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.

The Boruca Little Devils’ Game

By Cristhian González Gómez The Boruca Little Devils’Gam is a ceremony, which takes place between December 30 and January 2, originally named Cagbrúˇ rójc (1) in Brunca language, and known as “The little devils’ game” […]

Costa Ballena, a paradise in the Making

~ by Trevor Brown When I moved to Dominical, the road connecting Costa Ballena to Quepos was unpaved; the single lane, washboard road, took about 1.5 hours to navigate via old bridges and river crossings that were constantly […]

The South Pacific: a spectacular destination

~ by Carlos LeónThe South Pacific is one of the best tourist destinations in Costa Rica; there is a wide variety of attractions in the surrounding areas. Visitors can enjoy many options to relax, stay in touch with […]

The G-String Cowboys: Pure & natural Costa Rican chemistry!

Interview with The G-String Cowboys Three gringo expats living in the Southern Pacific Zone of Costa Rica: A guitar-pickin’ old-school country singer/songwriter from Kansas; an electric rock-blues-swing lead guitarist/singer from Boston; and a singing multi-instrumentalist itinerant rock tribute band veteran turned […]

The Jewel of Osa

Texto y foto: Jeane Brennan The southwest of Costa Rica, the Osa Peninsula, has so much to offer. The town of Sierpe is the ideal place to begin your adventure. It is home to fishing captains […]

Music School GM

~ by Dagmar Reinhard Far from being just a cultural project, the Music School GM offered a recital in honor of the mothers. The ideal setting for such activity was the new restaurant Kakü in […]

Suzanne and the Hart Center at Vista Ballena Hotel

Suzanne and the Hart Center at Vista Ballena Hotel~ by Dagmar ReinhardThe Vista Ballena Hotel in Uvita is under new management. Suzanne Hart, a buoyant lady from Oregon, traveled all of Costa Rica looking for a hotel to […]

The Ferocious Skull Cave

The Ferocious Skull Cave at Ventanas Beach ~ by Rachel Wyrostek From Piñuelas beach, passing Playa Ventanas Beach and south to Tortuga beach, this coast is dotted with caves, arches, and bridges. There are legends […]

Yoga Philosophy ~ Part IV ~ Hatha Yoga

Yoga Philosophy ~ Part IV ~ Hatha Yoga ~ by Pilar Salazar In my last article, I discussed the branches of yoga that differ from the practice as we know it today. Now, I would […]

Be Aware, Not Afraid

~ by Benjamin Rutherford Paradise, “Pura Vida”, and “tuanis” are just a few of the ways people describe living in Costa Rica. We are all drawn to life in the Costa Ballena region for different […]

Pura Vida Through Clean Water

~ by Liz Bohne, E.I.T. Global Water Stewardship is a non-profit organization that, by educating people and engineering sustainable centralized solutions that keep waterways clean and communities healthy, resolves sanitation issues in the developing world. […]

Geckos

~ by Cesar Barrio Amorós On this amazing coast in which we have decided to live, where nature is exuberant and there is beauty everywhere, we share our daily life with animals. Among them, geckos […]

“The Why We Do The Things We Do”

~ by Shawnell Parker Everybody likes quizzes, right? Test your DAWG knowledge. What percentage of people here owns a dog? What percentage of people here owns a cat? How many litters can a dog have […]

Life in 14th Century Paradise

This is a paradise”—so the boruca Indigenous thought—until the Spanish conquest in 1492-1520 AD.This is a paradise”—the Boruca Indigenous thought—until the Spanish conquest in 1492-1520 AD.

The Porcupine

~ by Mike Graeber A word that strikes fear into dog owners everywhere. If you own dogs and live in a rural location anywhere in North America, there is a good chance that you and […]

Environment & Wildlife, Sierpe in Osa, Costa Rica: Very Special for Sighting Wildlife!

Paradise Created by People

~ by Jack Ewing Paradise is found in the eyes of the beholder. For many of us who live in Costa Ballena, it is a place surrounded by tropical nature, where flora and fauna are […]

Breakfast on our way south

Tiquicia, breakfast on the road, our trip to Sierpe South Pacific Costa Rica ~ by Dr. Leiner Vargas Alfaro We Ticos love breakfast on the road, it is part of the flavor of tiquicia, land […]

Tours en Costa Rica, aventura en Costa Ballena y Peninsula de Osa

The adventure of Colombian Cyclists in Costa Ballena

Ruta de los Conquistadores, the adventure of Colombian Cyclists By Néstor Raúl Aventurabtt We are members of a Colombian cyclists club, is a mountain bike group called “Aventura BTT”. One day, over dinner, we got […]

Seizures

~ by Dr. Fernando Riera S. Seizures or convulsions are the result of abnormal activity of the brain, in which neurons experience an imbalance in excitatory and inhibitory signals. As a result, they produce an […]

Golden Paste

A turmeric-based golden paste has many healing anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, and antifungal properties.

Fast Living in Paradise

Fast Living in Paradise ~ by Perry Gladstone Things grow here fast: Plants, trees, dogs, my nails. Especially now in green season, it’s an explosion of life, consumption, and re-birth. Energy changing from one form […]

Costa Rica a Privileged Nation

Costa Rica is a privileged nation, thanks to its location, its vast natural richness, and the human warmth that distinguishes Costa Ricans; this is why it was named “The Happiest Place on Earth”. ~ Por […]

Coconut Milk

This column promotes a healthy lifestyle by showcasing locally grown products easily found at nearby famers markets. In this edition, we will be highlighting the benefits of coconuts and how to make coconut milk. ~ […]

Restaurants and Bar, typical Costa Rican meals, Costa Ballena, Osa, Restaurants in Costa Ballena, Osa, South Pacific, Costa Rica

Kakü means hospitality

~ by Carlos León Kakü means hospitality in Cabécar language (Kabekwa) The Cabécares are a Costa Rican autochthonous ethnic group. They are one of the most culturally diverse societies in Costa Rica because they still […]

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.