Ballena Tales Magazine & Travel Guide - Library
Ballena Tales is a Magazine and Travel Guide for the South Pacific region of Costa Rica based in Uvita on the Costa Ballena since 2008. It connects companies of Costa Ballena and Osa - South Pacific with the rest of Costa Rica and the world. We are a multi-lingual and multi-professional team and are proud of our open and long-standing cooperation with national and international partners.
In Ballena Tales Magazine & Travel Guide you will find useful and entertaining information about sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, lifestyle, wildlife and adventure of the Osa Peninsula and Costa Ballena.
Stay up to date - Here you will find our latest articles and posts of the current issue
MAGAZINE
December 2019, the Nutcracker Ballet in the South Pacific of Costa Rica
Happy Feet Ballet & Performing Art present the magical performance of the timeless holiday classic, The Nutcracker Ballet in the South Pacific of Costa Rica
The Sports Adventure in the Heart of Osa
From December 13 to 20, 2019, La Saharienne will venture into the heart of Osa. For the first time in Costa Rica, a great 100% feminine and supportive multisport event will take place. It is a sport and human adventure out of the ordinary. For a week, the 70 women’s teams of two members will tackle tests in the disciplines: trail, mountain bike, canoe, bow and arrow, and ax throwing.
Draft Brewery in Dominical Costa Rica Wins a Gold Medal in 2019
From the beginning, the draft brewery Fuego Brew Co. in Dominical Costa Rica has dreamed of having an award-winning beer. This year 2019 the dream became a reality.
South Pacific Costa Rica Magazine and Travel Guide, La Saharienne
Sports-Adventure–Solidarity is the motto of La Saharienne, and Puerto Cortés will be its headquarters. In a few weeks, we will be receiving French athletes ready to compete in the South Pacific.
Amazing Whale Watching tour 2020, Marino Ballena Park
The waters surrounding Marino Ballena National Park are ideal for whale watching tour, as the clear, deep blue water allows for easy viewing.
Remaining in balance
Practicing a lot of one particular sport can lead to muscle generation in the areas of frequent use, leaving other parts of your body left to compensate. For example, surfers build most of their muscle in the upper body, lacking relative leg strength. For cyclists, legs get most of the workout, and the opposite can occur.
The Chirripo Valley
Taking a walk through this place not only recharges you with good energy and happiness, but it is also a gift for the soul to appreciate such beautiful views. The diversity in attractions is fascinating. You can enjoy from the newly opened Butterfly Kingdom, fresh trout, hot springs, Swiss cheeses, chocolate factory, to delicious artisan bread. Restaurants offer unique cuisine, hotels, trails and birdwatching.
Laughter is the best medicine
I remember one of my first was experiences with an ATM here. The ATMs are, naturally, in Spanish, and this made doing something simple like withdrawing money complicated. One day I entered the booth to use the ATM to take out 160,000 colones. My first problem was, and sometimes still is, was entering all those zeros!
Mindfulness
Just take a deep breath, actively concentrate and put all our senses alert to discover these light life partner. Appreciate their teachings and let us be surprised by their intelligence.
Jr. Lifeguards and Open Water Swim Clinic
The Costa Ballena Lifeguard Association is growing and as we’ve grown, we’ve been able to network and meet other individuals from like-minded organizations in Costa Rica. We’re all working together to help make Costa Rica’s beaches safer and take drowning off the list as the 2nd leading cause of accidental death in the country.
Walking on hairy feet
Like all arboreal geckos, they have specialized feet; with these, they can adhere to any surface except for Teflon. They even can walk upside down thanks to the microscopic hairs or setae. They increase the ‘Van der Waals Forces’, which is the distance-dependent attraction between atoms or molecules, between its feet and the surface. The molecules interact with each other and create an electromagnetic attraction.
The Brunqueña Mountain Ridge – the perfect neighbor
Just look back, when you are in one of the almost pristine beaches of the South Pacific, to appreciate its prominent presence. This mountainous row extends parallel along the south coast, a barrier between the General Valley and the “Ballena Coast”.
The more we support each other, the better we will be!
Costa Rica is far and above the rest of Central America in terms of development, security, and quality of life. Those benefits come at a cost, and we must be willing to pay it. A significant portion of our local economy has been cash-based, meaning taxes not collected or paid, and therefore funds for essential services are sparse.
The Triangle – a lifetime experience
These are cities located within a radius of 26 km in the canton of Osa, which is the greenest in Costa Rica. It has an area of 1930.24 km² and boasts exotic forests, rivers, waterfalls and an exquisite cultural wealth.
The importance of spay and neuter
Total costs, including medications, range from $22 to $45, depending on the size of the animal, and if it is in heat or if there are other complications. These clinics are for Costa Ricans who cannot usually afford to spay or neuter their pets.
