Ballena Marine National Park, Marine national park in Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica.
Ballena Marine National Park is a protected coastal area featuring coral reefs, mangrove forests, and multiple beaches along the Pacific shore. The waters here range from shallow near the beaches to deeper ocean areas farther out.
The park was founded in 1989 to protect marine animals and the migration routes of humpback whales. The area was chosen because whales pass through here during their journeys between polar regions and warmer waters.
Local fishing families and conservation workers guide visitors through the waters, sharing their lived knowledge of the marine life around them. These guides help travelers understand how ocean rhythms shape daily life in nearby communities.
Visitors can snorkel and watch whales, with the best whale watching season running from December through April. Coastal trails are easy to access, but check tidal and wave conditions before entering the water.
At low tide, a natural sandbar forms in the shape of a whale's tail, extending about one kilometer from shore into the sea. This sandbar inspired the park's name and is a rare coastal formation.
Location: Puntarenas Province
GPS coordinates: 9.09193,-83.73230
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:42
Costa Rica spans 19,700 square miles (51,100 square kilometers) between the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, offering photographers a concentration of varied landscapes within a compact area. The country maintains over 30 national parks and protected areas, including Arenal Volcano, whose near-perfect cone rises 5,479 feet (1,670 meters) above surrounding rainforest, and Monteverde Cloud Forest, where mist drifts through canopy vegetation supporting rare species such as the resplendent quetzal. Rio Celeste flows through Tenorio Volcano National Park, displaying its characteristic turquoise color from volcanic minerals, while Tabacon Hot Springs delivers naturally heated water from underground sources. Coastal regions present diverse subjects, from the beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park, where white-faced capuchin monkeys move through trees, to Cahuita National Park on the Caribbean coast with its coral reefs. The Nicoya Peninsula and Papagayo Peninsula provide access to Tamarindo Beach and Santa Teresa Beach, while the southern zone includes Marino Ballena National Park, named for its whale-shaped sandbar visible at low tide. Tortuga Island, off the coast of Puntarenas, serves as a day-trip destination. Inland, San Jose Central Market documents daily commerce, the National Theater displays neoclassical architecture from 1897, and Guayabo National Monument preserves pre-Columbian ruins. Cerro Chirripó rises to 12,533 feet (3,820 meters) as the country's highest point, offering views of both oceans in clear conditions.
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