Marino Ballena National Park – The Abundant Marine Life
Marino Ballena National forest (straight equated to marine whale national forest in English) in Uvita is among the very best locations to go whale viewing in Costa Rica. Humpback whales are typically seen out in the waters as both Southern and northern humpback whales go through this location, providing Costa Rica the longest humpback whale enjoying season worldwide.
Ballena National Marine Park is among the most special reserves in Costa Rica. Found simply offshore along the Central Pacific coast in South Puntarenas, the Ballena National Marine Park safeguards more than 13,000 acres of ocean and 9 miles of shoreline. Consisted of mangrove forests, reef and unblemished beaches, the national forest is one for tourists who wish to see vulnerable wildlife while leaving the stress of daily life.
Marino Ballena National forest is called after the Humpback Whales that move here each year from December to April to mate prior to going back to the freezing waters to the north.
And one truly intriguing quirk of nature is the so called whale tail that sticks out into the Pacific Ocean on Costa Rica’s Southern Pacific Coast. This huge rock and sand development not just has the unique shape of a whale’s tail, however is situated in the precise area where hundreds of humpback whales gather each year.
Despite the fact that it is among the youngest national forests in the nation, it is a preferred for visitors searching for a low key beach and jungle experience as it has a number of lovely beaches surrounded by spectacular natural landscapes. It likewise has among the most special and unique attributes of all the national forests in Costa Rica, a beach formed like a whale’s tail, formed by the union of 2 different beaches!
Marino Ballena National Park is one not to miss out on if you’re checking out the South Pacific coast of Costa Rica. It is among the leading things to do in Uvita and Dominical and among our preferred national forests in Costa Rica.
Here are our suggestions for visiting this park. This post has actually been upgraded July 15, 2020.
About Marino Ballena National Forest
Developed in 1990, Parque Nacional Marino Ballena safeguards 110 hectares of land, 5,400 hectares (13,345 acres) of water and the biggest reef in the Pacific coast of Central America. With over 14 kilometers (8.6 miles) of shoreline backed by lavish jungle covered mountains, Marino Ballena National forest is among the most stunning locations in Costa Rica.
Marino Ballena National Forest remains in Puntarenas province, 16 km (10 miles) south of Dominical and 180 km (112 miles) SW of San Jose. There are 4 sectors of the park: Uvita, Colonia, Ballena and Piñuela. Uvita is the most popular one with parking area right in front of the ticket workplace, a great roadway directly to the car park, dining establishments and restrooms at the entryway.
If you are utilizing Waze, go into “Parque Nacional Marino Ballena” and look for “Entrada sector Uvita”. They charge around 2-4,000 Costa Rican colones (~$ 3-8 USD) per day last time we were there.
If you utilize Google Maps, there isn’t a choice for the Uvita sector however you can set “Parqueo Bahia” as your location. To get to the Uvita sector, you do not require a 4wd or 4 × 4.
Gain access to
The cool feature of Uvita’s whale tail is that it can be taken pleasure in from various viewpoint. Here are the 3 finest ones:
The Bird’s Eye View
The very first method to delight in the whale tail is from above. Because the Costa Ballena area has high mountains extremely close to the ocean, you can see the fin-shaped sandbar from the terraces of lots of holiday leasings, hotels and B&B s, or even from various areas along mountain roadways. One simple place to see it is from the dirt roadway near Rancho La Merced (on the highway simply north of Uvita).
Particularly at low tide, snorkeling can be excellent from the coast however take care of riptides and currents. Dive journeys are offered to the islands. Beach combing is rewarding here, particularly when the water declines far sufficient to permit you to go out to Punta Uvita Tombolo, the little island that is gradually being recovered to the land as sand and particles deposit to form a land bridge.
Typical Occupants
Humpback whales, green marine iguanas, bottle nosed and typical dolphins, Olive Ridley and Hawksbill turtles, corals, sponges, polyps, lobsters, trunkfish, frigate birds, brown footed boobies, pelicans, ibises.
When to Check out?
There are 2 whale migrations to calve in the warm waters of Marino Ballena. Antarctic households get here in July and leave in November while their northern cousins from California and Canada can be found in December and leave in April.
The Central Pacific is driest from mid-December to about June however generally the rainy season isn’t as significant here as more south.
Ballena National Marine Park is one of the most special reserves in Costa Rica. And one actually intriguing quirk of nature is the so called whale tail that sticks out into the Pacific Ocean on Costa Rica’s Southern Pacific Coast. This huge rock and sand development not just has the unique shape of a whale’s tail, however is situated in the precise area where hundreds of humpback whales gather each year. In this post, we’ll let you understand how to see this well known whale beacon for yourself.
The very first method to delight in the whale tail is from above.