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

SURF SEASON ON THE BALLENA COAST
Much like our summer and winter seasons change, the seasons of big surf also changes. The summer months of hot sunny days are gone for now, and a more wet, stormy, and cooler season brings more gifts. Many refer to this wet season as “the green season.” As a surfer, I refer to it as “ the surf season.”

RAFAEL STEYNERS HAS THE RHYTHM IN HIS BLOOD!
Rafael Steyners was born in the land of the famous “Guajira Guantanamera”, in the picturesque valley of the city of Guantánamo, located in the Province of Guantánamo south of the Caimán Dormido, the beautiful island of Cuba.
At the age of three, Rafael danced and sang to the sound of a portable radio. His mother smiled when she saw him but she never gave it much importance, since another plan was in the works since then. She would rather see him become a doctor than an artist from stage to stage.

DANCING IN THE RAIN
Most tourists are scared off by the prospect of the rain, even though we have almost guaranteed bright blue skies and sunshine, until at least noon, all year long.
This is the time of year that we are more likely to travel, with less traffic and better deals in hotels, tours, and shopping specials all over the country.

THE TUCAN HOTEL IN UVITA
The Tucan Hotel in Uvita has twelve rooms, all with their private bathrooms and most with AC. Prices vary according to the season but are always competitive! The restaurant SimbiOsa is rapidly becoming a local favorite, and every guest gets to enjoy the restaurant as breakfast is included in the room’s price. The common areas are spacious and allow guests to relax even when it pours outside. You can usually find the owners, Pierre & Sara working hard on a new project in the space as they cannot rest until the Tucan is a perfect representation of their vision

YOUR VERY SPECIAL CATERING SERVICE
YOUR VERY SPECIAL CATERING SERVICE – The team of chefs excels in dishes of Costa Rican cuisine, international, gourmet, vegan, kosher, and they also cover yoga retreats. “We prepare buffets, brunches, or three full meals a day, and we have attended national and international celebrities.”

BAHIA BALLENA DOCTORS NEW LOCATION
BAHIA BALLENA DOCTORS NEW LOCATION at Plaza Ventanas Ojochal

REAL ESTATE — THE FIRST STEP IN BUSINESS
When I started studying tourism as a career at the university, during the university, and even after finishing my studies, the relationship between a Real Estate office with tourism and other businesses never crossed my mind.
I remember at some point have taken a course where they spoke of initial investment, and they estimated the value of the land and building. Still, it did not go further since it was not the central axis of the course.

What to do at and around Cascada Verde Hostel in Uvita
Here’s some information for your stay at our Cascada Verde Hostel in Uvita and much more

Comprehensive Magazine and Travel Guide #78, South Pacific Costa Rica
We had to reinvent ourselves during the last year, focusing entirely on a virtual, 100% interactive presence of our bilingual Ballena Tales Comprehensive Magazine. We are achieving great opening numbers (more than 14,000 in the English versión alone), have breached the borders of Costa Rica, and are read by North Americans and Europeans, and surprisingly, many of my German patriots.

VIRTUAL PLATFORM FOR TAX PROCEDURES, COSTA RICA
To provide better attention to the taxpayer and facilitate the completion of tax procedures, since August 28, 2020, the Ministry of Finance made the Virtual Procedure (TRAVI) platform available.
This platform includes approximately 40 procedures for extensive control, collection, valuation, and inspection; It works as an accompanying instrument for taxpayers who need to be up to date with tax regulations.

Maritime Terrestrial Zone Costa Rica
Every time a client arrives in Costa Rica with the dream of acquiring property near the beach, with beach front and direct access to this, his dream becomes a “nightmare” when he hears words such as Concession, Maritime Terrestrial Zone, and its Law. And it is not for less, since this type of land has different care and treatment from many other properties in the national territory. Various government institutions such as municipalities, the Costa Rican Tourism Institute, and others are involved.

