If you just booked your flight to Costa Rica and are now searching for things to do, you must consider adding Marino Ballena National Park to your Costa Rica itinerary.
I visited this (and many other Costa Rica national parks) on my most recent trip to Costa Rica and truly loved it, so I thought I’d share some useful information about it to help you plan your visit.
Located in the Costa Ballena of southern Costa Rica, Marino Ballena is home to gorgeous beaches, unique marine life, wildlife along the shore and there you can enjoy epic activities.
Continue reading to discover how to plan your visit.
Are you staying in Uvita? Head over to my post What To Do In Uvita for guidance on fun activities.
Is Marino Ballena National Park Worth Visiting?
Marino Ballena National Park is definitely worth visiting. The park is renowned for its unique sandbar that’s shaped like a Whale’s Tail. Ironically, this exact spot is where pods of humpback whales migrate to reproduce.
That’s why the name of the park means “The Humpback Whale” in English!
Whales can be spotted almost throughout the entire year (there are two whale seasons: from December to mid-March and from the middle/end of July to mid-October), making it one of the best places to spot whales in Costa Rica. The park was created to protect their breeding site.
Exciting marine life lives among the vivid coral reefs which lie around the shores of Marino Ballena National Park’s beaches.
Visitors to the park can explore underwater life during snorkeling or scuba diving expeditions to find more marine mammals such as dolphins, sea turtles, and plenty of species of fish!
The coastline is equally stunning with gorgeous beaches backdropped by lush green hills and tucked away caves.
Nearby, you will find mangrove forests and swamps that house more incredible flora and fauna.
As you can see this is an incredibly biodiverse area with a lot of things to do. So, yes, you should absolutely visit Marino Ballena National Park!
Where Is Marino Ballena National Park?
Marino Ballena National Park is on the Costa Ballena, located along the Pacific Coast, in southern Costa Rica and just north of the stunning Osa Peninsula. It is about a 3–4-hour drive from San Jose.
It encompasses the lovely town of Uvita, which is the best base for exploring this Costa Rican National Park. This is where my sister and based ourselves when we visited, and other than the national park we found there were plenty of other exciting things to do!
How To Get To Marino Ballena National Park
Most of Marino Ballena National Park is located in Uvita, so if you are traveling from San José you will first have to make your way there.
Once you are in Uvita, it’s a matter of a short walk or an easy drive from your hotel – while the town is small in terms of people living there, it can be quite spread out!
When we visited, we stayed in a hotel that was a 20-minute walk from the main entrance of the park and we decided to walk. 20 minutes is a short walk in most places, but here you may be walking in the terrible heat and humidity and under the scorching sun, so it may not be ideal.
Here’s how to get to Uvita.
By car
If you’re driving, you will find there are several options for routes from San José. They are not equally good – some may seem shorter in terms of distance, but go through the mountains so the road can be very windy. Here’s the route I recommend.
First, take the Ruta Nacional Nacional Primaria 27 all the way to Coyolar. Then, take the Carretera Pacífica Fernández Oreamuno/Ruta Nacional Primaria 34 to Uvita. This way you will be driving along the coast and the drive is much smoother.
It should take you around 3 hours and 15 minutes but that depends on traffic.
If you are driving from Manuel Antonio, it is a very straightforward drive along Ruta 64 – it takes just one hour.
By bus
If you’re coming by bus from San José, go to Tracopa LTDA Bus Terminal, which operates Tracopa buses heading south.
Once you’re there, search for a bus going to Uvita. The bus will go directly there, and you will be dropped off at a bus terminal that is close to the town center. The bus journey will take you roughly 4 hours.
If your starting point is Manuel Antonio, you will first have to make your way to Quepos – it’s an easy 20-minute bus ride on the public bus which you can take from the main road in Manuel Antonio. From there, take a Tracopa bus to Uvita – there are 3 buses daily.
By shuttle
A better option would be to take a tourist shuttle. You can book one at any hostel or travel agency in every touristic town in Costa Rica – there definitely are shuttles from Manuel Antonio to Uvita, for example – I searched for them before we resolved to rent a car for our trip to Costa Rica.
These shuttles are door-to-door services meaning you will get picked up from your accommodation and get dropped off at your accommodation in Uvita! Super-fast, easy, and safe.
One thing to keep in mind is that they can be quite costly (we determined that it was cheaper to rent a car than just shuttle our way around the country), but they’re worth it if you don’t feel like driving.
Marino Ballena National Park Sectors
It is important to note that there are four entrances to the park and each will lead you to a different sector. These sectors are known as Uvita, Colonia, Ballena, and Piñuela.
