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.
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.
Jr. Lifeguards and Open Water Swim Clinic
The Costa Ballena Lifeguard Association is growing and as we’ve grown, we’ve been able to network and meet other individuals from like-minded organizations in Costa Rica. We’re all working together to help make Costa Rica’s beaches safer and take drowning off the list as the 2nd leading cause of accidental death in the country.
Walking on hairy feet
Like all arboreal geckos, they have specialized feet; with these, they can adhere to any surface except for Teflon. They even can walk upside down thanks to the microscopic hairs or setae. They increase the ‘Van der Waals Forces’, which is the distance-dependent attraction between atoms or molecules, between its feet and the surface. The molecules interact with each other and create an electromagnetic attraction.
The Brunqueña Mountain Ridge – the perfect neighbor
Just look back, when you are in one of the almost pristine beaches of the South Pacific, to appreciate its prominent presence. This mountainous row extends parallel along the south coast, a barrier between the General Valley and the “Ballena Coast”.
The more we support each other, the better we will be!
Costa Rica is far and above the rest of Central America in terms of development, security, and quality of life. Those benefits come at a cost, and we must be willing to pay it. A significant portion of our local economy has been cash-based, meaning taxes not collected or paid, and therefore funds for essential services are sparse.
The Triangle – a lifetime experience
These are cities located within a radius of 26 km in the canton of Osa, which is the greenest in Costa Rica. It has an area of 1930.24 km² and boasts exotic forests, rivers, waterfalls and an exquisite cultural wealth.
The importance of spay and neuter
Total costs, including medications, range from $22 to $45, depending on the size of the animal, and if it is in heat or if there are other complications. These clinics are for Costa Ricans who cannot usually afford to spay or neuter their pets.
What to do, Where to eat, and Where to stay…
- Activities and Tours
- Whale Watching Tour
- Natural Attractions
- Marino Ballena National Park
- Restaurants
- Hotels and Accommodations
South Pacific Costa Rica Beaches,
Looking for business directories, maps or other printouts? We’ve got that too!
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