The Magic at Scala Restaurant in Dominical
Scala Restaurant & Sibú Café are located at the Escaleras Village. On the Coastal Highway, just a few kilometers South of Dominical or North of Uvita, follow the sign to Escaleras. It offers a gorgeous contour between the jungle and the sea. Village Escaleras is an all-open location with three environments with a cool breeze that blows across the terraces.
It has a hip atmosphere and soothing environment; you feel like relaxing in the midst of the jungle with the ocean showing through the tall trees. The place is so well-liked that most customers come regularly to have an early breakfast or enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner with their family, friends, or business partners.

LECHUGA: THE SAD STORY OF A TURTLE
Lechuga is the story of a turtle that highlight two main issues that the South Pacific of Costa Rica, and the Ocean in general, are facing. Entanglement in ghost fishing nets, or abandoned/lost nets,

Feng Shui
FENG SHUI, the Chinese art of interior design, brings us success, health, and an “even” better life. Feng-Shui, literally translated as “wind-water,” is the art of living in harmony with the environment. Happiness, prosperity, and health increase. Feng-Shui teaches life in harmony with the five natural elements: earth, metal, water, wood, and fire.

The New Human Condition?
A great paradox encloses the new human condition, even though so many essayists have presented us with such eloquent and diverse points of view. It only amplified this dilemma since probably the best we can comprehend is that this great paradox would be logical, and therefore, its comprehension inaccessible.

COVIRENAS – Protecting Biodiversity
Osa is home to 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity. Unfortunately, it has one of the lowest human development indices in the country.
The Osa Peninsula has historically had socioeconomic conflicts that inevitably trigger environmental crimes.

MANASSAH, the need for a change in life
Manassah is from Chicago (Illinois) and has lived in Uvita for five years. She left behind her job as a court reporter, well paid, and no less stressed in the metropolis of Chicago with a population of nearly 3 million people. The need for a change in her life was prevalent. After volunteering at the Hostel Cascada Verde in Uvita in 2009, she decided to focus on moving to Uvita permanently.

Tuna are biting like crazy
Hello from beautiful Drake Bay, Costa Rica. We are thankful to be back on the water fishing every day. Right now, the Tuna are biting like crazy. There are large schools of Tuna right by Cano Island.

My Life Expectations
What were my life expectations when I landed into this wild and lush unknown? “Something else.” On the eve of my departure, I look back at these last four and a half years with a heart full of gratitude. Costa Rica has grown under my skin, and I’ll carry it with me for the rest of my life.

Authentic CACAO Pura Muba
He who is looking for authentic quality cocoa without artificial additives has found the perfect place. The idea for Cacao Puro Muba Uvita came from Mrs. Sylvia Beita. She is indigenous of the Cabécar tribe of Ujarrás. As a child, she learned from her grandmother how to get the best out of cocoa. For five years now, she and her husband Enrique have created artisan products from cocoa beans.

INCOME TAX
The new income tax brackets are effective from January 1 to December 31, 2021. An adjustment must be made each year, as provided in Law 7092, and in accordance with the Consumer Price Index.

Pet Therapy, helps to recover from diseases and mental disorders
Most pets are the best friends of humans. They provide company to man and are very beneficial for their health, both mental and physical. Pet therapy involves your pets to help you recover from diseases and mental disorders. ESA doctors review the benefits of owning pets for your health. ESA is termed as an emotional support animal, and ESA doctors are the medical professionals that recommend an ESA on medical terms.

Turtles travel far – A historic Register
On Saturday night, Óscar, director of the Tortuga Beach Reserve (RPT) in Ojochal, had a hunch and decided to accompany some volunteers who would monitor Playa Hermosa. It is a place that in recent months has received dozens of olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) that come to nest.

Growing in Real Estate “The Sky is the Limit”
Starting in Real Estate is the least expected adventure that I would have ever thought of. Just about four years ago, I didn’t know what Real Estate really meant. It triggered a series of activities, both of a commercial nature, dreams, and personal inspirations.

