The center of the Costa Ballena and gateway to Marino Ballena National Park, home to the sandbar shaped like a whale's tail. A growing town with a deep bench of expat-run trades and services behind the beaches.
About 45 minutes south of Dominical on the coastal Costanera highway, roughly an hour from the Quepos area.
Sal贸n Comunal, Bah铆a Ballena (Uvita)
Uvita's midweek market in the Bah铆a community hall. Local produce, hand-made foods, crafts, and live music around midday; plastic-free by policy.
Indoor soccer field, central Uvita
The busy Saturday-morning market in central Uvita. Smaller and packed; come early for the best produce, crafts, and prepared food.
Beachfront, Playa Dominical
Dominical's organic, plastic-free farmers and makers market by the beach. Local produce, prepared food, and artisan goods, vendors vetted for quality.
Sal贸n Comunal, Tinamastes de Bar煤 (mountains above Dominical)
The much-loved Tuesday organic and artisan market in the mountain town of Tinamastes, between Dominical and San Isidro. Organic produce, homemade goods, superfoods, crafts, and a relaxed hill-town atmosphere worth the drive.
Central San Isidro de El General, P茅rez Zeled贸n
The big regional producers' market for the southern zone, about an hour inland from the coast. The widest selection and best prices in the region; schedules shift, so confirm before a special trip.
Centro de Palmar Norte, Osa
The Saturday producers' market in Palmar Norte, south toward the Osa Peninsula. A rural option for travelers heading down the coast.
Feria days and hours shift with the season and holidays. We verify what we publish and never invent a date, but confirm locally before a special trip. See the full Costa Rica feria calendar.
September 4, 2026 to September 6, 2026 · Marino Ballena National Park, Uvita
Coastal festival in Marino Ballena National Park during humpback whale season, pairing whale-watching boat tours with live music, food, and crafts.
OrganizerAnnual, late February into early March · Uvita
A multi-day music, art, and sustainability festival on the jungle coast near Uvita. The 2027 dates are not yet announced.
OrganizerMore on the Costa Rica events page.
16 verified in Uvita. Browse all Costa Ballena.
Featured
Uvita
A boutique property of five private villas, each with a personal infinity pool or jacuzzi and panoramic views of the Pacific and the Whale's Tail. The on-site restaurant focuses on plant-based and organic cuisine sourced partly from the property's own gardens. Wellness retreats, yoga, and waterfall trails are available on site.
Uvita
A boutique hotel in Uvita with an outdoor pool, garden terrace, and air-conditioned rooms, about 2 km from Uvita Beach and within walking distance of the village. Booking is available through the property's own site as well as major platforms.
Uvita
Family-run eco lodge and hostel in rural Uvita, a five-minute walk from the Uvita waterfall, with rainforest and ocean views from the terrace. The hostel offers yoga classes on its upper deck and books through WhatsApp for around 12 dollars a night.
15 verified in Uvita. Browse all Costa Ballena.
Uvita
A gelato shop and bakery in Uvita using natural, organic ingredients, with dairy-free gelato flavors and sugar-free treats sweetened with fruit. The carrot cake is a standout item alongside a rotating gelato selection that includes vegan flavors.
Uvita
Ballena Bistro sits at kilometer 169 on the Costanera Sur, between Uvita and Ojochal, serving a modern fusion menu built on farm-to-table ingredients. Closed Mondays, it holds a 4.9 rating on TripAdvisor from nearly 300 reviews.
Uvita
Beehive Mediterranean Restaurant is an upscale restaurant, bar, and boutique in Ballena serving Mediterranean, Greek, and seafood dishes. It carries vegetarian, vegan, and healthy-diet options and has a warm, dressier feel than most other Uvita restaurants.
27 verified in Uvita. Browse all Costa Ballena.
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.
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.
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.
47 verified in Uvita. Browse all Costa Ballena.
Uvita
The Uvita branch of Costa Rica's largest locally owned rental company, across from Supermercado BM on the main road, open daily 8 am to 5 pm. The fleet runs from compacts to 4x4s, and a US and Canada toll-free line handles advance reservations.
Uvita
Gym in central Uvita with modern equipment, personal trainers and unlimited-access membership plans. It is a newer addition to the town's fitness scene, built out with open-air, breezy training space and fan cooling rather than air conditioning.
Uvita
A general and aesthetic medicine clinic in Bahia Ballena run by Dra. Monica Alfaro, who has provided primary care to local residents and expats since 2010. Services cover general practice, chronic condition management, pap smears, specialist referrals, and medical aesthetics. Located at Plaza Ventanas on the Costanera.