3 BEST Whale Watching Tours in Uvita: Which One to Book
So you’ve heard about the amazing whale watching in Uvita and want to get in on some of the action? Well, we’ve got you covered!
We have been whale watching all over the world, and can easily say Uvita is the most impressive location (and that’s not just because we lived here for a while)! Its proximity to Marino Ballena National Park makes it an ideal spot to see humpback whales, Bryde’s whales, pilot whales, and more.
Since Uvita is so popular for whale watching, deciding which tour to take can be overwhelming. Luckily, we have done many whale watching tours here and created the guide below to ensure you book the best tour worth your time and money!
Don’t miss out!
Our Top Choice
The tour we loved the most and suggest booking ASAP is this one!
Our FAVORITE experience is this tour in Marino Ballena National Park. The guides take you to the best spots to find whales, and you also get to visit a hidden beach and sea cave. Plus, there’s snorkeling and snacks included!
What we love most is the small group size. It makes it easier to get a good view of the whales!
See Whales in Marino Ballena
- Our Top Choice
- The BEST Whale Watching Tours in Uvita
- Reserve this fun whale-watching experience online here!
- Don't miss out—reserve your spot in advance here!
- Click here to book this fun combo tour!
- When is the best time to go whale watching in Uvita?
- Do you need to book a Uvita whale watching tour in advance?
- Book our favorite Uvita whale watching tour here!
- Is whale watching in Uvita worth it?
- Learn more about our favorite Uvita whale watching tour here!
- Where to Stay in Uvita, Costa Rica
- Pura Vida!
- Getting Around Costa Rica
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The BEST Whale Watching Tours in Uvita
1. Marino Ballena National Park Whale Watching Combo Tour (most flexible tour)
Tour Details
The best whale watching in Uvita takes off from the coast of Marino Ballena National Park, which is home to spectacular marine life such as whales and dolphins!
This half-day tour is aptly called the “combo tour” because you get a little bit of everything. Not only do you get to head out on a boat and explore the beautiful national park in search of whales, dolphins, and other marine life, but if weather permits, you’ll get to snorkel as well!
The tour operates daily year-round, so if it’s a whale sighting that you’re after, make sure to go during peak whale spotting season from either January to March or July to October. With that being said, there is still a lot to see in the off-season, such as bottlenose dolphins, turtles, and various exotic birds.
I was anticipating seeing wildlife on this tour, but I didn’t expect to see the variety of animals that we did! Obviously, the whales were the highlight, but I was also so pumped when some dolphins came swimming right next to our boat!
This wonderful experience includes entrance to the national park, snorkeling equipment, safety equipment on the boat, water, fruit, and your wonderful guides. What we love most is they offer two departure times throughout the day at 8:30 am and 1 pm, making it easy to fit this tour into your busy vacation schedule. This tour also includes free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, making it convenient in case your travel plans change!
2. Whales and Dolphins Watching Tour From Uvita (best small group tour)
Tour Details
This whale watching tour out of Uvita is similar to the previous tour listed, but it only has a morning start time and a max capacity of 30 travelers.
We personally love smaller tours because you usually get more of an intimate experience and can ask more questions. Plus, you won’t have to fight a large crowd to see marine life, which is especially convenient on a whale watching tour!
Commencing the tour at Marino Ballena National Park, you can start spotting wildlife even before you get on the boat! While we visited, we saw sloths, iguanas, and monkeys, which set a good tone for the day and made us even more hopeful of seeing the whales.
Our small group boarded the boat from the national park and took off into the ocean, where we spent time spotting whales, dolphins, and turtles! The tour also included a visit to a sea cave and some time to snorkel, which was a nice touch. One of the highlights of this tour was our incredible guides, they were not only experts on spotting wildlife but gave us so much information that I practically felt like a marine biologist by the end.
The experience lasts 3 to 4 hours – it operates daily year-round, but try to book during the peak whale season from January to March and July to October for your best chance of spotting them!
