Whale watching in Costa Rica is some of the best in the world! You won’t be disappointed, especially when visiting the Southern Pacific Coast. There are three different populations of whales that travel from the North Atlantic, the Antarctic and California and you can see them during different parts of the year. The humpback whales come to the warm waters of Costa Rica to escape their winters and also to give birth.

Some of the best times of year to go whale watching in Costa Rica are July through November and again in December through March as the whales migrate to the warmer tropical waters.

The humpback whales are easy to spot in the both Osa Peninsula and in the protected Marino Ballena National Park as they stay relatively close to shore. There are many professional guided boat tours that can take you out to spot the whales. There are tours departing from the world class Marina Pez Vela in Quepos and in other locations further south such as Uvita and near the Sierpe River.

Whales are incredible mammals and when you view them in the water or watch them breach the surface, it is a reminder of how magnificent they are. Seeing them maneuver in the water with their young often sparks wonder about all the beautiful ocean life that lives beneath the surface!