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.

Turmeric

Turmeric is very similar to the ginger plant because it belongs to the same family. It grows up to 1.70 meters, and has yellow, trumpet-like shaped flowers. Turmeric is commonly dried, or powdered for its […]

The Puma Purrs

The puma, also known by many as the cougar, is the biggest «cat» that purrs. It does not roar like its cousins the jaguars and tigers. The puma has an especially adapted larynx, and the […]

PASE responsible consumption: The shark

Sharks belong within the group of cartilaginous fish and sit on top of the food chain. They are large predators, and perform the role of maintaining stability in the population of other predators, herbivores, and […]

Turtle Nesting Season Has Begun!

Playa Tortuga, in Ojochal, is a special beach that is home to many nesting sea turtles. It provides an ideal habitat for nesting turtles as it is surrounded by the salty sea water and the […]

alturas wildlife sanctuary costaballenalovers ballenatales 1

Wildlife Sanctuary in Osa

When Minaet (the Ministry of Environment, Energy, and Telecommunications) began to impose intimidating fines, many people started giving away their “pets” voluntarily. Unfortunately, Minaet does not have proper shelters for those creatures. The wildlife sanctuary […]

Increasing the Beauty of Uvita

One of the working committees of the Chamber of Tourism of Costa Ballena (CACOBA), directed by Pilar Dailinger, is focusing on increasing the beauty of Uvita, now an emerging center of commerce and banking in […]

Huen = frog, fertility symbol

The frog was regarded by the ancients Bruncas as a fertility symbol and death symbol. Today, it is a highly respected amphibian for its powerful poison. It is admired for its spectacular beauty and size. […]

Nature Guide Cesar Fonseca

Cesar is a very experienced guide in forest and maritime environment. He has worked with several tour operators covering the National Parks of Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, Corcovado, and Marino Ballena. He found a brand-new challenge […]

The Poison-Dart Frog

One of the most famous frogs of Costa Rica is known as Blue Jeans or Strawberry Poison-dart Frog (Dendrobates pumilio) it lives on the Caribbean side of the country. However, few people know its Pacific […]

Nightlife

Dominical eXtreme Games 2013

When? Saturday, July 6, 2013 Time? Times are subject to change but we plan they start around… Fishing – 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Surfing – 9 a.m. Kayaking & Coconut tree climbing – 11 […]

The Mysterious Spheres of Diquis Valley in Osa Canton

There are no written stories to pass on; no tribes left to tell us about these nearly perfectly round stone spheres. Questions remain unanswered about why they were made, what tools were used to build them, and where the materials came from.

CAP News

A great way to bring your CAP dues back to your neighborhood. The Community Surveillance Support program (CAP CSS ) is an initiative focused on assisting Southern Zone communities to secure the well-being of its […]

The 50 years of the School of San Josecito

San Josecito is a small community in the mountains of Uvita. A few Costa Rican families remained in the area which 50 years ago was quite populated, so much that it required the opening of […]

The Grasshopper: Food for the Largest Predator of the Sierpe River

The River and the Térraba Sierpe wetlands are home to American crocodiles (Cocodrilus acutus) living in fresh and saltwater areas. However, alligators only live in freshwater zones. During their initial stage of lives, these prehistoric […]

The Coyol Palm Tree

[singlepic id=1354 w=320 h=240 float=left]The Coyol Palm, also known as spiny palm, is very common in our area, and reproduces in a natural way by spontaneously spreading its seeds. Genre: Acrocomia Origin: Tropical America (Neotropics) […]

See the Good, Share the Good

[singlepic id=1454 w=320 h=240 float=left]Costa Ballena has a wide range of bio and cultural diversity. Living here encourages us to pay more attention to other cultures, challenging us to respect their feelings and ‘modus vivendi’. […]

Putting the Pieces Together with Christophe Gstalder

Having traveled the world, Christophe Gstalder always returns to Costa Ballena, a place that has captured his heart. He lived for several years with the Boruca Indians, near Palmar, and maintains close ties with community members.

banda de sanjose

Traditional Celebrations 2013 in Bahía Uvita

We have not seen this type of events in the last 15 years in Bahia.” That was the comment of an enthusiastic neighbor who got together with his friends at a small courtyard under the […]

Melvin González Rojas "aka" Kuradenk

We met Melvin at the eighth Spheres Festival in Palmar Sur. He is the Don Ismael’s son, the master of the Borucan masks. We introduced him in a previous edition. When he was only seven […]

8th Spheres Festival in Osa

Last March, another great Spheres Festival took place at the central square in Palmar Sur. Hundreds of visitors stood still and admired the Danza Joven dancers from the UNA University, listened to…

Rainy season is upon us…

The green season (read: rainy season) is upon us. To a bunch of us living down here in our little slice of paradise, this is our favorite time of the year. Everything is so green […]

The Jubú or Don Edixon’s Chicha

Edixon Mora Lazaro is a “Little Devil’s Dance” veteran in Curré, a village at the Terraba River between Palmar and Buenos Aires. He is no longer involved in the parades that take place at the […]

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.