3. Mid-day Whale Watching Combo Tour
Tour Details
Whale watching in Marino Ballena National Park is one of those experiences that stays with you long after you’re back on land. This midday combo tour packs so much into three hours that it somehow feels both relaxing and wildly exciting at the same time!
The real showstoppers are the humpback whales. Seeing them during their migration seasons feels completely unreal!
Beyond the whales, the variety of marine life is what makes this trip so much fun. Dolphins tend to steal the spotlight, and you might spot bottlenose or Pacific spotted dolphins riding the wake of the boat like they’re performing just for you. Sea turtles sometimes drift by too, and if you’re lucky, you could even catch sight of false killer whales cruising through the deeper water.
Something we really love about Marino Ballena is how alive the whole area feels. Even if the whales are staying shy, the sky is often full of movement, with pelicans gliding overhead and brown boobies diving straight into the water. The guides also do such a great job pointing out species you might have missed.
When conditions are right during the dry season, you can jump in for a bit of snorkeling. The water is surprisingly clear on calm days, and it’s a refreshing way to add a bit of variety to the outing. Snorkeling gear is included, and the guides make sure the conditions are safe before anyone hops in.
The tour includes snacks and fresh fruit, plus all the marine park tickets and safety equipment, which keeps the whole experience stress free. It’s only three hours, but it delivers so many unforgettable moments that it feels like a true highlight of any Costa Rica itinerary!
When is the best time to go whale watching in Uvita?
Whale watching is one of the best things to do in Uvita because it has such a long season. While it seems like it’s almost a year-round activity, there are two distinct seasons to spot the whales: December to March and July to November.
Visiting from December to March is when you will see the Northern Hemisphere whales. This is also Costa Rica’s dry season, which might make it an overall more enjoyable experience. The best months to spot whales during this time are January and February.
July to November is when the Southern Hemisphere whales arrive, with the most active months for Humpbacks being August and September. Uvita actually holds a whale festival during this time of year because there is so much whale traffic! Even though it is the rainy season, it’s still a nice time to go because there will be fewer tourists, which means a more intimate tour for you!
Most of the tour providers run their tours year-round and don’t always guarantee whale sightings. So, if seeing a whale is super important to you, I suggest only booking these tours during peak season. Luckily, that is about nine months of the year in Uvita, so you have a good shot of spotting one!
Related Read: If you’re looking for some more fun activities in Uvita, check out our guide to the 6 best things to do here!
Do you need to book a Uvita whale watching tour in advance?
This depends on the time of year that you are going. If you are visiting during the peak tourist season from December to March, we definitely recommend booking your tour in advance as tours fill up quickly. If you are visiting during the July to November whale season, there usually aren’t as many tourists so you can get away with booking closer to the date.
No matter the time of year, booking in advance will make sure that there will be space for your group and help you to better plan your time. This is why we always book with Viator because you can reserve your spot and then cancel for free up to 24 hours before departure in case your plans change. They also have a “buy now, pay later” option and a lowest price guarantee, so you know you’re getting the best deal possible!
Is whale watching in Uvita worth it?
Whale watching in Uvita is 100% worth it! This is one of the best whale watching spots in the world, so it is a no-brainer to book a tour while visiting Costa Rica.
We went on our tour in mid-January, which is probably one of the best times of year to go. The bay was literally filled with whales, to the point that we saw multiple whales at the same time! It was incredible and I hope every traveler can have this epic experience as well!
Where to Stay in Uvita, Costa Rica
When it comes to choosing the right place to stay in Uvita for you, location is essential. For example, those without a car will most likely want to stay near the national park, whereas those with a vehicle can choose to stay further out. If you would like more info on the different areas, be sure to check out our where to stay in Uvita blog.
Below are a few of my favorite hotels in all the different areas around Uvita.
Oxygen Jungle Villas & Spa – $$$
Those looking for luxury have to check out Oxygen Jungle Villas & Spa. This stunning hotel is located in the hills surrounding Uvita and is perfect for those looking for a romantic getaway. The property features spectacular views, an infinity pool, gorgeous rooms, and an included breakfast.
