Costa rica waters are home to dozens of marine species and we provide private small boat tours for you to observe them in their natural habitat. The divine dolphins wild dolphin and whale watching tours in drake bay, costa rica have been featured on national geographic, animal planet, travel channel, bbc with steve backshall, discovery channel, jeff corwin experience, destination wildlife, in vegetarian times magazine and more. This is when the southern whales are here are closer to shore. The great news is that the humpback whales have arrived at the sheltered waters of the very appropriately named, whale bay or bahia ballena in spanish and they play.
This is one of the best times to visit costa rica as it is the dry season, the weather is gorgeous almost everyday. Report of the oceanic society 2002 field season in cooperation with elderhostel volunteers. The total of the reports from the north occurred during the rainy season may. Humpback whales and other marine mammals off costa rica. Southern, antarcticbased humpback whales spend their winter months near australia and as far north as costa rica from june to november. Humpback whales swim thousands of miles every year to spawn in drake bays tropical waters, while several species of dolphins reside here yearround. Each group migrates to the equatorial tropics to mate and bear their young and all three send pods to costa rica. The warm waters of costa rica s oceans attract whales and dolphins from north and south america. In january and february 2000, we continued this research with elderhostel volunteer support and completed our fifth season of effort. Humpback whales only during the season july until october, dolphins, snorkeling, marine birds, sea turtles and caves.
Females swim into the shallow waters of the gulfs interior to birth their young and breastfeed them. Costa rica dolphins and whales when should you come. This dolphin and whale map shows the species that either migrate to or inhabit the waters of costa rica. The worlds largest whale, the blue whale is one of the countrys silent migrants. Humpback whales burst from the pacific ocean like gentle behemoths, their blow holes shooting jetsam some 20 feet in the air. Costa ricas best whale watching is in drake bay the.
Costa rica celebrates the longest humpback whale season in the world. For more information, you can read our article on humpback whales. From august to november we are visited by the southern pacific humpbacks who travel thousands of miles from antarctica to mate and give birth in the warm shallow waters off our coast. Watch these majectic mammels from the luxury villa in dominical. Costa rica has the longest humpback whale season in the world. Whale season in costa rica uvita marino ballena national park humpback whales are observed in two seasons of december at the end of march, coming from the northern hemisphere and those coming from the southern hemisphere, they begin to be seen in the first.
Costa rica is blessed to have the longest season of humpback whales in the world as we get migrations from both north and south america. Humpback whales can be seen all along the pacific west side of costa rica, but definitely the best and most consistent place to see them is out of drake bay on the osa peninsula. The great whales of costa rica costa rica scuba diving. The warm waters off the southern pacifics osa peninsula are costa rica s most popular destination for whale watching. Humpback whales and other marine mammals off costa rica and surrounding waters, 19962002. Costa rica whales and dolphins map, tour operator in costa. Humpback whales come to costa rica for a long time and the waters of the pacific coast are packed with them.
Read about the osa peninsula and drake bay whale season. The antarctic migration has the most whales and peak season is between august and october. They trap schools of small shrimp using a hunting technique unique in the sea. Ask bobandpat757 about dolphin day tours costa rica. Humpback whales the most common type of whale that you may see here are the humpback whales, which are very large well most whales are large, but these are seriously huge and they love to jump out of the. Southern hemisphere whales travel all the way from the antarctic to costa rica between july and november. A rare encounter with a family of humpback whales in the gulf of papagayo, near liberia, costa rica. This tour is not recomedend for pregnant women, either little ones under 1 year old. Most tours depart from drake bay, although you can catch day excursions from puerto jimenez, as well. Bubble net feeding is an incredible display of cooperation where one or two whales swim circles around the target while releasing a continuous stream of. Perhaps the best place to see these majestic creatures is the osa peninsula, located in the southern portion of puntarenas province.
This means that the visability isnt as clear as you might find in the caribbean, but means you get so much more marine life. They congregate to the south pacific coast near cano island, golfo dulce and marino ballena national park. The humpback whale can easily be identified by its solid body with an obvious hump and black dorsal coloring. So right now its coming to the end of humpback season, which is when they migrate past costa rica, and the reason they love it here is the waters are so plankton rich. The best time to see humpback whales is mid july through october, when our southern migration, coming from as far as antarctica, are here. Costa rica had just celebrated the longest humpback whale season in the world where hundreds of humpback whales migrated from the arctic seas to mate in costa rican waters. Whale watching in costa rica southern explorations. Whales and dolphins watching tour uvita information center. About half are commonly spotted off the south pacific, including brydes whales, humpback whales, and sei whales. However, uvita, a small beach town in the south pacific coast is the only place that has an abundance of humpback whales during both times of the year. Many people visit to costa rica during the vacation to see the humpback whale. Costa rica is a great place for ecotourists to spot dolphins and whales. It is one of the larger rorqual species, with adults ranging in length from 1216 m 3952 ft and weighing around 2530 metric tons 2833 short tons. Bucket list experiences like turtle nesting and whale watching.
