Costa Ballena Guide, Costa Rica Free Digital Magazine and Travel Guide

*Ballena Tales* is a digital and interactive guide highlighting the wonders of Costa Ballena, in Costa Rica's South Pacific. This magazine offers in-depth coverage of activities, services, natural attractions, wildlife, dining options, accommodations, and events in the region.

With an innovative approach, it combines print and digital publications within an ecosystem that includes a blog, business directory, and links to social media profiles and advertiser websites. The digital edition has a global reach, with thousands of readers, while the print version reaches over 8,000 readers in the region.

According to studies, each print copy is read by an average of 2.3 residents and 18 visitors, resulting in approximately 142,000 readers per year, with a print run of 7,000 copies.

In addition to its informative and engaging content, *Ballena Tales* supports community and environmental initiatives, contributing pro bono to positive projects for the sustainable and cultural development of the South Pacific. Its editorial mission is to satisfy readers while boosting the value of advertiser brands and promoting the overall growth of the region.

Turtles travel far – A historic Register

Turtles travel far – A historic Register

On Saturday night, Óscar, director of the Tortuga Beach Reserve (RPT) in Ojochal, had a hunch and decided to accompany some volunteers who would monitor Playa Hermosa. It is a place that in recent months has received dozens of olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) that come to nest.

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SailCargo Ceiba Wooden Cargo Ship

A WOODEN CARGO SHIP, STEAMING HOT UNDER A TROPICAL SUN

Ceiba has been under steady construction ever since her keel was laid on January 8th, 2019. A wooden cargo ship, square-rigged, powered by the wind and a back-up electric engine, her three masts will propel ethically-sourced cargo from her homeport in Costa Rica via Hawai’i islands as far north as Alaska before returning southbound via Canada, the mainland USA, and Mexico. 

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The Neotropical Rattlesnakes – Jingle bells of the Snake World

Neotropical Rattlesnakes, does this word ring a bell to you? I think everyone has heard of them or seen them on television, stealing the show in cowboy movies or nature documentaries. Famous for their rattling tail tip, actually modified scales, being a series of hollow interlocking segments made out of keratin (the same substance as your fingernails.)

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Climate, Mood and Environment - Clima, estado de ánimo y ambiente

Sure Climate, Mood, and Environment are connected!

Sure they are connected! Climate, Mood, and Environment. We are all interested. Today no one can ignore the weather news.
Our weather apps show what’s happening here and in the intercontinental sky up to the minute.

Without looking at the weather every day, nothing is planned anymore, no excursion or event, especially no trip.

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mangrove

Sierpe Mangrove Boat Tour Costa Rica

The mangrove boat tour with “Kokopelli Mangrove Tours” was amazing and pretty exciting. I was able to see so many animals that I have never seen before in real life. I would highly recommend enjoying this tour if you are interested in the wildlife of Costa Rica and want to learn more about mangroves.

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Maintenance outdoors, mantenimiento de exteriores

Maintenance outdoors, Do it Yourself

The dry season is here! The best time to perform maintenance outdoors. We have just faced one of the strongest rainy seasons in recent years. We can observe a more significant deterioration in our buildings and mainly in outdoor areas that were spaces exposed to inclement weather.

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Urban Life vs. Life in the Tropics, Vida Urbana vs. Vida en los Trópicos

Life in the Tropics vs. Urban Life

We, lovers of our Tropical Properties, see life here as a big trade up from where we used to be. If you feel ready for your life in the tropics, too, contact me for more information about what the dream life is like in South Pacific Costa Rica.

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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.

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“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.”

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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.).

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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.

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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.

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Alma de Ojochal Hotel

The Alma De Ojochal Hotel is, as the name says, “the soul of Ojochal” and is in tune with the spirit of Pura Vida on the South Western coast of Costa Rica. Here you will have the feeling of enjoying life to the fullest, embracing experience and adventure in a very relaxed atmosphere.

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Ventanas Beach

What a beautiful spot. You will now understand why people love this secluded beach, surrounded by lush rainforest and lined with palm trees. It mostly has calm waves. The shallow waters are safe for children (always under their parents’ observation and paying attention to the lifeguards’ alerts.)

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local economy - economía local

How YOU can help the local economy

Indeed, most of the Costa Ballena region is dependent on tourism. Given that as the background, we hear from our homeowners, clients, and the social media channels: What can we do to help with the local economy?

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Where does your native timber come from?

Where does your native timber come from?

Most of the construction on the Costa Ballena and Osa Peninsula is done by hotels and second-home builders drawn by the lush rainforest. Native timber feels like an obvious choice: who doesn’t love a handcrafted Cristobal door’s luxury?

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travels by bicycle

In Osa the history travels by bicycle

It is an exhibition with identity, designed by and for the inhabitants of the Osa Canton. It is a temporary exhibition “In Osa history travels by bicycle,” which you can admire at the Finca 6 Museum site, in Palmar Sur.

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teenage monkeys, monos adolescentes

The Strange Behavior of a Gang of Teenage Monkeys

The whole gang of teenage monkeys turned tail, ran for the fig tree, scuffled for a position, and ascended to the crown. Once safe from the mother raccoon, they seemed to lose interest in her, like a person trying to forget an embarrassing incident and pretending it never happened. The monkeys returned to their vagrant behavior, and mama continued about her business with her cubs at her side.

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DISCOVER THE SOUTH PACIFIC

Costa Ballena, located in the Osa Canton, is a region where the tropical forest meets the South Pacific Ocean, offering a unique natural environment. This area stretches from the Barú River in Dominical to the mouth of the Térraba River in Coronado, encompassing communities such as Dominical, Dominicalito, Uvita, Bahía, Ojochal, and Coronado.

One of its main attractions is Uvita Beach, located within the Marino Ballena National Park. This park stands out for the impressive natural formation known as the "Whale's Tail," a sandbank that stretches 2,296 meters in length and 2,800 meters in width, making it the third-largest in the world. At low tide, visitors can walk to the edge of this formation, enjoying spectacular views and an unforgettable experience.

Costa Ballena combines natural beauty, biodiversity, and picturesque communities, establishing itself as a prominent tourist destination in Costa Rica.

UVITA

OJOCHAL

SAN ISIDRO

SIERPE

GOLFO DULCE

The Best Time to Travel to the South Pacific
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