Costa Ballena Guide, Osa, Costa Rica Free Digital Magazine and Travel Guide
Costa Ballena is where the forest meets the South Pacific Ocean in the Osa Canton. It comprises the area from the Barú River, crossing the bridge at Dominical to the mouth of the Térraba River in Coronado.
The area includes the following small towns: Dominical, Dominicalito, Hermosa Beach, San Josecito, Uvita, Bahía, Ballena, Ojochal, and Coronado.
Visit Uvita Beach at Marino Ballena National Park, the famous Whale’s Tail, with a length of about 2296 feet and a width of 820 feet; it is the world’s third-largest sandbank. During the low tide, you can walk to its very end.
Discover the wonders of Costa Ballena, and keep browsing to learn all you need to know about Costa Rica vacations in the South Pacific Region.
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Ballena Tales is a digital and interactive magazine and travel guide covering Costa Ballena in the Osa Canton and the South Pacific region of Costa Rica. On this site, you will find helpful information such as what to do, services, experiences, natural attractions, wildlife, tide charts, events, restaurants, and hotels in Costa Ballena, Osa, and the South Pacific of Costa Rica.
Our editorial priority is to satisfy our readers by publishing attractive content and highlighting the value of our advertisers' brands. The magazine, available in digital and print formats, highlights the local community. We collaborate free of charge with positive community initiatives and environmental organizations. It also includes interviews with pioneers, writers, and artists from the South Pacific region of Costa Rica.
The magazine goes beyond traditional print publications. Each issue, whether print or digital, is part of a robust digital ecosystem. Issues are accessible online, advertorials are featured on our blog, and brands are listed in the business directory on our website. The ads also include links to the advertising companies' websites and social media profiles.
The digital version has a worldwide reach with tens of thousands of opens. The print edition has a dedicated readership of more than 8,000 readers in the South Pacific Costa Ballena region. According to a study conducted in hotels, restaurants, pharmacies, offices, rental houses, supermarkets, and other places, the average readership for the print version was 2.3 local readers and 18 visitors per issue, totaling approximately 142,000 readers. This result corresponds to the printing of seven thousand copies per year.
MAGAZINE
Swimming for Life
Who says mermaids do not exist? A mermaid “Swimming for Life” By Leonie Ruhland Renate Herberger, a German mermaid living in Canada, is taking the term “swimming for life” very seriously. For many years, she […]
ENVISION 2014
By Leonie Ruhland Ballena Tales joined the magic; it became part of the color, the passion, and the creativity. The 4th Envision festival, took place in the idyllic neighborhood of Uvita. Hundreds of envisionaries […]

Milking of the Murex snail at Ventanas Beach
The art of milking of the Murex snail has its origins in the 4th century B.C. Cleopatra used that procedure to dye in purple the sails of her boat.
Playa Hermosa – beaches of Costa Ballena
Playa Hermosa – one of the most beautiful and largest beaches of Costa Ballena By Andreas Reinschmidt Playa Hermosa, as the name suggests, is one of the most beautiful and largest beaches of Costa Ballena. […]
Sierpe Mangrove Tour
Mangrove Tour, you will be delighted observing the variety and abundance of wildlife and bird species. Squirrel, howler, and cappuccino monkeys, huge crocodiles
It´s About TIME
By Pilar Salazar A few days ago, I stopped everything I was doing and went for a run. I must admit I felt a little guilty about it. My ‘to-do-list’ was biglong, as it tends […]

So, I became Costa Rica’s lover
Eventually, I became Costa Rica’s lover. Though she has had many others,
Three very young ambassadors from Costa Ballena!