The northern hemisphere california humpback whales come to the pacific coast december early april. Humpback whale season in costa rica is in full swing, so keep reading to discover the best places to spot these gentle giants. Humpback whale season in costa rica central america vacation. Costa rica holds the longest season for humpback whale watching in the world. Costa rica is famous for whales, and there are many species that come here seasonally, to have their babies in its protected bays and coves. The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. For whale watching in costa rica, drake bay is the best place because more whales from both migrations birth and breed here in this area than in other parts. This means that it is harder to see humpback whales during the december to april season, but not impossible. Humpback whale watching in costa rica is best from the end of august through midoctober. Northern hemisphere whales show up like clockwork between december to april. The lesser known of the two are the humpback whales migrating from the northern hemisphere which start arriving in december and can be spotted. Its whale watching season in costa rica posted on august 16, 2017 by andrew pike in blog, uncategorized costa rica is home to the longest season for whale watching in the world, and september kicks off the peak of one of two of the most popular times of year to witness humpback whales who migrate to the warm and rich waters of marino ballena to give birth to their young.
It is known for breaching and other distinctive surface behaviors, making. The osa peninsula is said to be one of the most biologically multifarious regions in the world. Beside them smaller fins of newborn humpback whales tentatively peek out from the water for breath, a regular sight along the ballena aventura whale. This familyfriendly boat tour allows you to see these marine mammals up close and provides an. Whatever the motivation for wintering in the tropics it means you can watch humpback whales in costa rica nearly year round because the seasons are reversed in the two hemispheres and both populations head to the tropics when it gets cold at home. However, other species, such as the common bottlenose dolphin and pantropical spotted dolphins can also be viewed during whale or dolphin watching tours. This is known as the rainy season when we are visited by the southern humpback whales who migrate from the patagonia in south america, to the warm waters of the south pacific off the coast of costa rica.
This pattern dominates the costa rican wet season from may through november and. Among the countrys cetacean attractions, the humpback whale is the species that most people travel to costa rica to observe. Ballena national marine park whale watching costa rica. Costa rica is one of the best places in the world to spot humpback whales. Find in this costa rica tourist map the best points to observe this wonder of nature.
Weather apps in costa rica during green season can be misleading. Strictly speaking, there are actually two whale seasons in costa rica. The fifth largest of the rorqual whales, the humpback is an unforgettable site, growing to fiftytwo feet in length and weighing up to fifty tons. While it is impossible to guaranty you will see these species during the months outlined below, we have provided the months that they are most commonly sited in the waters of costa rica. Top spots for whale watching in costa rica special places of. Whale season in costa rica uvita marino ballena national park humpback whales are observed in two seasons of december at the end of march, coming from the northern hemisphere and those coming from the southern hemisphere, they begin to be seen in the first weeks of july until the end of october, the most. Cascadia research in collaboration with oceanic society has conducted a longterm research effort on humpback whales and other marine mammals off the pacific coast of costa rica starting in 1996. Come december to april, other whales come in to costa rica. If youre looking for an amazing whale watching destination, whale watching in panama should top your list.
There are 30 species of whale, dolphin and porpoise that pass through costa rica s waters, but many of them move only through deeper water and thus are more rarely seen, except with a deep sea boat and a spot of luck. Whale watching in costa rica two weeks in costa rica. Humpback whales are costa rica s most commonly spotted whale. The best place to go whale watching in costa rica is the countrys pacific coast, as humpback whales migrate through the region between late july and november and again between december and march. July good low season month for costa rica travel costa rica guide. Costa rica s humpback whale watching season has officially begun, and you have the opportunity to see them up close and personal from the comfort of your private sun deck. Kids are welcome with at least one adult companion. This is the perfect balance between adventure and relaxation. Hence, whale watching in costa rica tours are not so uncommon. The humpback whale is the one you can often see in costa rican waters. It is always a thrill for us when the humpbacks come close to our boat on our divine dolphin tours out of drake bay, costa rica on the osa peninsula on this day when we first found the whales. Some of the alaska california whales winter in hawaii and other places to the north so their numbers are fewer in costa rica. Aside from costa rica, panama is the only other place in the world to receive humpback whale populations from both poles. The migration of the humpbacks whales to costa rica occur at two different times.
We are fortunate to be located in an area where we get to experience 2 seasons of humpback whales visiting our coastline. They are most likely to be seen in costa rica between august and october. The official humpback season in costa rica is december to march and july to december. Whale watching in costa rica costa rica costa rica.
Of the worlds 76 dolphin and whale species, an estimated 25 migrate, mate, birth and feed in costa rican waters. The humpback whale megaptera novaeangliae is a species of baleen whale. Costa ricas best whale watching drake bay on the osa. Escape villas vacation rentals offers costa rica puertocito point, a luxury waterfront home right next to ballena whale. During this time of year, your odds of seeing a humpback whale are good. Humpback whale watching tour in costa rica dolphin. Because there are pods that migrate from both the southern hemisphere and the northern hemisphere, a population of humpback whales is almost always present somewhere in costa rica. In fact, the osa is home to the longest humpback whale watching season in the world. The southern whales are more abundant in golfo dulce, according to research by the ceic.
This whale specie comes to migrate in this country whenever winter comes in the antarctica between august to october. This gives whale watchers a lot of flexibility as humpback whales can be seen nearly yearround on the pacific side. The humpback whale migration is one of the most remarkable journeys by any creature on the planet and it is made by one of the biggest creatures known to science. And they just started arriving in the waters of the southern area of the costa rican pacific coast. In the correct season, is possible to observe females and their calves playing on the surface.
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