Published on Thursday, October 2, 2025
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Construction has begun on a new multimillion-dollar dock in Drake Bay, a remote community in Osa Peninsula, Puntarenas province, officials announced this week.

The Pacific Ports Institute (INCOP), a state-owned agency that oversees the country’s Pacific coast ports, said the $4.2 million project has been awarded to private contractor Consorcio Muelle. The entire cost will be covered through INCOP’s budget. The dock is expected to be completed by August 2026.

“This infrastructure will strengthen the region’s tourism and economic development while also improving maritime access for residents and visitors,” INCOP said in a statement.

Plans call for a modern docking facility featuring:

• An access walkway and main dock area.

• Landscaped rest areas.

• A shaded seating space with tables and chairs.

• Wheelchair-accessible ramps.

• Three boat docking areas.

• A main entrance and administrative office.

• A security checkpoint.

• Waste collection stations and restrooms.

• Green spaces and other amenities.

“This project represents another decisive step in promoting sustainable tourism and improving the well-being of local communities,” said INCOP President Wagner Alberto Quesada-Céspedes. “Drake Bay will soon have a safe, accessible dock with everything needed to provide high-quality service to those who visit this area of extraordinary natural wealth.”

Drake Bay is believed to be named after Sir Francis Drake (1540–1596), the English explorer and privateer who famously circumnavigated the globe between 1577 and 1580. Legend holds that the bay served as a hiding place for one of Drake’s buried treasures during his raids along the Spanish Main.

Today, the area’s biggest draw is Corcovado National Park, a 164-square-mile preserve that covers nearly one-third of the Osa Peninsula. The park is home to endangered tapirs, harpy eagles, American crocodiles, spectacled caimans, bull sharks, and six species of wild cats (including jaguars and pumas) and all four of Costa Rica’s monkey species.

The Drake Bay dock is among several infrastructure upgrades underway in Costa Rica’s top tourist regions. Recently, the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT) announced major repairs to the Tárcoles River Bridge on Route 34, better known as the “Crocodile Bridge.” The spot has become a popular stop for travelers hoping to catch a glimpse of the dozens of crocodiles that bask along the riverbanks, fueling a growing crocodile-watching tour industry.

INCOP, the agency behind the Drake Bay project, is tasked with managing and modernizing Costa Rica’s Pacific coast ports to support the country’s commercial, economic, and tourism activity.

MOPT is the state-owned organization responsible for overseeing roads, ports, airports, and public transit nationwide.

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What docks or bridges in your community are most in need of repair? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com