The most popular sectors are Uvita and Colonia.
Sector Uvita
This is the most popular sector – it was easily our favorite. This is where you will find the famous Whale’s Tail, which is known as “tómbolo” by locals. This is also the meeting point for whale-watching tours and for tours to Caño Island.
This is also the most easily accessible sector as it’s basically in Uvita Beach. To get to Playa Uvita, you should search for ‘Parqueo Bahia’ on Google Maps. You can get there by car or foot.
If you are driving there, this is a parking lot where you can leave your car for roughly for a small daily fee.
This is where you will also find the ticket office, where you need to pay the entrance fee.
From there, you just need to walk to the beach and you should see the whale’s tail-shaped sandbar in the distance.
Once you are here, the beach is simply stunning. You can literally spend the entire day relaxing under the palm trees, swimming (but beware of the rip tides), surfing, and snorkeling. It’s also a fantastic sunset point.
Of course, the highlight of Sector Uvita is getting to the whale’s tail, a rock and sand formation that from the sky really looks like the tail of a whale. To see it, you have to time your visit with the low tide. It’s more or less a 30-minute walk to get to the tail, along the beach – around 1.2 miles (2 km).
The beach is long and very wide (during low tide at least) so even if there are a lot of people, it never feels too crowded.
Sector Colonia
Most people only visit Sector Uvita, but there are more sectors worth visiting beyond Uvita’s Point.
Sector Colonia is another great spot to visit in the park. During low tide, you can walk from Uvita Beach to Colonia Beach easily. If you are driving, you need to head to Playa Colonia or the nearby Playa Chaman, by taking any of the small side roads.
The sector is famous for the long, wide beach that has surf-perfect waves and it is one of the best spots to watch the sunset at the end of your day.
For that reason, it attracts a lot of local surfers, and many surfing classes take place there. Along the beach, you will find places offering surfboard rentals and classes.
Or else, you could consider this surfing lesson in Marino Ballena National Park – the class lasts 3 hours but keep in mind that the lesson is very much based on the tides!
Surrounded by lush greenery, it is also perfect for walks. There is a short trail along the beach hidden in the jungle.
Sector Ballena
Ballena is another sector that belongs to Marino Ballena Park. It lies further down south from the previous two sectors. For that reason, it doesn’t get visited by many people. So, if you’re looking for empty beaches, you should consider venturing to Sector Ballena.
Once you’re there, Playa Arco is a stunning, remote beach which boasts hidden caves and a waterfall.
Due to its remoteness, it is only accessible during low tide from the nearby Playa Ballena. The trail to get there goes along the beach and passes through a small section of jungle.
Remember to check the tide times if you intend to walk to Sector Ballena, as you can only cross at low tide, and must aim to arrive back at Playa Ballena well before the high tide comes! You can find out the tide times at the ticket office, at your accommodation, or online.
To get to Playa Arco or Playa Ballena by car, head down south Ruta 34. After Ballena Bistro Restaurant, make a right turn until you reach the end of the road, where you can enter Ballena Beach, after you’ve passed through the ticket office.
If this is the first beach you will visit in the Marino Ballena National Park, you will need to pay for your ticket there. If you already purchased your ticket at the main entrance, you simply show it to the park ranger, though when we visited nobody checked our tickets (we had bought them already!).
If you do not have your own car, you can flag down a local bus that goes that direction or use Uber.
Sector Piñuela
Sector Piñuela is not currently open – we somehow ended up there via a back route and loved its remoteness.
It has a perfect zone to spend some family time, since its beach has the perfect features to spend a calm day and take a relaxing bath. Furthermore, this sector has a washing and camping area, where you will be able to spruce up and enjoy a family meal.
BONUS! Caño Island
Caño Island is not actually part of Marino Ballena National Park – it is a highly protected biological reserve. However, since guided snorkeling tours to Caño Island depart from the Sector Uvita in Marino Ballena National Park, I thought I’d mention it here.
This is one of the most beautiful places for snorkeling and diving in Costa Rica – actually way better than in Marino Ballena National Park.
We visited when we were staying in Uvita and it was memorable!
You can get there on a guided boat tour that departs from the Sector Uvita in Marino Ballena – it takes roughly 1.5 hours by boat, depending on the sea conditions. Tours are full-day and include snorkeling gear, snacks, and lunch. You’ll have a team of expert guides who will get in the water with you to show you all the marine life – turtles, manta rays, and lots of colorful fish.
I recommend this Caño Island full-day tour with Pacific Expeditions, it’s the company we used and we could not recommend them more! They even picked us up from our hotel in Uvita.
