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Ballena National Marine Park

21 photos

Located in Uvita de Osa, Puntarenas, Marino Ballena is the first marine park established in Costa Rica in 1989. It extends around 100 hectares in land and protects over 5,300 hectares of coral and rock reefs home to an abundance of marine life. The park's waters are visited each year by humpback whales from the northern hemisphere between December and March and Southern Hemisphere Humpbacks between August and October. The park's beaches also play an important role as a hatching site for Olive Ridley and Hawksbill turtles.

Aerial view of National Park Marino Ballena, Ballena National Marine Park, Costa RicaAerial view of National Park Marino BallenaBaby crocodilians, Ballena National Marine Park, Costa RicaBaby crocodiliansBeach at parque Marino Ballena, Ballena National Marine Park, Costa RicaBeach at parque Marino BallenaBeach view of National Park Marino Ballena, Ballena National Marine Park, Costa RicaBeach view of National Park Marino BallenaBeachfront at Ballena marine park, Ballena National Marine Park, Costa RicaBeachfront at Ballena marine parkEl Tómbolo, Ballena National Marine Park, Costa RicaEl TómboloIn front of the park entrance at Playa Uvita, Ballena National Marine Park, Costa RicaIn front of the park entrance at Playa UvitaIsla Ballena, Ballena National Marine Park, Costa RicaIsla BallenaMarino Ballena Beaches, Ballena National Marine Park, Costa RicaMarino Ballena BeachesMarino ballena coastline, Ballena National Marine Park, Costa RicaMarino ballena coastlineMountains seen from el tombolo, Ballena National Marine Park, Costa RicaMountains seen from el tomboloMountains viewed from Punta Uvita, Ballena National Marine Park, Costa RicaMountains viewed from Punta UvitaNational Park Marino Ballena, Ballena National Marine Park, Costa RicaNational Park Marino BallenaNational Park Marino Ballena, Ballena National Marine Park, Costa RicaNational Park Marino BallenaPiedra Ballena, Ballena National Marine Park, Costa RicaPiedra BallenaPlaya Colonia, Ballena National Marine Park, Costa RicaPlaya ColoniaPunta Quebrada Grande, Ballena National Marine Park, Costa RicaPunta Quebrada GrandeRocas las Tres Hermanas, Ballena National Marine Park, Costa RicaRocas las Tres HermanasSouth view at playa colonia, Ballena National Marine Park, Costa RicaSouth view at playa coloniaWalking across to el tombolo, Ballena National Marine Park, Costa RicaWalking across to el tomboloWhite Ibis, Ballena National Marine Park, Costa RicaWhite Ibis

What is the whale tail at Punta Uvita?

At Punta Uvita, near the town of Uvita in Osa canton, a bar of sand and rock runs out from the shore to a rocky point. Geographers call a bar like this a tombolo. Seen from the air it forks like the tail of a whale, and official tourism material notes that the full shape shows only at low tide. The two aerial photos show the bar, the open water on both sides and the surf breaking at its tip.

Punta Uvita, Puntarenas El Tómbolo resembles the tail of a whale when viewed from the air, Ballena
Punta Uvita, Puntarenas El Tómbolo resembles the tail of a whale when viewed from the air.
Punta Uvita, Puntarenas Aerial view of the Ballena Marine National Park near Dominical, Puntarenas
Punta Uvita, Puntarenas Aerial view of the Ballena Marine National Park near Dominical, Puntarenas.

When do humpback whales visit?

The park is named for the humpback whales that use its warm water. Humpbacks from the northern hemisphere come to breed along the Central American coast from about December to April, and then travel north to feed. A second group from the southern hemisphere passes in roughly August to October. Published dates for each season differ a little between sources, which is one good reason to ask local guides and SINAC about the current season rather than rely on a fixed calendar.

What does the park protect?

Related places in the archive

The park sits on the same coast as Isla del Caño, a marine reserve a few hours' boat ride offshore, and near the large rainforest of Corcovado National Park. For other coastlines, browse the beaches of Costa Rica or the full list of national parks.

Entry rules, tides, boat trips and whale-watching regulations change. Check them with SINAC before you go.

Sources

Last reviewed November 6, 2026.