs snorkel and scuba trips to Caño Island and operates two sport-fishing boats with a catch-and-release policy using circle hooks.
Are meals included at Aguila de Osa?
Yes. Dining is all-inclusive, with food from the lodge's own farm and hydroponic garden, and fish from its boats and local fishermen.
Is Aguila de Osa the same as Aguila de Osa Inn?
Yes. It's the same lodge at the mouth of the Agujitas River in Drake Bay. It now presents itself simply as Aguila de Osa.
