Costa Ballena. Osa, South Pacific, Costa Rica
A World of Light and Color!
Costa Ballena is the place where the forest meets the South Pacific Ocean in the Osa Canton. It comprises the area from the Barú River, crossing the bridge at Dominical all the way to the mouth of Térraba River in Coronado. The following small towns belong to the area: Dominical – Dominicalito – Hermosa Beach – San Josecito – Uvita - Bahía – La Union – Ballena – Ojochal – Punta Mala and Coronado.

Costa Ballena Map
How to get to Costa Ballena?
From San José, take Route 27 towards Orotina, pay attention to the exit to Jaco – Tárcoles, carry on to Parrita and Quepos, and follow the new Coastal Highway (Route 34) to Dominical. Travel time: about 3 hours and 30 minutes.
Alternatively, from San José, take Cerro de la Muerte (Route 2), to San Isidro and then take route 234 to Dominical. Travel time: about 4 hours and 30 minutes.
From Palmar go North on the Coastal Highway.
Nearest airports: Quepos and Palmar Sur.
TRACOPA buses, on their way from San José to the Panamanian border, make a stop in Uvita. Travel time: about 3 hours 30 minutes.
Visit Marino Ballena,National Park. The famous Whale’s Tail is located at Playa Uvita with a length of about 2296 feet and a width of 820 feet, it is the world’s largest sandbank. During the low tide, you can walk to its very end.
The Park is open from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm every day, the entrance fee is CRC 1000 for nationals or residents and $ 6 for foreigners. THIS ENTRANCE ALLOWS YOU TO VISIT ALL PARK BEACHES ON THE SAME DAY.
The park is fortunate to receive two annual migrations of whales, the Humpback Whale of the North visits the South Pacific Coast from December to March and the humpback whale of the South begins migration in July which ends in October.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN A WHALE-WATCHING TOUR? Please check >>>
Find here the information about South Pacific Costa Rica tides chart >>>

Costa Ballena
FLYING MAMMALS ~ Biodiversity Among Bats
~ by Jack EwingAs a kid growing up in Colorado I remember catching glimpses of dark forms darting back and forth across the summer sky. “Those are bats,” commented my dad. “They eat insects.” Many years later, living at […]
The Gentle Giants of Parque Reptilandia
~ by Roel de PleckerParque Reptilandia is home to a big variety of native and exotic species. One of these exotic species is our African spurred tortoises (Centrochelys sulcata). They are Africa’s largest mainland tortoises with a carapace length […]
The Talamanca Range: a wall and a protective sanctuary
~ by Luis Gutiérrez Galera Christened with a Spanish name, the Talamanca Range was praised as a highly religious site by Costa Rican indigenous people such as the Bribri and Cabécar, who had lived there for a […]
The Golden Tennis Ball
The Silky Anteater, the golden tennis ball at Hacienda Baru By Jack Ewing Photos by Jack Ewing We started a list of species for Hacienda Barú and the surrounding areas in 1987. By 1994, all […]
Alexander Skutch, birds and much more
~ by Susana GarcíaAlexander Skutch was the most famous Neotropical ornithologist of the 20th century. After traveling to many Central and South American countries, he settled on a farm in Santa Elena de General that he called Los Cusingos. Here […]
Interview with a Biologist Specialized in Birds
~ by Dagmar ReinhardWhat’s your occupation, Susana? — “I’m a biologist specialized in zoology.” Are you a specialist in birds? — “Yes. I carry out censuses and monitoring; I develop workshops for specialized guides and others for the public, and […]
Chamber of Tourism Meeting
~ by Dagmar Reinhard In February, the 49th Business Meeting, organized by CATUOSA (Osa Chamber of Tourism) and chaired by Mr. Luis Centeno, was held at the PZ Country Club Hotel in San Isidro. Right in the heart of Pérez Zeledón […]
Duo Aurélie Riant & Anthony Gómez
~ by Dagmar Reinhard Aurélie is a young girl from Nova Scotia (Canada) with a remarkable voice. She received her first classical singing lessons when she was eight years old, followed by guitar and keyboard classes. When she […]
Have Fun and Be Safe on the beach!
~ by Nate Bright The Costa Ballena region is famous for its beautiful beaches, and we hope you take full advantage of them! Here are some great safety tips to keep in mind as you play in […]
Yoga Philosophy ~ Part VI
~ by Pilar Salazar The 8 Limbs of Ashtanga The Niyamas The second limb of Ashtanga Yoga is the “Niyamas”; they represent guidelines to be aware of in our daily lives. The first one is “Sauca”, which […]
Boruca Gallery Gift Shop
Boruca Gallery Gift Shop~ by Susie AtkinsonLooking for a unique souvenir of your trip to Costa Rica – something that is a true representation of the local folklore and does not have that “Made in China” stamp on […]
Our senior pets
When our beloved pets become geriatric, they require special attention since their bones and muscles are not strong anymore.
And Who’s Peter?
~ by Dagmar Reinhard Peter Marschall, the son of a German father and a Hungarian mother, who also speaks English and Spanish, came to Costa Ballena in the South Pacific of Costa Rica, for the first time […]
An Unfortunate but Happy Scarlet Macaw
~ by Mike Graeber Meet Ruby, one of our two scarlet macaws here at Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary (AWS). This beautiful, young bird has had a very painful life because of things done to him by heartless human beings. Ruby […]
Uvita, Fresh from the Feria: Papaya
~ by Luba NikolayevPapaya is a well-known, healthy, tropical fruit that is both delicious and full of advantages. In Costa Rica, papayas are easy to grow and abundant year round. When ripe, the fruit has sun-kissed, […]
What to do, Where to eat and Where to stay…
South Pacific Costa Rica Beaches, Marino Ballena National Park
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Email: carlos@ballenatales.com
Phone: +(506) 8946 7134
