Cusinga, Birdwatching at Marino Ballena National Park

Cusinga - easily recognized by the black square spot on its breast

Birdwatching at Marino Ballena National Park and surrounding areas is an excellent activity for everyone!

Do not forget to bring your binoculars and cameras!

The ancient Egyptians represented feathered animals in their hieroglyphics. Biologists and naturalists worldwide were revolutionized in 1815 when a young Austrian named Voigtlander designed the first binoculars, introducing us to those beautiful animals with fascinating songs, colors, and behaviors.

A stay place perfect for birdwatchers

The grounds of Hotel Cristal Ballena and the Costa Ballena area are highly productive for birdwatching, with over 400 species of birds reported in the region, including some unique regional endemics. The hotel's location, nestled between the humid tropical forests at the foothills of the Fila Costeña mountains and the Pacific coastline, creates an excellent environment for observing forest and marine birdlife. Spanning 30 acres, Hotel Cristal Ballena is designed as a nature park, featuring abundant trees, a rainforest, and a nearby ecosystem, all supporting various bird species.

The boutique hotel reserve is home to more than 250 species of birds, and the range is more extensive when visiting the local birding hotspots. Local hotspots include the Marino Ballena National Park, especially for sea and shorebirds, and the Terraba-Sierpe Wetlands, home to the endemic Mangrove Hummingbird and the Yellow-billed Cotinga.

Birdwatching at Marino Ballena National Park

Anyone who has spent even a single day in Costa Ballena knows about the incredible variety of birds that inhabit the area. The diversity is astounding, from large to small, colorful to drab, and predators to prey. The cumulative total from all Christmas bird counts in the region amounts to 488 species, about half the number of bird species found in the United States and Canada combined.

By Christmas, all migratory species from North America have arrived in Costa Ballena. Many birders visit the area annually, especially from December to March, when the bird population is at its peak, along with an influx of birdwatchers.

Birdwatching and Ornithology at Marino Ballena National Park are worthy of reverence. In a three-hour walk, we can observe and listen to over 50 species.

We find handsome scarlet macaws, blue herons, frigate birds, and kingfishers of different colors and sizes near our beautiful beaches. We also see cormorants, bald red-lored parrots, laughing falcons, yellow-headed caracaras, and hummingbirds.

When we go up the Coastal Mountains on horseback, as we enter the lush forests, the temperature drops, and we find ourselves admiring the beautiful Laty-tailed trogon, the Pale-billed woodpecker, Cusingas, endemic of the South of Costa Rica and the West of Panama; also chestnut-mandibled toucans, and king vultures. Nearby, we hear the howler monkeys and the sound of clear water falling into natural pools; a funny white-nosed coati crosses our path, and then suddenly, the view opens over the “Whale´s Tail.”

Ballena Tales is an essential free digital magazine in Costa Rica, valid for travelers, residents, and investors covering Costa Ballena in the Canton of Osa in the South Pacific of Costa Rica. It is a fully bilingual, bi-monthly, and full-color digital magazine.

The magazine introduces the reader to the life of the local community, with interviews of pioneers, writers, and artists, as well as extensive information on restaurants, hotels, experiences, natural attractions, and wildlife of the South Pacific of Costa Rica.

We are not just a magazine; each edition (print and digital) is linked to a robust web platform; the editions are published online, and the advertorials are included in our blog and the brand in the commercial directory. We also add links to the advertising company's website and social networks. At this time, the openings of digital publications in all their expressions exceed 80 thousand openings, and the advertised brands have a global reach.

We have a loyal audience of over 8,000 readers in the South Pacific's Costa Ballena region who will view your news in each printed edition.

We prioritize our readers' satisfaction by delivering a variety of engaging content while showcasing the value of our advertisers' brands.

YOU’VE GOT TO BE TOUGH TO BE AN AGOUTI

When you’re walking through the rainforest and surprise an animal that goes bouncing through the undergrowth emitting panicked, bark-like grunts with every bounce, you’ve certainly startled a Central American Agouti (Dasysyprocta punctata). After 20 years of living here, I finally saw one standing still. Once the hunting was under control on Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge, their fear of humans diminished considerably.

Continue reading

“Entangled in Costa Rica” A Documentary about whales rescue 2021

It is not unusual for residents on the South Pacific side of Costa Rica to witness humpback whales swimming along the coast with their newborn calves during migratory whale seasons. For anyone, being able to rescue a female whale and her calf’s life is a once in a lifetime encounter. Innoceana, in association with filmmakers The Vegan Pirates, produced a short documentary “Entangled in Costa Rica.”

Continue reading

Veganism is on the rise – and it is far more than a food trend!

It leads to a lifestyle based on sustainability and compassion.
The three pillars of veganism are:

1. Compassion for all animals (i.e. an understanding that there is no difference between a chicken or a dog, a calf, or a cat).
2. The concern and care for environmental issues (i.e. massive land use and pollution caused by life stock farming, pesticides, antibiotics, etc.); and
3. The positive effects on health (i.e., low cholesterol, no lactose intolerance, a pure conscience, etc.).

Continue reading

Being on the first page of Google

Before the Internet’s availability, people consulted countless non-digital sources such as phone books and shared friends’ opinions about hotel and restaurant services.
Today consumers have an Internet connection 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to search for information from their computer or cell phone.

Continue reading

Le French Café – Plaza Bahía Moana

Le French Café at the brand new Moana Plaza Bahía stands out for its innovative decoration. The large terraces welcome the sea breezes, and there are comfortable seats, a well-equipped bar, and display cases with delicacies in bread, desserts, and sweets.

Continue reading

Dare to Discover and Enjoy…

Check out…

Need help planning your next trip? Let us help you with your Costa Rica vacations!

Email: carlos@ballenatales.com
Phone: +(506) 8946 7134