About this tour
Afternoon boat to San Josecito: swim, sunset, then glowing water after dark. A short, easy night on the bay.
Leave at 4:00 p.m. for a short boat ride to San Josecito Beach. Swim, sit on the sand, and watch the sun drop over Drake Bay. After dark you move to the bioluminescence area — living organisms light up the water when it moves, like sparks in the dark.
A bilingual guide explains the phenomenon and the bay’s marine life. The glow is natural and changes with the night and the sea. Age 6 and up. Easy. About 3.5 hours, back around 7:30 p.m.
What to bring
Pack light
What to pack. We keep extra bags on the boat.
Your bag
- Dark clothing, preferably black
- Sunscreen
- Sandals
- Mosquito repellent
Good to know
Local notes
Read this before you leave the lodge.
Before you go
- Wear dark clothes (black works best)
- Bring mosquito repellent
- The glow is stronger on darker nights
- Stay close to the group after sunset
Wildlife you may see
- Bioluminescent fish
- Jellyfish
- Bioluminescent plankton
- Rays
- Tropical fish
- Dolphins (occasionally)
- Sea turtles (occasionally)
- Seabirds at sunset
Trip details
Age 6+. Easy. Starts 4:00 p.m., about 3.5 hours. Sea conditions can change what you see at night — the glow is natural and varies.
Location
Drake Bay, Osa Peninsula, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
San Josecito Beach and the bioluminescence observation area in Drake Bay.
On the map
San Josecito Beach
Quiet cove near Drake Bay — beach day, waterfall trails and bioluminescence nights.
Transport
Boat transportation from Drake Bay to San Josecito Beach and the bioluminescence observation area is included.