Whale Watching in Costa Rica

Little did I know about Costa Rica and its wildlife when I was told that I could see whales there; I could not believe it! Not only sloths, pumas, monkeys, and tropical, colorful birds of all kinds, but the marine wildlife is just as stunning and amazing!

The portion of the Central and South Pacific Ocean that borders the Costa Rican coast is the preferred "nursery" for humpback whales and their newborns, who come and bless our lives with their visits twice a year. These majestic and beautiful mammals certainly know what's best for their babies: warm tropical waters, abundant food, and free entertainment brought by people watching and admiring them!

Their biggest migration season is from August until the beginning of November, when they can be spotted in the ocean right from the coast. This coincides with our Green season. With fewer tourists, you can enjoy a more peaceful and relaxed atmosphere, and cooler temperatures offer a refreshing break from the heat.

My first encounter with these majestic whales, off the coast of Manuel Antonio, was a moment I will never forget, even after ten years. As I set out on a small motor boat with my closest friends, I had no idea what was in store for us. I was already in awe of the stunning views around me, with dolphins and sea turtles swimming nearby and the lush greenery of Costa Rican mountains in the distance. But nothing could have prepared me for the breathtaking sight of the Humpback whales jumping out of the water just 10 feet away from us. It was an incredible moment that filled me with wonder and gratitude for this beautiful corner of the world that I now call home. 

This is our family's favorite time of the year! Living in Manuel Antonio means we're right in the middle of all the excitement when the whales come to visit our little corner of paradise. From Manuel Antonio all the way south to Osa Peninsula, passing by Uvita and Marino Ballena National Park, they can be spotted right from the beach, but certainly the best way is to be in the water with them! 

Nature is wise, and when it comes to whale watching in Costa Rica, it's a language that speaks volumes. The sounds and vibrations of these magnificent creatures connect us with the rhythm of the ocean and the land. It's a connection that we, as locals, hold dear and seek to protect. Our hope is to share this treasure with our visitors and teach them to appreciate the beauty and wisdom of the natural world.

The northwestern coast of Costa Rica in Guanacaste Province is excellent for dolphins. Take any kind of boat or catamaran trip, and there's a great chance of seeing spinner, spotted, bottlenose and common dolphins jumping and playing around you.

During both summer and winter migration seasons, humpbacks are not uncommon sights off the coast of Papagayo, Playa del Coco, Tamarindo, and other beaches.

Most whale and dolphin watching in Guanacaste comes from being on some other kind of boat tour rather than a specific, organized whale watching trip. Think sunset sailing, snorkeling, and fishing. Many of these tours will try to get to where the whales will be when humpbacks are around.

Like the Guanacaste coastline to the north, the Nicoya Peninsula isn't well known for whale watching tours, although you'll certainly see both whales and dolphins in the ocean here. But, again, it's the humpback whales and bottlenose, spinner, and common dolphins in play off the Nicoya Peninsula. You might well see something if you're on a boat trip out of Santa Teresa, Montezuma, or Tambor.

The Manuel Antonio/Quepos area is an excellent place for whale and dolphin watching. Again, this stretch of coastline is fertile ground for migrating humpbacks from both north and south and the three species of dolphin found everywhere.

Below Manuel Antonio in the southern Pacific zone is the Dominical and Uvita area, home to Marino Ballena National Park, which was set up to protect migrating whales. You will see both northern and southern humpbacks, pseudo-orcas, and pilot whales. Organized dolphin and whale-watching tours depart daily.

Whale watching in Uvita is such a part of life that the community even has a Whale and Dolphin Festival each year - generally in early September - to celebrate the lives of these animals.

The Osa Peninsula is Costa Rica’s most popular destination for whale watching. These waters give Costa Rica its reputation for having the most extended humpback season globally. Most tours depart from Drake Bay, although you can also catch day excursions from Puerto Jimenez, including the Golfo Dulce.

In addition to the humpbacks, you can spot pilot whales, pseudo-orcas whales, bottlenose dolphins, spinner dolphins, spotted dolphins, common dolphins, and rough-toothed dolphins. Organized dolphin and whale-watching tours depart daily.

The Caribbean side of Costa Rica doesn't see as much whale and dolphin action as the Pacific, but they're there. You'll only see bottlenose dolphins on this side of the country, while Atlantic whales use the waters off Tortuguero after migrating down from Newfoundland and Greenland for the winter. So again, here, it's not so much about specific whale watching tours, but if you're out on the water, you might see something.

Costa Rica is excellent for whale watching, with the most extended humpback watching season globally. In addition, other whales come and go, while many species of dolphins live year-round in Costa Rican waters.

The best time is December to April for northern humpbacks (California humpbacks on the Pacific side and Atlantic humpbacks on the Caribbean side) and July to November (Pacific side only) for Southern humpbacks. Both types make their way to Costa Rican waters to breed and feed.

August and September are probably the best individual months to go whale watching in Costa Rica, especially on the Central and Southern Pacific coast.

Unfortunately, no. Costa Rica doesn't permit anyone except for researchers and marine biologists to swim with whales in its waters.

Blue whales have been spotted off both coasts of Costa Rica, although they're not familiar. These animals prefer colder waters to what Costa Rica has to offer.

Orcas are rare in Costa Rican waters, given that they prefer cold water. They have been spotted off the Guanacaste coast on occasion, though. Pseudo-orcas are common in Costa Rica.