Practical Guide
Marino Ballena National Park Fees
Tickets to Marino Ballena National Park cost $6 USD for foreign visitors.
Children under 12 can go in for free!
Nationals pay $2 USD
The ticket allows entry to all of the sectors for one day so you only need to pay for the ticket once.
If you want to do a whale-watching tour during your stay in Uvita, you don’t have to pay the admission fee – you will just be transiting the park to get on the boat.
Opening hours
Marino Ballena National Park opens every day at 7:00 am and closes at 6:00 pm, however, the last entry is at 4:00 pm.
Remember, the best time to visit Marino Ballena Park is during the low tide, as that is the only time you can walk down the Whale’s Tail sandbar. When deciding what time to visit, keep the tides in mind and make sure to check when the low tide is beforehand!
The Park is also famous for its stunning sunsets, so you will not be disappointed if you stay until the end of the day!
Best time to visit Marino Ballena National Park
You can visit Marino Ballena National Park at any time of the year.
As it goes with visits anywhere else in Costa Rica, May to November is the rainy season. This means there will be less people visiting the park, but you might encounter rain or cloudy skies. We visited in mid November and it was very hot and cloudy, but it only rained after sunset.
December to April is the dry season. This means bigger crowds but mostly cloudless and sunny skies.
If you’re hoping to spot whales during your trip to Costa Rica, Marino Ballena National Park is the best place to do so. There are two seasons for whale watching, and you can spot whales almost at any time during the year! The first season starts in December and ends in March, with January and February being the peak months.
July to October marks the second season, and August and September are the best months! The second season brings more whales into the area.
Apart from that, the best time to visit Marino Ballena National Park is during the low tide. This is because this is the only time you can see and access the Whale’s Tail.
The high tide brings a lot of water to the shores and the Whale’s Tail gets completely submerged (and getting there can be tricky), so you’re no longer able to see it or walk down it.
The tide times change every day. Most accommodations will have a tide schedule somewhere in the reception that you can check. You can also find one at the national park ticket office (or they will be able to tell you) or check online.
Guided tours of Marino Ballena National Park
My general recommendation is to do one if you care to see wildlife – and there’s lots in the area! Guided are better trained to spot animals. When we visited, our guide spotted bats, monkeys, iguanas, and more in a matter of seconds and we wouldn’t have noticed them otherwise.
I recommend this guided walking tour of Marino Ballena National Park which lasts 3 hours. The local guide will walk you through the park and help you identify the many animal species and appreciate the natural environment of the park.
Marino Ballena is also the best place in the country for whale-watching expeditions. Many many companies in the area run this kind of tours, so you can shop around once you get to Uvita.
Otherwise, if you’d rather book something online (which is probably a good idea if you are visiting in the peak season) I recommend this whale-watching tour that has glowing reviews. It lasts 3 hours and departs directly from the beach.
What to wear and bring
When visiting Marino Ballena National Park in Costa Rica, it is best to be prepared for outdoor activities!
Here’s a list of items you will need:
Swimsuit – It’s a Marine Park after all and you will want to explore the underwater world too!
Snorkel gear – Just left of the Whale’s Tail, you will find an amazing stretch of coral reef and with that, plenty of marine wildlife. If you cannot bring your own gear, you can rent one from one of the many diving centers in Uvita town.
Binoculars – These will be very useful for whale watching, as the whales are usually quite far in the distance. Also, if you’re planning on going deeper into the mangrove forest or enjoy birdwatching, binoculars will help you see animals up close from a safe distance that does not disturb them.
Hat & sunscreen – Make sure you use sunblock and headwear for your walk down the Whale’s Tail! You will be out in the open without any shade and the days get hot in Costa Rica.
Insect repellent – Mosquitos can be vicious in Costa Rica, and you will need it once the sun goes down. I actually recommend using it during the day too.
Snacks & Water – I recommend you spend at least half a day at the park! Bring snacks and water to keep you going! There are no restaurants or shops inside the park, but there are a bunch right outside the main gate.
You should also read my post What To Wear In Costa Rica for more general guidance on what to pack for your trip.
Further Readings
For more guidance to plan your trip to Costa Rica, you should read these posts:
- The Best Tips For Visiting Costa Rica
- A Helpful Guide To Driving In Costa Rica
- The Best Guide To Tortuguero National Park
- The Ultimate Guide To Puerto Viejo
- A Guide To Nauyaca Waterfalls
- A Guide To Rio Celeste Waterfalls
- How To Visit Caño Island
- Is Costa Rica Safe For Tourists?
- 15 Waterfalls In Costa Rica You Must See
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