This is one of the most romantic hotels in Costa Rica – especially if you’re planning a honeymoon. Rates typically begin at $400 USD per night. Book online here.
Bungalows Ballena – $$
If you’d prefer to be close to the national park, Bungalows Ballena is only a 1-minute walk from the entrance to the park. This small hotel offers two-bedroom bungalows with full kitchens and bathrooms. It’s perfect for families, and they also have a pool. We stayed here last time we were in town and loved it – having our own little bungalow was convenient and comfortable.
All of the rooms have a patio. There’s also a pool and grill available for guests. Rates begin at $120 USD per night. Check availability and book online here.
Hostel Cascada Verde – $
For budget travelers, Hostel Cascada Verde is a top choice. The reviews of this hostel are fantastic. The location is on the inland side of town, meaning it’s a fair walk to the national park. However, it is right across from Uvita Waterfall and Uvita Beer Garden in a quiet area surrounded by lush forest.
Rates start at $30 USD for a one-night stay. You can check availability and make a reservation online here on Booking.com or here on HostelWorld.
Getting Around Costa Rica
How you choose to get around Costa Rica is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when planning your holiday here! How you do it depends on your budget, travel style, and comfort level.
Renting a Car
Without a doubt, the number one way to explore Costa Rica is in a rental car. We book rental cars on the Discover Cars website as we have had good experiences with them in the past.
One of the things you need to watch for when renting a car in Costa Rica is the mandatory insurance that the government requires you to have. There are a lot of very cheap rentals that don’t include this mandatory insurance (TPL) in the original booking price, but there are also ones that do. To avoid additional surprise charges when you pick up your rental car, be sure to rent a car that includes the mandatory insurance when you book.
Thankfully, on Discover Cars it’s easy to tell apart the companies that include the mandatory insurance and those that don’t. The trick is you can’t pick any car on their website. In the picture below, you can see this rental car, with pick up in Jaco, includes the TPL. That means the mandatory insurance is included in the price. Any cover you get above that is extra.
Of course, I still suggest getting the full coverage offered by Discover Cars, which covers you even more.
You can browse cars on Discover Cars here.
Book Shuttles
If renting a car isn’t in your budget, you don’t feel comfortable driving in Costa Rica, or you just don’t like driving, shuttles are the next best option. There are hundreds of shuttle routes available all over the country, and they are very affordable.
Shuttles in Costa Rica are specifically for tourists and often include pick up and drop off at your selected hotels and airports. The drivers also speak some English, and the vehicles have air conditioning. You’ll also be guaranteed a seat when you book a shuttle (which isn’t the case with the public bus system.)
To get the best price, use the website Bookaway. They compare all the offers and prices of shuttle companies in Costa Rica so you get the best price! Honestly, we have saved so much money using Bookaway!
You can search for shuttles online on Bookaway here.
Public Bus
Lastly, you can use the public bus system. On short journeys, such as from San Jose to La Fortuna or Uvita to Manuel Antonio, this system is great. However, the longer the journey the more hassle and time spent on a bus. It’s undoubtedly best to save the public bus in Costa Rica for short and straightforward trips!
The public buses are definitely the cheapest way to get around Costa Rica, but they are not always very reliable and schedules often change without notice and delays are to be expected. The buses can also be very crowded and hot – so just be prepared!
It’s also good to speak some Spanish if you plan on riding the public bus since most drivers and ticket booth operators don’t speak English.
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Pura Vida!
Going whale watching in Uvita is a true treat for nature lovers. You’ll get to see these majestic creatures up close all while exploring the gorgeous Marino Ballena National Park. We hope you’ll love this amazing experience as much as we do!
If this article has been helpful, we’d love for you to read our other Costa Rica blogs. We have traveled around this beautiful country and even lived here, so we have recommendations for the best tours and even our favorite places to eat. We travel back to Costa Rica frequently, so if you’re looking for more suggestions, check out some of our other blogs below.
9 BEST Tours of Costa Rica (Multi-Day Guided Tours) & How to Pick One!