By Dagmar Reinhard Three very young ambassadors from Costa Ballena participated at the “NATIONAL SURF CIRCUIT 2014” in Nosara. Emily Anderson (10 years old) won the 2nd place in the Caribbean Classic groms division. She […]
New Lifeguard Tower at Playa Hermosa
By Dagmar Reinhard It was per initiative of Don Brian Nice, the source of many community-projects in Costa Ballena, that the new lifeguard tower in Playa Hermosa was built and recently inaugurated. Currently, it is […]
Surfers´ Paradise – the best beaches in Costa Ballena
By Leonie Ruhland In addition to the opening of the annual national competition (Circuito National de Surf), clearly every surfer is eager to hit the greatest waves on Costa Rica’s beaches. With the 4th Tournament […]
La Casa del Artista
By Dagmar Reinhard For him, to be mentioned is not important. He wants his work to be in the spotlight because it has a significant message, which has been carried from Costa Rica to every […]
Local Hangover (Goma) Remedies
By Trevor BrownCosta Ballena has some of the best parties in Costa Rica during the summer months. With multiple music festivals, the Craft Beer Fest, Envision and the Semana Santa Surf Classic, there is […]
United for Conservation
By Biologist Susana García Does the social and economic development of a country supposed to be always negative for the environment? Costa Rica is a country in full development, and by development, I mean something […]
Rincón de Uvita and the Nova Fitness Gym
Milton Lopez Monje has been the manager of the Rincón de Uvita Sports Center for the last five years. It is the largest and most comprehensive complex in the Osa Cantón. It features a FIFA […]
The archaeological Museum at Finca 6
In December 2013, Finca 6 Museum, located in the canton of Osa, was inaugurated by the President Ms. Laura Chinchilla, together with several ministers, the director of the National Museum, and Vice President Luis Liberman. […]
The skin – a body’s organ in close contact with the environment
The skin is one of the organs in the human body experiencing ongoing exposure to the environment. Living in a coastal area, with continuous exposure to the sun and frequent injuries, we should pay special attention to the areas exposed to ultraviolet radiations such as the face, neck, upper chest, lips, forearms, and back of the hands since they are the most affected.
Permaculture at Tom’s estate
There’s an incredible amount of brainpower going into a coherent system capable of supporting healthy living and eating. Tom Nagel, owner of Hotel Cuna del Angel, was not satisfied enough with a gluten-free restaurant which […]
Bodhi Shambala Yoga Center
A Place Of Tranquility And Awakening In A Small Costa Rican Community The words “Bodhi” and “Shambala” both originate in the ancient language of Sanskrit, and their essence is pursued by a yoga teacher and […]
Medicinal plant's tour
Our community of Playa Hermosa, introduced in the past edition of “Ballena Tales,” offers a wide variety of activities helping the visitor to get involved in the traditional Costa Rican way of life, and in […]
News from Kokopelli in Sierpe
You sure have heard of Sierpe? Definitely it is not just a place to catch a boat to depart to Drake´s Bay. However, Kokopelli has just informed us that there are now the new water taxis leaving every morning at […]
The waterfalls of St. Lucia – San Josecito
Hidden in the mountains of Uvita, are the St. Lucia waterfalls, a beauty not seen yet by many foreign eyes. However, Humberto Nuñez decided to create an opportunity for tourists who have a deep interest […]
Forging Wings and Expanding Horizons
Learning how to care for the environment, learning English, communicating with other countries and cultures through the Internet, promoting artistic creativity, drug prevention, and healthy leisure activities are the pillars of the new stage the […]
Feng La Acupuncture
The Feng La Acupuncture is a noninvasive method without needles. This technique is well tolerated by elderly people whose skin is thinner, children, diabetics, and people with belonephobia (fear of sharp objects).
Never miss the opportunity of going for a walk
The famous slogan “the dog is man’s best friend” is based on the dog’s positive responses towards his master. They are well known for their absolute loyalty, for their unconditional companionship through the good and […]
DISCOVER THE SOUTH PACIFIC
Costa Ballena includes the three towns Dominical, Uvita, and Ojochal.
They have much to offer, from yoga retreats, surfing competitions, and culinary events to a nature walk in the jungle. The tropical climate of the South Pacific of Costa Rica and the happiness of its people make the great atmosphere in bars and restaurants to 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: