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.
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.
Costa Ballena includes the three towns of Dominical, Uvita, and Ojochal.
They have much to offer, from yoga retreats and surfing competitions to culinary events and a nature walk in the jungle. The tropical climate of Costa Rica's South Pacific and the happiness of its people create a great atmosphere in bars and restaurants, where one can enjoy a good meal, a cold beer, and generally a pleasant evening.
Come and enjoy! READ MORE:
The South Pacific paradise of Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful places in the country. Ballena Tales is always there to help. Whether it's finding transportation or a good spa in the area, we know how to reach them or where to find them! By browsing through our Services Section, you can learn more about the services Costa Ballena offers. READ MORE:
Costa Ballena offers you the best surfing conditions: Sunshine almost every day, big waves, and a laid-back atmosphere and lifestyle. Dominical has specially developed into a real surfers' paradise.
The tides chart is one of the favorite pages of our visitors. It is essential to know the ideal time to visit the whale tail at the Marino Ballena National Park, and also useful for lovers of sports fishing and surfing. READ MORE:
Perry Gladstone: Super Stoked!
Each of us has a unique superpower, a particular way we see and respond to things that pique our interest and make things happen in our world. It’s the thing we cannot help but do […]
Alturas Wildlife Sancturary: Positive Reinforcement Training
Over the past couple of months, Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary has begun positive reinforcement training (PRT) with some of the sanctuary´s resident animals. PRT is used widely in a number of accredited zoos and sanctuaries worldwide. […]
RE/MAX Motorcycle for Miracles – Ends of the Earth Ride
We are proud to know RE/MAX agent Bruce Johnson and his daughter Holly (17), a father-daughter team dedicated to raise awareness and funds to support Sick Children’s Hospitals throughout the Americas and to report on […]
The People of Dominical
Blessed with the friendship of some of Dominical´s best tour operators, Linda had the chance to visit the mangroves, the famous whale’s tail, Ventanas, to practice SuP at the Barú River, and hike to Nauyaca Falls.
Restaurant: The Smell of Fresh Bread
Philippe and Mireille, owners of Pancito Cafe, are well known in Ojochal. Early in the morning, delicious aromas emanate from the place, the smell of fresh bread, croissants and freshly brewed coffee. They serve breakfast […]
Organic Feria: Tinamaste Invites You!
Tinamastes Fair is a place where the community is strengthened, not just a market where you make your purchases of local and organic products. The Tinamastes Fair is an initiative of Vida Auténtica, a non-profit […]
Jose Leon: From Inmate to Writer, an Unusual Case
Accused and condemned for the theft of the Virgin of the Angels in 1950, José León Sánchez, whom La Nación would call the monster of the Basilica, regained his freedom on June 8, 1970. After […]

Costa Ballena, Osa
Costa Ballena is a tourist destination formed by the connection of three beautiful villages in the canton of Osa: Dominical, Uvita and Ojochal on the South Pacific of Costa Rica. These coastal communities have a number of features that produce an interconnected tourist destination, ranking as one of the most promising tourist regions of Costa Rica.
The Polymorphic Eyelash Pitviper
The eyelash pit viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) occurs in most of the wet regions of Costa Rica, from sea-level to up to 1.500 meters in elevation. Females are larger and more robust than males reaching up […]
Uvita: The Unique “Gelato” Aroma
On entering Mariana and Atilla’s “Gelato’s” in the heart of Uvita, you are immediately reminiscing about your childhood. In July, the popular ice cream parlor next to the Sibu Restaurant was opened and has received positive […]
Tripadvisor: Certificate of Excellence
House of Ginger in a very central location: areas al fresco, and views of the vegetation, serves a very tasty Chinese food
Restaurant Beehive: Good for your heart, mind and body
Entertainment will feature special evening belly dancing performances and live music of all kinds from blues, jazz and Motown to rock and reggae. The Beehive Mediterranean restaurant, bar and boutique is Uvita’s new place to […]
Costa Rica: Happiness
Mahatma Gandhi said, “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” This doesn’t mean that you can just choose to be happy, no matter your situation. Rather, […]
Restaurant Gusto: “I can’t stand people who don’t take food seriously”
“And for the record, its not us who say this, Oscar Wilde said it,” the owners Luca and Francesca declare when greeting us at their Italian Restaurant Gusto. The first impression is the cordial welcome and […]

Birds: American oystercatchers
Oystercatchers are monogamous, and couples stay together for life.
The Mangroves of Piedras Blancas National Park
The Mangroves of Piedras Blancas National Park By Alejandra Rojas In the inner basin of Golfo Dulce, at the northwest border of Piedras Blancas National Park, there is a thriving mangrove forest of approximately 298 […]
Costa Rica: Passion for Birds… and Art!
In Costa Rica there are birds everywhere. Parakeets, parrots, toucans, owls, hawks… Such is the extent of the diversity of birds in the country that a whole lifetime is barely enough to observe them all […]
Say No to the one-use plastic in Osa! A coherent purpose.
This is how Osa´s initiative “free of single-use plastic”, which is totally consistent with the green identity of the destination, becomes a magnet that attracts the efforts of entrepreneurs, the community, environmental organizations, government offices, and politicians.

Ojochal, an Exotic Paradise
When you visit the southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica you will recognize its extraordinary beauty. Be it Dominical, Uvita or Ojochal, each of the different communities has its own charm and particularity. These wonderful […]
From Ojochal to the Southern Cone: Young Entrepreneur Takes on Great Challenge
When Paola López Vega heard about Patagonia, the Casa de la Moneda and a place called Viña del Mar, she never imagined that she would ever see those amazing scenarios. This is the story of […]
Blue Flag for Ojochal!
The community of Ojochal, once again, proudly got together to celebrate “The raising of the Blue Flag 2017” on July 28, 2018 at the entrance of our village. The celebration began with the privilege of […]
You bought your Home in Paradise. Let us Do the Worrying!
Osa Property Management and its commitment to providing world class property management services date back to Nick Halverson’s first trip to the Bahia Ballena area of Costa Rica in March 2005 to purchase some land […]
Pets in a National Park?
Most families have a pet; a dog or a cat, or both and these animals have become an important part of the family nucleus. As responsible owners we must take care of them, love them […]

Choosing Change
Someone asked me the other day; if I had one message to share, what would it be? My answer was this: We always have a choice.We love change when we choose it. A new haircut […]