Marino Ballena 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.
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