Uvita

A small town on Costa Rica's southern Pacific coast where the “whale's tail” sandbar of Marino Ballena National Park emerges at low tide, and the top spot for humpback whale watching.

Uvita lies on the Costa Ballena (“Whale Coast”) of Costa Rica's southern Pacific, in the Osa canton of Puntarenas Province, and is the gateway town to Marino Ballena National Park. The park's most famous sight is a sandbar exposed at low tide that, seen from the air, looks like a whale's tail. The year divides into a dry season (Dec–Apr) and a rainy season (May–Nov), when rain usually falls in the afternoon. Because humpback whales from the Southern and Northern Hemispheres come here to give birth in Jul–Oct and Dec–Mar respectively, Uvita has two whale-watching seasons a year, and a Whale and Dolphin Festival is held in September. Main activities: boat trips to see whales and dolphins, walking the whale's tail sandbar at low tide, and riding the natural rock slide at the Uvita waterfall. To the south are the sea caves of Playa Ventanas, the Pavón waterfall and the foodie town of Ojochal; 15 km to the north are the surf town of Dominical and the Nauyaca Waterfalls. Uvita is also a convenient base for snorkeling and diving trips to Caño Island. Getting there: about 3.5–4 hours' drive from San José, or by long-distance bus; sights are spread out, so renting a car is recommended. Allow 2–4 days. Note: rip currents are strong, so swim where lifeguards are on duty; choose a licensed operator for whale watching and follow the rules on keeping your distance from whales.

Top sights

• Uvita Whale Watching Tour – Set off from Uvita Beach, next to the Whale's Tail sandbar, and head out into Bahía Ballena to see humpback whale mothers and calves and do…
• Playa Ventanas – A dark-sand beach south of Uvita, where at low tide you can walk into sea caves cut through the headland, with waves surging in through the…
• Uvita Waterfall – A small waterfall on the hillside above town, where you can slide into a pool down natural rock chutes, a popular cooling-off spot for loca…
• El Pavón Waterfall – A rainforest waterfall south of Ojochal, where a large boulder is wedged between two rock walls and water flows out from beneath it, a stri…
• Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary – An animal rescue centre on the hills of Dominical, where guided tours explain how injured animals such as sloths, monkeys and macaws are tr…
• Ojochal – A rainforest village on Costa Rica’s South Pacific coast, home to immigrants from France, Canada and elsewhere, famous for its multicultura…
• Marino Ballena National Park – A marine national park on the coast of Uvita, where a sandbar shaped like a whale’s tail is exposed at low tide, with whale watching in sea…

Where to eat

• Los Laureles Restaurant – A long-standing family-run eatery in central Uvita, serving Costa Rican home cooking and popular with tourists and expa…
• Ranchito Doña María – A family-run traditional soda tucked into a side street by a creek, known for oversized casado plates and a budget-frie…

Itineraries

• South Pacific & Osa Peninsula Wilderness Adventure – Head south along the coast past Whale Tail beach, take a boat into Drake Bay, explore Corcovado, and snorkel at Caño Is…