Whale watching in Costa Rica
There you are, standing face to face with one of the undisputed giants of the sea. Just a few metres away you can see the immense tail of the beast slamming into the water. The whale dives into the water but returns a little later. A large jet of water spurts out of the sea and the whale shows itself once more on the surface. Goosebumps!
Whale watching is a unique experience. In Latin America you can spot whales in different places, think of Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil, Belize and Mexico. Another place where you can spot these animals is Costa Rica. The whale season in Costa Rica is even the longest in the world. In addition to humpback whales, pilot whales (family of dolphins), blue whales and black swordfish are also spotted in the country.
The humpback whale
The humpback whale can grow between 12 and 16 metres long and weighs between 25 and 30 tonnes. Characteristic for this species are the long pectoral fins and the lumps on its beak and lower jaw. During the mating season the males sing a special song to impress the female. This can last for days. Furthermore, the humpback whale is known for its spectacular displays on the surface of the water. They hit the water with their large pectoral fins and make jumps, sometimes completely over the water. Humpback whales travel thousands of kilometres every year as they migrate from the cold, nutrient-rich polar regions to warmer waters for mating and calving. This is how the whales pass Costa Rica twice a year.
When can you spot whales in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is the place for humpback whales from the north and south to escape the winter. This makes it possible to distinguish two whale watching seasons in Costa Rica.
Season 1: end of December - end of March
In the first season humpback whales arrive in December from California and Alaska off the coast of Costa Rica because of the warm waters. At the end of March, they leave for the north again.
Season 2: end of July - end of October
In the second season the humpback whales travel from Antarctica to the coast of Costa Rica. The whales can be found close to the coast between July and October. This is also the season in which the whales come to Costa Rica to give birth. A new-born whale can weigh 2,000 kilograms.
Where is the best place to spot humpback whales?
The best place to spot humpback whales is on the Pacific coast. The many bays on the coast make it a good and protected area for the whales to grow their young. There are several places where the whales occur.
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Papagayo bay, Guanacaste
Located on the northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica in the province of Guanacaste, the protected Papagayo Bay seems to be an emerging place for whales to raise their calves for the first three months of their lives. In recent years, they have been increasingly seen in the area.
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Manuel Antonio National Park
This national park is a popular destination on the central Pacific coast of Costa Rica, where the dense rainforest meets beautiful sandy beaches. For many, Manuel Antonio evokes images of monkeys, but let's not forget the underwater inhabitants of the park, the whales of course. During a boat trip you will see whales and dolphins while enjoying a different view of the national park from the water.
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Uvita
This is where the Marino Ballena National Park is located, named after the humpback whales that return annually to the warm waters of the Pacific to give birth here. If you're not lucky enough to have a whale on your side and unfortunately don't spot a whale, nature makes up for it with a wink with the famous 'whales’ tail'. A sand formation on the coast near Uvita looks exactly like a whale's tail. The best time to spot humpback whales here is from August to October. Besides whales, you can also spot sea turtles and dolphins.
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Caño island, Corcovado
Marine life is abundant around this island. Giant manta rays, dolphins and (mating) dwarf turtles are regularly spotted here. Less often even the great of the oceans the whale shark is seen here. Caño Island is located at around 18 kilometres from the mainland of Costa Rica.
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Golfo Dulce, near Osa peninsula
The Gulf of Dulce is a tropical fjord that stretches between the Osa Peninsula and the Piedras Blancas National Park. The Gulf is another popular destination for whales to mate due to its shallow, protected waters. These warm tropical waters are mainly a refuge for whales from the Antarctic.
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Drake Bay, near Osa Peninsula
Humpback whales and dolphins are often seen in the calm waters of Drake Bay on the north side of the Osa peninsula. The shallow, protected bay is the perfect place for mother whales to raise their young after a gestation period of twelve months, before being introduced to the rest of the ocean world. If you're lucky enough to see a humpback whale, check to see if it's a mother with her young.
Did you know that
- The tail of a whale is their fingerprint? Each whale has a unique representation of markings that create their tail print.
- Costa Rica has an annual whale and dolphin festival? This is held at Uvita in September.
- September is an ideal month to travel to Costa Rica? You can spot whales on the Pacific coast and have the chance to see turtles laying eggs in Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast.
- The singing of the humpback males can last up to three quarters of an hour and can still be heard from miles away?
- The average speed of a humpback whale is 9 kilometres per hour? The maximum is 27 kilometres per hour.
- Humpbacks do not use teeth but ribs to collect food? Humpback whales are a kind of flexible rods that sit like a comb in the whale's upper jaw. To eat, the whales take a large bite of water and through the ribs they filter out the food.
It is not only in Costa Rica that you can spot whales. This can also be done in Brazil, for example, as shown in the picture above. And besides whales you can spot more wildlife in Latin America.
Travel through Costa Rica?
Would you like to go whale watching in Costa Rica yourself? Then take a look at a travel itinerary that we have put together for inspiration. With a rental car you will discover Costa Rica and visit several places where you can spot whales.
Feel free to contact us for more information about the possibilities of whale watching in Costa Rica or a tailor-made travel proposal. Call +31 73 610 62 04 or send an email to info@sapapanatravel.nl.