Whale Watching Tour

An unforgettable experience in life

The largest number of sightings on record.

More sightings.

Did you know that the Marino Ballena National Park is the best place for whale watching? At this time of year the most sightings occur here.

Safety is the most important

High Quality boats

All our boats comply with the requirements and safety standards, so that you can enjoy the Tour with complete peace of mind.

Tour Information

Dates: From July 15th to October 15th

Tours schedules: 8:30 am and 1:00 pm

Morning tours meet at 8:30 am at our Uvita dive shop and return around 12 pm, and afternoon tours meet at 1pm at our Uvita dive shop and return around 4 pm.

Tour Includes

Coffee, Natural Juice, Snacks prior to the tour.
Entrance to the Marino Ballena National Park.
Naturalist Guide, certified in cetaceans.
2 hours and 30 minutes boat tour.
Refreshments (Water / Natural Juice / snacks and fruits) during the tour.
Includes snorkeling session for 20 minutes (if conditions allow)
Visit to the most representative places of the Marino Ballena National Park.

All nationalities

$79.00

($90.00 Including 13% Taxes)

Children 6 to 12 years old $67.80 Tax Included

Special price for Costa Ricans and residents

$53.00

($60.00 Including 13% Taxes)

Children 6 to 12 years old $50.00 Tax Included

Additional Considerations for this tour

All children must be accompanied by an adult.
An adult can accompany up to two children, who receive a special discount.
Childres 6 to 12 years old $67.80 Tax Included
We have special prices for groups and families.
Costarricans get a special price to encourage local exploration and pay less for park entry.

Tour Description

Our whale watching tour begins in the morning at our shop, where you’ll be welcomed with coffee and pastries.

Afterward, you’ll have a brief introductory talk with one of our certified guides before walking, just 200 meters from our location, to the park entrance.

From Playa Marino Ballena, we’ll board the boat to explore the waters of Marino Ballena National Park in search of humpback whales.

The tour lasts approximately 2.5 hours, with a flexible duration depending on the conditions and how quickly the whales are spotted.

Along the way, you’ll also see dolphins, birds, and beautiful coastal formations. We provide snacks and a certified guide for a unique experience.

At the end of the tour, a small gift from us will be waiting for you.

Before the Tour

After welcoming you, you will proceed to check in with one of our hosts while enjoying our fresh coffee, natural juice and snacks.
We will start the Tour with an introductory video and a general explanation of the whale watching tour.

Then, we will walk to the Marino Ballena National Park. A beautiful path will take us to the park beach. There we will embark to start the whale watching tour

Whale Tail in Uvita

The route of the Whale Watching Tour

During the whale watching tour we will visit the most representative places of the Protected Area. We will sail towards the formation of the Whale’s Tail, Ballena stone, Tres Hermanas stone, Caverns, Arco Beach.

During the tour we will locate humpback whales and dolphins.

Whale watching tour boat
All our boats comply with the safety regulations

If conditions allow it, we will have the opportunity to do a snorkeling session at one of the points visited. You will have 20 minutes to cool off and observe different species of tropical fish. Sometimes it is also possible to observe rays, turtles and harmless reef sharks.

Some aspects to take into account during the Tour

There are regulations for the sighting of cetaceans so the time of the encounters and the proximity distance are moderate in order not to bother the animals.

During each meeting, the guide will fully explain all the characteristics of the noble giants, their behavior and distribution, as well as curious facts.

People looking at Whale during Tour
Tour participants looking at whale during our Tour

It is very likely to observe them a little more active by placing the fins and tail out of the water or showing their spectacular breaches.

Once the tour is finished, we will disembark at the same starting point where you will have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful beach or if you prefer, return to our office where we have showers and toilets available.

What to bring to the whale watching tour?

For the whale watching tour we recommend you bring:

Sunscreen (preferably Organic and waterproof),
Hat and Sunglasses.
Rain jacket
Camera.
Quick-dry clothes

To ensure a comfortable journey, we recommend bringing any necessary medication if you’re prone to dizziness on boat trips so you can fully enjoy the experience without any discomfort.

Frequently Asked Questions about whales in Costa Rica

Where can you see whales in Costa Rica?

Humpback whales can be seen at various points along the Pacific coast. However, the site with the highest number of recorded sightings is the Marino Ballena National Park, located in Uvita, South Pacific.
In this place the humpback whales come to mate and have their young.
In the Park, you can also observe other cetaceans such as dolphins and false killer whales.

Which species of whales migrate to Costa Rica?

Humpback whales are the most commonly observed species in Costa Rica, especially during their migration season. While sightings of Bryde’s whales are possible, they are less frequent. In Costa Rica’s pelagic zones, blue whales and sperm whales can also be spotted, though they are rare during whale watching tours. Although orcas and false killer whales are odontocetes, they are not typically encountered during these tours

What is the best time to see whales in Costa Rica?

The best time to see humpback whales in Costa Rica is between July and October. At this time the Pacific coast receives the cetaceans that come from Antarctica.

How long do humpback whales live?

Humpback whales live for approximately 50 years. However, some specimens have been found that have managed to reach 100 years.

What do humpback whales eat?

They mainly feed on krill and small fish.
Krill is a small crustacean that lives mainly in Antarctica. It resembles shrimp and is the food of many species. Krill is characterized by its high protein value.

How many species of cetaceans are there in Costa Rica?

There are approximately 29 species of cetaceans, including whales and dolphins. However, advanced studies have only been developed for 3 of them.

Can I swim with the humpback whales?

Humpback whales are beautiful animals. Although they generally show some empathy with humans, it is important to remember that they weigh between 15 and 30 tons and a small movement could cause a serious injury.
Swimming with humpback whales is not allowed in Costa Rica. During the tours we keep the recommended distance, which allows us to enjoy your show without putting the Tour participants at risk.

Is it worth participating in a whale watching tour?

Of course yes. Humpback whale watching is a once in a lifetime experience. Watching these beautiful and giant sea animals swimming and jumping out of the water is something you should not miss.

Want to join the Tour ? Reserve Now or Contact us for more information

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