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.

EVENTS

SERVICES

TIDE CHARTS

Stay off the Rocks!

by Nate Bright The Guardavidas Costa Ballena Lifeguards are a community funded lifeguard program that protects three of our local beaches: Playa Dominical to the north, Playa Hermosa near Uvita and Playa Ventanas to the […]

Giant Beautiful Kapok at Baru Wildlife Refuge

By Jack Ewing The most noteworthy old tree that has passed on at Hacienda Barú was an enormous old kapok or ceibo tree (Ceiba pentandra). It once dominated the skies near what is today the […]

A Vibrant Community In Uvita

Located west of the Rincon in Uvita is the vibrant and modern community of Jardines del Sol. This master planned community will feature 14 titled homes, meticulously built with full block construction and tastefully finished using high-end materials. Blue Zone Coastal Developments International and Blue Zone Realty International are extremely proud of this urbanization project. In addition to the 14 titled homes, there will be a remarkable 6700m2 of green space for our residents to enjoy.

Why Costa Rica?

Costa Rica feels like home. For me, it is the focus on family, the sense of community, warmth of the people and the beauty of the land. It is also the meaningful friendships we have […]

HELODERMA Venomous Lizards of the Americas

The beaded lizards and Gila monsters from the genus Heloderma are the only lizards in the Americas capable delivering a venomous bite. They have venom glands in their lower jaws, not like venomous snakes where […]

Here we grow again!

Here we grow again! We would like to introduce Chris Schauer, the newest member of the RE/MAX We Sell Paradise team. Chris is originally from California with a background in real estate and information technology. His […]

Looking with eyes closed

Saul Morales is a professor of Visual Arts and Communication. He spent considerable time in museums studying pre-Columbian art and in European and African schools. For 4 years he has made transcriptions and analysis of the Brünca language, as well as aesthetic analogies of pre-Columbian art to manifest a contemporary form of art in the different creative branches.

Frida is an owl moinkeyliving happily at the wildlife sanctuary

Frida – The Owl Monkey

By Shawn Kay Frida is an owl monkey who arrived at the Sanctuary in December 2016 after being confiscated from the illegal pet trade. Owl monkeys (also known as “night” monkeys) are not native to […]

Fusion Restaurant

~ by Annie Drake The blending of culinary worlds A combination of exceptional food and the efforts of a fantastic couple came together to create Restaurant Fusion. Raquel Chinchilla Lopez and Steven Varela Jiménez met […]

gastronomy, gourmet food, Castillo Hotel,

Castillo’s Kitchen

~ by Dagmar Reinhard Chef’s Table concept – The evolution of Costa Rican cuisine Chef Pablo provides himself for his kitchen with fruits, wild mushrooms, vegetables, berries, roots, leaves, and flowers. They grow in the […]

Pérez Zeledón takes off in tourism – Chirripó, water, birds and culture

~ by Susana Garcia Blanco Pérez Zeledón takes off in tourism Recently, a Municipal Tourist Information Office was inaugurated in San Isidro, capital of the Canton of Pérez Zeledón. It is located in the Central Park, […]

“Bahía Ballena free of plastic” went to Nairobi

~ by Dagmar Reinhard “Bahía Ballena free of plastic” went to Nairobi The Envision Festival congratulates the community of Bahía Ballena for its excellent initiative rejecting single-use plastic. Our event has been held in Uvita […]

Guardavidas Costa Ballena Lifeguards

~ by Nate Bright Guardavidas Costa Ballena Lifeguards In 2016, the Guardavidas Costa Ballena Lifeguards recorded nearly 30 rescues on the three beaches we protect – Playa Dominical, Playa Hermosa and Playa Ventanas. These are […]

El Mercado

~ by Dagmar Reinhard The girls behind the initiative Sandra, Natalia and Sara met through a circle of women in Uvita, each one of them with her own unique abilities and talents. They very soon […]

The Flutterby House at the beach

~ by Jordan Gill The Flutterby House at the beach If you haven’t been to the Flutterby House in a while, then you’re in for a treat during your next visit. After recently celebrating their […]

La Ceiba EcoAdventures

~ by Luisa Hilbert / Carla Stickeler A Unique Experience in Nature´s Heart Near Platanillo of Barú and hidden in the lush tropical jungle you will find the extensive La Ceiba EcoAdventures Biological Reserve, measuring […]

Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, Dominical, Uvita, Ojochal, Southern Zone

Dominical/Uvita/Ojochal, Southern Zone Dominical AA Meetings: Wednesday: 11:00 am – Open AA – Dominical Happy Hour Group (Topic Meeting) Sunday: 9:15 am – Open AA – Dominical Happy Hour Group (Big Book Study) NA Meetings: Thursday: 10:00 am Open […]

Kua Kua Restaurant

~ by Annie Drake Culinary delights by Chef Jaak You don’t have to be a guest at the Three Sixty Boutique Hotel to experience a “complete transformation and all-encompassing” occasion. Restaurant Kua Kua is open […]

Pioneering Adventures in Paradise

~ by Alexandra Luty Champagne family “You don’t always need a plan. Sometimes you only need champagne”. This quote holds true for Kevin Champagne, at least the part about not always needing a plan. […]

DAWG – Rescue Animals

~ by Shawnell Parker Fantastic, Fabulous and Faithful Fosters Frankly, foster families are the best things that can happen to a rescue animal. D.A.W.G. could never have continued for ten years to save animals without turning […]

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The Tanagers – Competing with the Rainbow

~ by Susana García Competing with the Rainbow Often our gardens are filled with feathers of a thousand colors, mainly due to a group of birds that compete with the rainbow. The tanager family in […]

Improvement of Infrastructure at the Marino Ballena National Park

~ by Dagmar Reinhard Improvement of Infrastructure Roy Vargas is the adviser to Dr. Edgar E. Gutiérrez Espeleta, Minister of Environment, Energy, Seas, Coasts and Wetlands of the Republic of Costa Rica. Roy has a […]

Happy Feet Ballet and Performing Arts School presents “Second Intensive Dance Program of the Southern Zone”

~ by Heather Gamewell A great opportunity to see and participate The Happy Feet Ballet and Performing Arts School presents the “Second Intensive Dance Program of the Southern Zone” from the 8th to the 21th […]

From Regeneration to Sustainability

~ by Chema Medina An alternative way of life Chema and Marga have been practicing sustainable and regenerative practices on top of the Coastal Range (just above the biological corridor “El Paso de la Danta”) […]