New Corporation Law
As of September 1st, significant corporate changes go into effect for SA and SRL corporations, among others. The President, Manager, or anyone with a general power of attorney has to report shareholders with 15% of a corporation to the Costa Rican government.
The Palmar Sur Airport operating normally
There have been many changes since first using Palmar Sur airport in 2005. It is easier to travel throughout Osa and other parts of Costa Rica now with more paved roads, and it is a better travel experience.
From all over the Globe
Sometimes acting on impulse can work out fine; if you want to emigrate to a foreign country, it helps to do a little research. The documents required to apply for residency in Costa Rica take time and effort to accumulate and are only valid for six months from the date of issue.

The Whales are back
They use a unique way to hunt, called bubble net feeding. A group of whales swims in a shrinking circle blowing bubbles below a school of prey. Some whales blow the bubbles, some dive deeper to drive fish toward the surface, and others herd prey into the net by vocalizing.
Physical Training
To achieve the desired level of performance, training in a gym starts from the genetic potential of the person. It is a planned process that seeks to create favorable conditions for the progress of the individual through the use of body exercises and mental preparation.
Pejibaye Spread Recipe
Pejibayes are one of the staples of nutrition in Costa Rica.
These iconic fruits from palm tree native of the wet zones have been regarded with amazing nutritional and health benefits.
They are full of vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Each fruit also contains 2.6 grams (about a tenth of an ounce) of protein.
Our natural paradise
Tourism in Costa Rica is one of the main sources of economic activity and therefore of social welfare. The country strategy is based on the promotion of its natural wealth.
The police recommends
Do not resist. If you are the victim of an assault, you may be in danger and above all, your life is invaluable. Try to observe the characteristics of the offenders (clothing, skin color, height, tattoos, etc.). These details are important in the detection process.
A Nose full of Quills
Several sources state that Coendou mexicanus is found everywhere in Costa Rica except the southwestern Pacific zone, which includes the Path of the Tapir Biological Corridor, Costa Ballena, and the Osa Peninsula. This information is erroneous.
Looking back
Looking back at Costa Rica. This country is a paradise where you can manifest your dreams and reawaken your calling. The best part of Costa Rica is experiencing it!
Stam Café Ojochal
On April 19, 2019, the Stam Café in Ojochal opened its doors and offers more than thirty Belgian references. The draft beers like Stella, Leffe, and Hoegaarden White are also part of our tasting offer.
CAFÉ QUINTO SABOR; Real Food!
To me, eating locally is as vital to social justice as eating organically is to protecting the environment and healthy living. The Feria Tinamastes has become a wonderful space for our community to gather and connect. And, I hope, to reflect upon Vida Auténtica’s vision of a world where earth honoring agricultural practices foster the growth of healthy communities and sustainable food production.
Turmeric-powerdrink
Turmeric is a perennial, flowering plant, also called Indian saffron, and belongs to the ginger family. It occurs mainly in India and China. Marco Polo (13th century) mentioned its use, and there are also Sanskrit texts from the 5th and 6th centuries that describe turmeric.
Magic Made Local
At the Eco Feria Camino Real Dominical, each entrepreneur writes a beautiful story. They strive to provide fresh, healthy, locally produced and cultivated food and products.
Montessori education program
The learning experience is created to support the stages of child development and encourage independent learning engagement and discovery as guided by their teachers.
Received Certification by ISLA in Guanacaste
There were 85 participants in the program, representing communities from all over Costa Rica and Nicaragua. It was great to be able to meet and train with other water people, all of whom are working toward a common goal – increase the number of rescues in the country.
Greening a path for tapir´s return
The dream of the Path of the Tapir is to restore enough natural habitat to deforested lands so that the tapir will return. Much secondary forest has already regenerated in former cattle pastures.
Solar Energy, AN ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY SOLUTION!
Ōm Energy in Ojochal is a company that specializes in the design and commercialization of independent solar homes. They give advice and also build solar homes throughout the Costa Ballena region under the concept of “ŌM Nature.”
The Bees – a Beautiful Example
Bees are a wonderful example of teamwork, of service to the community, and of mutualism within ecosystems. They have developed, in an efficient and organized way, and are vital for pollination of flowers, including nearly 70% of human food.
The bee crisis is a wake-up call for humanity.
Female Leadership, Empathy and Sisterhood
Women leaders have long been described as witches, bosses, tomboys or madmen, for wanting a more inclusive world, without street harassment, and intrafamily violence.
La Saharienne Costa Rica, sport, adventure, and solidarity
From December 13 to 20, 2019, La Saharienne will enter the heart of Osa in the South Pacific. For the first time in Costa Rica, the 100% feminine and supportive multisport event will take place.