HUMPBACK WHALE WATCHING

I bet you didn't know that

Every year a humpback whale swims more than 11,500 miles from Antarctica to mate in Costa Rica.

And another swims all the way from the Arctic Ocean to breed here as well.

Think you came a long way?

The Super Southern Pacific Coast

More species of birds than in the entire United States.

More kinds of butterflies than in all of the African continent.

The Osa Peninsula, the most biologically diverse place on the planet.

And waters teeming with diversity of marine life like no other.

From the Blue Whale, the largest creature ever to exist in the world (bigger than the biggest dinosaur, heavier than a herd of 20 elephants) to the Humpback Whale with its extraordinary singing to the Cuvier Beaked Whale with its. . . beak.

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The Dome

It’s like no place else in the world. Shallow warm waters lie atop low-oxygen cold water that wells up, creating the perfect ecosystem for an enormous richness and variety of marine life. A magical place and, until just a few years ago, virtually unknown to tourists.

No more.

Today, a humpback whale watching trip is an essential part of more and more Costa Rica vacations---thanks to the Dome.

Ballena Marine National Park to Drake Bay

Costa Rica has the longest humpback whale watching season in the world.

Why? Because during the winter in Antarctica, humpbacks migrate from there to Costa Rica (August to October or so) and during the winter in the Arctic, their cousins migrate from the far north to Costa Rica for romance and baby-making (approximately December to April).

So. . . you’re likely to see these magnificent animals when you visit Ballena Marine National Park---a whale sanctuary between Dominical and (tiny, tiny) Coronado along the southern Pacific coast. Like to surf? Snorkel? See humongous Sea Turtles? And Whales? See where here, click

This national park has extraordinary beauty. Mountains come almost down to the unspoiled, virtually deserted beaches.

Well, not completely deserted. Between May and November, giant Olive Ridley and Hawksbill Sea Turtles come ashore at night to lay eggs.

Watch the whales during the day and turtles during the night!

Getting There

And if you like to hike, be sure to visit Mount Chirippo, too. It's one of Costa Rica's Seven Wonders. Click

Drake Bay to the Osa Peninsula

It’s also pretty remote, nearly down to Panama.

And, from time to time, you'll see a whale----with a beak.

Yep, here's a pic.

Its a Cuvier Beaked Whale, normally found in very deep waters but you could see one if you visit the Osa (along with 25 other kinds of whales and porpoises). See the Osa Peninsula on Costa Rica Map 11 here

The easiest way to get to the Osa Peninsula is by air but you can drive or take a bus to Golfito (this is a seven or eight hour ride), then take a ferry across to the Peninsula. The ferry costs about $2.00 a person but leaves about 11:30 in the morning---and won’t take your car. There are buses and taxis once you get to the Peninsula.

Cano Island

With its clear azure waters, it also has great snorkeling over a wonderful coral reef.

And, it has something else.

Disquis balls. Huge, round rocks.

Mysterious rocks. Nobody knows who made them or how they got to this VERY remote island.

There's only one thing I know about these balls. You'll be amazed when you stumble across one while exploring beautiful Cano. But there are theories. Fun theories. Check them out here

Whale Watching Choices

Some provide equipment to listen to the songs of the humpback whale. Every pod has its own song and every year the song changes.

Others allow passengers to snorkel alongside the leviathons.

And remember this: If you visit around the end of October you'll see something seen nowhere else on earth: humpbacks from Antartica meeting humpbacks from the Arctic.

Lend Your Voice

This little country is also the headquarters for the West Pacific Conservation Marine Corridor, which takes in the area of the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), Cocos Island (Costa Rica), Coiba Island (Panama) and the Colombian islands Malpelo and Gorgona.

Sadly, though, there are only about 10,000 humpback whales remaining in the world. They are critically endangered as is the magnificent Blue Whale---which has been hunted nearly to extinction. That population is down 95% in about half a century.

What does this have to do with Costa Rica? Everything. A whale killed in the Antarctic is one less that migrates to Costa Rica.

Little Costa Rica is doing its part. But it needs help.

You can help. Protest! Send a whaling protest. Be Heard!

Have a Little One? Whale Coloring Book here

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