Today we don't get up too early. At 8 o'clock our whale watching tour starts.
Humpback whales
We had breakfast at Que Tuanis coffee, a casado and a granola (yoghurt, oatmeal and fruit), juice and coffee. All very tasty, highly recommended.
Granola
Gallo pinto
At 8 o'clock we arrive at Aventura Uno, which is situated only 5 minutes walk from Yubarta Lodge. Here we wait for the rest of the group, including our Belgian friends, to arrive.
We are assigned a guide and walk to the entrance of the Marino Ballena National Park to buy our tickets. It is very close, a 5 minute walk. If you prefer, you can buy them online at the SINAC website.
Whale
On the beach we are given life jackets and we put on our booties. There is no jetty and you will get wet so it is best to take as little as possible. We advise you to bring booties, snorkelling goggles, sun cream, swimming costume and a waterproof case for your mobile phone and/or important things.
We start the tour. The boat has a capacity for about 15 people and the guide will tell us interesting facts about the humpback whales as we look for them. Humpbacks come to these warm waters to mate and raise their babies during two periods of the year, from December to March and from July to October. Adults can grow up to 16 metres long and weigh 30 tonnes. They can be submerged for more than 50 minutes as adults.
Humpback whales
We see turtles and pelicans. Suddenly the guide sees something and the captain stops the engine, and then a whale appears with its calf. It's amazing. I have no words to describe it. To see these animals in the wild is a dream.
Humpback whales
They play and snoop around our boat and those of other tourists. The mother never wanders too far away. The calf is constantly coming in and out of the surface, it does not have enough lung capacity yet.
Humpback whales
I think we spent about half an hour watching them until the mother dived into the depths and showed us her tail. What a marvellous sight.
Although we had not seen them jump, the guide told us that they usually jump to worm themselves and/or to teach the young how to do it, the experience was marvellous.
Humpback whales
The second part of the tour takes us to a small islet where we are allowed to go for a swim. Although we have brought our snorkelling goggles, the water is so murky that we can't see anything.
Humpback whales
We go back to the boat, get an apple and a banana, and visit Arco beach, where you can see different cavities in the rock. Very nice.
Arco beach
Suddenly the boat stops, the engine is not working. The captain warns us and we are picked up by a mate with another boat. Quite an adventure.
At about 1 p.m. the tour ends and we decide to stay in the park to visit it.
The Marino Ballena National Park has a surface of more than 5.000 marine hectares and almost 200 terrestrial hectares. It is divided into four sectors: Uvita and Colonia (open to the public) and Ballena and Piñuelas (currently closed). It is open from 7am to 6pm.
Marino Ballena National Park
It is famous for the way in which Hermosa beach and Uvita beach join to form a golden sandy tombolo up to a rocky point that from a bird's eye view looks like a whale's tail. It is important to take into account the tide table to be able to reach the rocks, it is an area of strong currents and it is not advisable to swim to them.
On the left side of the tombolo there is a coral reef where you can snorkel.
Tombolo
In the area of Cola de Ballena, we met a Spanish couple who recommended a guide for the Tortuguero excursions. His name is Célimo and he was a great discovery.
The beaches are suitable for swimming although you should not stray far from the shore. Don't leave your belongings alone. Locals don't pay entrance fees and there have been problems with theft and robbery.
Marino Ballena Natioanal Park
We recommend you to walk not only the beaches but also the inner trails of this tropical rainforest. We were lucky enough to see howler monkeys very close by.
Marino Ballena Natioanal Park
A dip in the pool and a shower. It starts to rain torrentially, thank goodness we bought dinner at the supermarket. Although supermarkets are not cheap in Costa Rica you can find local fruits and snacks at a good price.
Breakfast: Que Tuanis coffee, a casado and a granola with coffee and fruit 8.000 colones.
Accommodation: Yubarta Lodge, double room with shared bathroom 20,26$/night, parking included. Credit cards are not accepted.
Whale watching: 40$/pax (does not include entrance fee to the Park)
Supermarket: fruit and snacks 5.000 colones
Whale Marine National Park entrance fee 6,78$/pax
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