Playa Uvita

The Whale's Tail sandbar, walkable only at low tide.

Blue Flag beach Protected area

Marino Ballena National Park

Playa Uvita is the main entrance beach of Marino Ballena National Park and the starting point for the walk out to Punta Uvita, the tombolo sandbar known as the Whale's Tail (Cola de Ballena). At low tide the sandbar is exposed for about a 2 kilometer round trip walk, with lagoons on either side; at high tide it disappears underwater. The park protects the migration route of humpback whales seen roughly December through March and July through November.

SwimmingModerate surf, swim with care
SurfBeginner surf

Good for

Facilities

Getting there

Enter Marino Ballena National Park at the Uvita sector (look for Parqueo Bahia on Google Maps); a $6 foreigner entrance fee applies and covers all park sectors for the day.

On the map

Tide times · All beaches in Costa Ballena

Nearby in Uvita

Whale & Dolphin Watching $$

Bahia Aventuras

Uvita

A Costa Rican-owned, CST-certified marine tour operator in Bahia Ballena, running humpback whale and dolphin tours inside Marino Ballena National Park since 2007. The same team also runs Cano Island snorkeling, Terraba-Sierpe mangrove kayak and wildlife trips, offshore and inshore sportfishing, and guided night and birding walks. Two whale seasons, July to October and late December to February, bring humpbacks from both hemispheres.

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Kayaking & SUP $$

Bahia Ballena Kayaks

Uvita

Ecotourism company operating in Bahia Ballena, Uvita for more than 13 years, offering ocean kayak and snorkel tours, mangrove kayak trips, whale and dolphin watching, sport fishing, and Isla del Cano and Corcovado excursions. Bookings run through phone, WhatsApp or the company's Spanish-language website.

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Park & Nature Guide $$

Ballena Aventura

Uvita

Local, family-founded tour operator in Bahia Ballena started by fisherman Captain Maximino 'Chumi' more than 30 years ago, offering guided hikes and boat trips inside Marino Ballena National Park plus Corcovado and Isla del Cano excursions. The company describes itself as a pioneer of Uvita whale watching, now running mangrove, kayak and sportfishing tours alongside its park guiding.

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More things to do in Costa Ballena