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:
Unzipping Nature!
by Jack EwingIn his excellent book Life Above the Forest Floor, Donald Perry Ph. D. tells how he became entranced with the rainforest canopy when he was studying biology at university. There was virtually nothing […]
The Boaters of the Térraba River
~ by Prof. Fernando Pérez* Térraba has its roots in the borucan word Dí Crí, in the Broran dialect the word Diquís means “big water.” Several villages settle at its shores, among them are: La […]
Tinamastes
~ by Corey Walker from Tinamastes I often found myself walking the road from Tinamastes to Las Tumbas; it is a truly amazing and scenic road. It appears to me that the floor of the […]
Costa Rica wins prize at the tourism fair ITB Berlin in Germany
By Felix Helmholdt For Costa Rica, the tourism fair ITB Berlin 2016 was a great success, as the country gained the prize for the best booth from Central America and the Caribbean this year. The […]
Exploring and Fishing in the Sierpe River
by Jeane Brennan The town of Sierpe, while acting as a staging area and jumping off point for Corcovado National Park excursions, diving and exploring on Caño Island and off shore fishing in Drake Bay, […]
Community Food Bank Update
by Kimberley Faddah As the New Year began, the Ojochal Community Food Bank (OCFB) realized a significant objective by opening the OCFB Donation and Volunteer Center adjacent to the Ojochal police station. The Center is staffed […]
Living and Acting for Nature
by Melissa Jiménez Kardentey Living and acting for Nature – was our motto to promote the “Club Summer 2016” which last January was held in Reserva Playa Tortuga (RPT), located in Ojochal de Osa, thanks to […]
Easements
by Abogado & Notario Eduardo Abarca Consultor Legal Empresarial Nacional e Internacional* Easements are created as an encumbrance on a piece of land in order to give an entitlement to another area. They are extremely […]
Yoga Philosophy
by Pilar Salazar ~ Part I The practice of Yoga has become quite popular worldwide. There are several types, some more traditional than others. The reason for its popularity is most likely due to its […]
The Cicadas
by Cesar Barrio Amorós – Doc Frog Expeditions ~ The Sound of Summer… We all know the cicadas. But I had never heard such loud concerts as those […]
DAWGs Do Dream
by Tom & Shawnell Parker Another sleepless night; tossing, turning, and churning with worry about tomorrow. We are closing seven of our shelters, four in Costa Rica, two in Panama, and one in El Salvador; […]
Managing Growth in Costa Ballena
by Perry Gladstone “There is a predictable expat growth cycle in areas like the Costa Ballena, Costa Rica and understanding it is critical if we want to recognize opportunities for growth, development and, most importantly, the […]
Thanks to the Donors!
by Nate Bright The Costa Ballena Lifeguards would like to sincerely thank all current season donors. Each one of you is helping to save lives in Dominical and Playa Hermosa. If your company is not […]
Playful and Innovative Yoga on the Barú River
by Dagmar Reinhard Heidi Michelle was born in sunny Southern California and lived in Las Vegas, Nevada. This might be the reason she loves the deserts and the watery places of the Earth. In 2010, she […]
Envision House
by Dagmar Reinhard Two years ago, Elisabetta Zanettin began envisioning a youth center, administered and managed by the young people of the Uvita Bahía communities, a safe and positive place to share, learn and develop […]
Safe beaches: Strong community!
by Nate Bright It is estimated that more than 100 people drown on the beaches in Costa Rica every year. Fortunately, the Costa Ballena region has trained, certified lifeguards on two of our most popular […]
Loud-Mouthed Parakeets Invasion
by Jack Ewing A flock of at least thirty fast flying, scandalously loud, greenish-yellow birds flew directly overhead. My first thought was that they must be orange-chinned parakeets (Brotogeris jugularis), which I see almost every […]
The Art in Painting
by William Morales Vargas (Art Teacher) For more than thirty years I have been practicing the art of painting. I am an empirical and eclectic searcher of originality. I often wonder what makes an artwork […]
Courses for a Healthy Lifestyle
By Corey Walker from Tinamastes There are many things to be said about the community that gathers together into a market that promotes and sells organically grown food. I will say, in such a place […]
Paxer Coming to Costa Rica
By Jacobo Reyes Introduced by Venezuelan business people Jacobo Reyes and Gladys Irigoyen, the PAXER Hospitality Reservation Management System has arrived in Costa Rica. It is the solution to daily management of the hotel (Book-Collecting-Check-in, […]
The Culture of Boruca
by Susie Atkinson – photos: Isabelle Aubin Hidden within Costa Rica are different cultures and ethnic groups. There are eight indigenous groups in the country, and Costa Ballena’s closest community is the Borucans. Boruca’s history has […]

Meet Chester and Festus
by Mike Graeber These guys are Geoffroy’s Spider monkeys, the largest spider monkeys in the world. They live in remote areas of the jungle, where they move high into the trees. This makes them difficult […]

Great Waves at Surfers’ Paradise
Great Waves at Surfers’ Paradise by Trevor Brown For many, a surfer’s Paradise consists of a tranquil town and a perfect wave. However, to me the thought of one perfect wave is boring. I like […]
El Flaco
by Dagmar Reinhard “El Flaco” (the slim one) greeted us with the shaka, the unmistakable salute with the little finger and thumb – which is a symbol of aloha and part of the local culture of […]