Whale Season in the Southern Pacific: Why Uvita Is Easy to Underestimate

Welcome to the Costa Rica Horizon blog! We’re passionate about helping families explore the beauty and magic of Costa Rica in comfort and safety.

When making their Costa Rica itinerary, many people start with the most obvious choices: Arenal and La Fortuna, Monteverde Cloud Forest, San José, and so on. And sure. Do not get us wrong. We also believe that no visit to Costa Rica is complete without heading over to all of these places and fully enjoying their beauty. Still, we think that the real thrill lies in going to some destinations that many travelers sadly fail to discover. Some lesser-known cities are scattered across the country, and Uvita de Osa is one of the most magnificent ones. Still, it is one of those places that is pretty easy to underestimate, and here is what you may actually be wrong about.

​The Assumption No. 1: It Is Just a Regular Whale Stop

​When discussing Uvita, many people consider it just another ocean coastal town where you can book a tour and maybe spot some whales here and there. There are many travelers who take this kind of experience with hesitation, since they believe that seeing a wild animal in their natural habitat is a once-in-a-blue-moon occasion. But they don’t know that Uvita is different due to its favorable geographical location.

Marino Ballena National Park, designed to provide a safe area for humpback whale migration, includes:

  • More than 13,000 acres of ocean, making it one of the country’s most impressive areas
  • It has nine miles of coastline in total
  • The largest remaining coral reef on Costa Rica’s entire Pacific coast, hosting a vast array of marine life

So, no, Uvita is not another place where whales occasionally hop over to say hi. Here, you will have an opportunity to board a small boat and spot a 40-ton humpback up close. We are sure that once you experience something like this, you will start appreciating our planet more and get a new perspective on life.

The Assumption No. 2: You Can See Whales Just Once Per Year

Photography by Alejandro Om

In the majority of cases, whale-watching season happens just once per year. And sadly, for many travelers, this means a certain amount of limitation. You have to plan your entire holiday around the specific dates, and sometimes, that can be extremely daunting. Fortunately, when we talk about Uvita, also known as Bitcoin Jungle, it is super convenient to know that there is not one whale season. In fact, there are two of them, but that is not all. These seasons are almost unique on Earth, and based on your life schedule, you can pick the most adequate one.

December to April: During these months, whales migrate to Costa Rica all the way from Oregon, Washington, and California. Peak is in January and February, so why not consider coming here during these months and spending some winter under the bright sun?

July to October: This is when massive animals travel all the way from Patagonia and Antarctica. This is considered to be one of the longest mammal migrations in the world, and witnessing it in person is truly a great privilege and something you will remember for the rest of your life.  

But if you really want to have the time of your life, then it is highly recommended to come to Uvita in September and visit the popular Whale and Dolphin Festival. You can attend a few interesting exhibitions, workshops, and, of course, hop onto a daily boat tour. No matter when you decide to explore Uvita, Costa Rica Horizon will help you have an adventure you deserve; perfect from start to finish!

​The Assumption No. 3: There Is Nothing Special to Uvita Beach

When we talk about Costa Rica, no beach is just an ordinary beach. So, saying, ” Oh well, why should I visit Uvita Beach when there is surely nothing special about it?” is not really what anyone should be saying. Even the shape of this beach is exceptional, and believe it or not, it looks like a whale tail. Talking about coincidences. But there is another distinctive feature of it. While the tide is low, you can actually walk over it. Still, once the tide is high, it hides the sandbar, so walking is not an option. Overall, you can expect to have some moments of pure serenity here and really soak up all the beauty of this Costa Rican jewel.

The Assumption No. 4: Reaching Uvita Is a Piece of Cake

Photography by Alejandro Om

Before we leave you to start organizing your Uvita expedition, let us talk about the most important thing strategically: how to reach this town. For many travelers, transportation is the last thing on their list, and sometimes that may not be a problem. But when coming to any part of Costa Rica, thinking about how to move from one place to another is imperative if you want to have a fully effortless experience. And surely, who doesn’t want that?

In case you are starting your journey at SJO, you may need approximately 4 hours to reach Uvita, and 5 hours from LIR, but bear in mind, this is on good days. And we are sure that the last thing you would like to do upon landing is trying to figure out which means of transportation are the most convenient ones, wasting your time trying to find it, and then spending more time and money than planned on actually arriving at your desired location.

With that being said, there are two recommended approaches that actually work and that can secure an efficient, comfortable, and time-saving journey:

  • Private Transfers: By securing this kind of service, you can rely on a skilled bilingual driver who is completely familiar with the roads to take care of driving while you are resting in the back seat. During the ride, you can admire the picturesque scenery and, if needed, make a few additional stops along the way.
  • Car Rental: This is surely the most preferred option for many who are confident in their driving skills. This type of service gives you the unmatched flexibility, so you can see up close whatever catches your eye on your way to Uvita. Most importantly, you can pick the most suitable vehicle from a deluxe fleet provided by premium companies and treat yourself and your fellow passengers with the maximum enjoyment.

The Assumption No. 5: Well, Maybe We Don’t Even Have to Go to Uvita

Wrong, wrong, wrong, and absolutely wrong! If you are finally starting to organize your journey to Costa Rica, coming to Uvita is a must! It is one of those places that will captivate you instantly, and thanks to Costa Rica Horizon, exploring it has never been easier. Not for a moment can you think that coming here is not worth it. So, put Uvita on your itinerary today, and thank us later!