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. 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. 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. 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. Whales and dolphins watching tour uvita information center. This is one of the best times to visit costa rica as it is the dry season, the weather is gorgeous almost everyday. Costa rica is a great place for ecotourists to spot dolphins and whales. 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. Among the countrys cetacean attractions, the humpback whale is the species that most people travel to costa rica to observe. 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. Whale watching in costa rica two weeks in costa rica. The osa peninsula is said to be one of the most biologically multifarious regions in the world.
Northern hemisphere whales show up like clockwork between december to april. Report of the oceanic society 2002 field season in cooperation with elderhostel volunteers. 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. We are fortunate to be located in an area where we get to experience 2 seasons of humpback whales visiting our coastline. This means that it is harder to see humpback whales during the december to april season, but not impossible. 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. This familyfriendly boat tour allows you to see these marine mammals up close and provides an. A rare encounter with a family of humpback whales in the gulf of papagayo, near liberia, costa rica. It is known for breaching and other distinctive surface behaviors, making.
Humpback whales only during the season july until october, dolphins, snorkeling, marine birds, sea turtles and caves. Costa ricas best whale watching is in drake bay the. Find in this costa rica tourist map the best points to observe this wonder of nature. This whale specie comes to migrate in this country whenever winter comes in the antarctica between august to october. Come december to april, other whales come in to costa rica. They congregate to the south pacific coast near cano island, golfo dulce and marino ballena national park. 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. 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.
The warm waters of costa rica s oceans attract whales and dolphins from north and south america. For more information, you can read our article on humpback whales. The humpback whale is the one you can often see in costa rican waters. The southern whales are more abundant in golfo dulce, according to research by the ceic. 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. The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. Ask bobandpat757 about dolphin day tours costa rica. Humpback whales come to costa rica for a long time and the waters of the pacific coast are packed with them. They are most likely to be seen in costa rica between august and october. Humpback whales are costa rica s most commonly spotted whale.
Costa rica has the longest humpback whale season in the world. 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. Top spots for whale watching in costa rica special places of. About half are commonly spotted off the south pacific, including brydes whales, humpback whales, and sei whales. Costa rica dolphins and whales when should you come. Humpback whale season in costa rica is in full swing, so keep reading to discover the best places to spot these gentle giants. 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. 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. The humpback whale megaptera novaeangliae is a species of baleen whale. They trap schools of small shrimp using a hunting technique unique in the sea. This gives whale watchers a lot of flexibility as humpback whales can be seen nearly yearround on the pacific side. Weather apps in costa rica during green season can be misleading.
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. The antarctic migration has the most whales and peak season is between august and october. July good low season month for costa rica travel costa rica guide. Many people visit to costa rica during the vacation to see the humpback whale. Costa rica whales and dolphins map, tour operator in costa. However, other species, such as the common bottlenose dolphin and pantropical spotted dolphins can also be viewed during whale or dolphin watching tours. The warm waters off the southern pacifics osa peninsula are costa rica s most popular destination for whale watching. Each group migrates to the equatorial tropics to mate and bear their young and all three send pods to costa rica. In january and february 2000, we continued this research with elderhostel volunteer support and completed our fifth season of effort. This dolphin and whale map shows the species that either migrate to or inhabit the waters of costa rica. Perhaps the best place to see these majestic creatures is the osa peninsula, located in the southern portion of puntarenas province.
Southern, antarcticbased humpback whales spend their winter months near australia and as far north as costa rica from june to november. Bucket list experiences like turtle nesting and whale watching. The best time to see humpback whales is mid july through october, when our southern migration, coming from as far as antarctica, are here. Hence, whale watching in costa rica tours are not so uncommon. 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. 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.
Humpback whales swim thousands of miles every year to spawn in drake bays tropical waters, while several species of dolphins reside here yearround. This is the perfect balance between adventure and relaxation. In fact, the osa is home to the longest humpback whale watching season in the world. 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. Costa rica celebrates the longest humpback whale season in the world. 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. 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. Kids are welcome with at least one adult companion. If youre looking for an amazing whale watching destination, whale watching in panama should top your list. 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. The whales come from both hemispheres to have their babies and breed. Humpback whale watching in costa rica is best from the end of august through midoctober.
This tour is not recomedend for pregnant women, either little ones under 1 year old. Read about the osa peninsula and drake bay whale season. 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. Ballena national marine park whale watching costa rica. 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. Of the worlds 76 dolphin and whale species, an estimated 25 migrate, mate, birth and feed in costa rican waters. 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.
Southern hemisphere whales travel all the way from the antarctic to costa rica between july and november. The northern hemisphere california humpback whales come to the pacific coast december early april. During this time of year, your odds of seeing a humpback whale are good. Humpback whale season in costa rica central america vacation. Strictly speaking, there are actually two whale seasons in costa rica.
This means that the visability isnt as clear as you might find in the caribbean, but means you get so much more marine life. Humpback whale watching tour in costa rica dolphin. Humpback whales and other marine mammals off costa rica and surrounding waters, 19962002. This is when the southern whales are here are closer to shore. Most tours depart from drake bay, although you can catch day excursions from puerto jimenez, as well. The official humpback season in costa rica is december to march and july to december. Escape villas vacation rentals offers costa rica puertocito point, a luxury waterfront home right next to ballena whale. 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. The great whales of costa rica costa rica scuba diving. 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. The total of the reports from the north occurred during the rainy season may.
Females swim into the shallow waters of the gulfs interior to birth their young and breastfeed them. The lesser known of the two are the humpback whales migrating from the northern hemisphere which start arriving in december and can be spotted. Humpback whales burst from the pacific ocean like gentle behemoths, their blow holes shooting jetsam some 20 feet in the air. Costa rica is one of the best places in the world to spot humpback whales. 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. Beside them smaller fins of newborn humpback whales tentatively peek out from the water for breath, a regular sight along the ballena aventura whale. And they just started arriving in the waters of the southern area of the costa rican pacific coast. Whale watching in costa rica southern explorations. The humpback whale can easily be identified by its solid body with an obvious hump and black dorsal coloring. Humpback whales and other marine mammals off costa rica. Some of the alaska california whales winter in hawaii and other places to the north so their numbers are fewer in costa rica.
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