It needs to be said first and foremost that a trip to Drake Bay isn't just a journey in miles, but a journey backward in time. Dozens of square miles of lush green tropical rain forest blanket the area. With only about 300 inhabitants, including children, horses and dogs there is plenty of room to stretch your legs. Because the one roads leading into the north of the Osa Peninsula is impassable most of the year, automobiles and trucks are splendidly scarce in Drake Bay. Similarly, there is no bus line or train station. There is only one tiny store (called a "pulperia") that receives its merchandise the same way everyone in Drake Bay receives virtually everything -- by boat.

After arriving you will immediately notice the absence of 24 hour convenience stores, roads and people. However, this physical isolation is what has allowed Drake Bay to remain special. Some liken Drake Bay to what Hawaii must have looked like before hotel chains and strip malls invaded the beaches.

In many ways, life in Drake Bay is how life was lived for most of the "civilized" world in centuries past. The primary mode of transportation is the human foot or horseback. The day to day rhythms of life leave space for conversation with friends, walking on the beach, fishing, horseback riding, or eating a leisurely meal. A visit to Drake Bay is the perfect antidote to the fast paced life of a modern city.

The Jinetes (pronounced "hinetes") de Osa naturally fits into the life of Drake Bay, as if it were a part of the landscape. The resort consists of three buildings located on the beach and twenty acres of rain forest. Currently, the resort has 9 rooms in two of the three buildings and a dining room and kitchen in the third. The rooms are simple, comfortable and clean. At night, the fresh tropical breeze carries the sound of the ocean into your room; a most effective cure for stress based insomnia.

Fresh baked bread, fresh fish from the local fishermen, and wonderfully ripe local fruits, supplement the tropical Costa Rican dishes served in the dining room. It just may be the clean air, the exercise, or the fact that you just picked the juiciest mango on a hike around the bay, but food simply tastes better on the Osa Peninsula.

Compressed in the city, time begins to expand here. Days begin early, as the sun spectacularly rises at about 5:00am every morning. The photo to the left was taken at 5:15am from the dining room. This is thetropics, near the equator, where the sun always rises at 5:00am and sets about 5:30pm, year round. The cool comfortable mornings are the time for activities, horse back riding, beach combing, fishing, hiking, swimming and scuba diving all begin early (see the activities page). The evenings come early for the local inhabitants whom are generally asleep by 9pm. Yes, there is night life in Drake Bay. Ramiro's Cantina has a dance every Saturday night. Beer is served cold from the cooler while the salsa music is served hot from the stereo. On the weekends you can join in as the locals dance until midnight or so.

The "ticos"(a term the Costa Ricans use to refer to themselves) of Drake Bay are easy going and friendly as in other parts of Costa Rica. Most speak little to no English, but even if you don't speak Spanish, they will nod, smile and bid you "buenos dias". In fact, a little Spanish goes a long way here, and the locals will always be grateful and amused for your efforts at speaking their language.

No matter how long your stay, you will be amazed how quickly the relaxation sets in. You will find yourself waking up without an alarm clock at first light; and feel great doing it. There are no scientific studies to explain why the visitors experiences this sense of physical and mental well being. Many contribute it to the abundance of oxygen. The rain forest has often been called the "lungs" of our planet. They take in carbon dioxide and emit an enormous amount of oxygen. Due to the proximity of the rain forest the concentration of oxygen in the air is higher than many places in North America. Certainly, this surplus of oxygen is one major factor contributing to the body's general well being

When visiting, remember that the most important thing to bring is a desire to get away from the hectic, crisis filled modern lifestyle. Don't expect all the convenience of a big city, just allow the sun, sea and scenery to relax your mind and purify your soul. As one local adage states, "Nature is the best doctor, if you'll just let her do her job".