A WOODEN CARGO SHIP, STEAMING HOT UNDER A TROPICAL SUN
Ceiba has been under steady construction ever since her keel was laid on January 8th, 2019. A wooden cargo ship, square-rigged, powered by the wind and a back-up electric engine, her three masts will propel ethically-sourced cargo from her homeport in Costa Rica via Hawai’i islands as far north as Alaska before returning southbound via Canada, the mainland USA, and Mexico.

The Neotropical Rattlesnakes – Jingle bells of the Snake World
Neotropical Rattlesnakes, does this word ring a bell to you? I think everyone has heard of them or seen them on television, stealing the show in cowboy movies or nature documentaries. Famous for their rattling tail tip, actually modified scales, being a series of hollow interlocking segments made out of keratin (the same substance as your fingernails.)

Sure Climate, Mood, and Environment are connected!
Sure they are connected! Climate, Mood, and Environment. We are all interested. Today no one can ignore the weather news.
Our weather apps show what’s happening here and in the intercontinental sky up to the minute.
Without looking at the weather every day, nothing is planned anymore, no excursion or event, especially no trip.

CBD goodness that boasts nature’s integrity
CBD is not marijuana and contains no amount of THC (the chemical component that results in a psychoactive

Sierpe Mangrove Boat Tour Costa Rica
The mangrove boat tour with “Kokopelli Mangrove Tours” was amazing and pretty exciting. I was able to see so many animals that I have never seen before in real life. I would highly recommend enjoying this tour if you are interested in the wildlife of Costa Rica and want to learn more about mangroves.

Maintenance outdoors, Do it Yourself
The dry season is here! The best time to perform maintenance outdoors. We have just faced one of the strongest rainy seasons in recent years. We can observe a more significant deterioration in our buildings and mainly in outdoor areas that were spaces exposed to inclement weather.

Tasty Restaurant, traditional cuisine fused with seafood
At Tasty Restaurant, we are lovers of the traditional dishes of our region and our country. We have a mystique of service and attention to our clients, providing a family and quiet environment, and can celebrate any special occasion.

Life in the Tropics vs. Urban Life
We, lovers of our Tropical Properties, see life here as a big trade up from where we used to be. If you feel ready for your life in the tropics, too, contact me for more information about what the dream life is like in South Pacific Costa Rica.
SimbiOsa Restaurant, surprising and creative dishes
SimbiOsa Restaurant delivers surprising and creative dishes crafted from high-quality ingredients focusing on fusion and a philosophy of integrity.
Some dishes have an Indian influence, while others are down-home comfort food, made with a Tico twist and magic element.
YOU’VE GOT TO BE TOUGH TO BE AN AGOUTI
When you’re walking through the rainforest and surprise an animal that goes bouncing through the undergrowth emitting panicked, bark-like grunts with every bounce, you’ve certainly startled a Central American Agouti (Dasysyprocta punctata). After 20 years of living here, I finally saw one standing still. Once the hunting was under control on Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge, their fear of humans diminished considerably.
“Entangled in Costa Rica” A Documentary about whales rescue 2021
It is not unusual for residents on the South Pacific side of Costa Rica to witness humpback whales swimming along the coast with their newborn calves during migratory whale seasons. For anyone, being able to rescue a female whale and her calf’s life is a once in a lifetime encounter. Innoceana, in association with filmmakers The Vegan Pirates, produced a short documentary “Entangled in Costa Rica.”
Veganism is on the rise – and it is far more than a food trend!
It leads to a lifestyle based on sustainability and compassion.
The three pillars of veganism are:
1. Compassion for all animals (i.e. an understanding that there is no difference between a chicken or a dog, a calf, or a cat).
2. The concern and care for environmental issues (i.e. massive land use and pollution caused by life stock farming, pesticides, antibiotics, etc.); and
3. The positive effects on health (i.e., low cholesterol, no lactose intolerance, a pure conscience, etc.).