The quaint town of Uvita Costa Rica, located in the south pacific coast near the Osa Peninsula is famous for its local village atmosphere, eco-hotels, stunning beaches and migration of humpback whales to the warm and calm waters of the Marino Ballena National Park. Each year Uvita and the Marino Ballena National Park are blessed with the visits of the humpback whales from December to March and again from late July to early November. The area is also home to resident bottle-nose, spinner and spotted dolphins, hawksbill and olive ridley turtles and a variety of fish, birds, monkeys, insects, plant and tree life.
Hotels in Uvita
Uvita hotels and accommodations are very reasonable with many budget houses for rent, luxury hotels and eco-lodges in the area. If you want to stay on the beach, there are a few cabins and rooms available for rent. There are also plenty of mid-range price hotels, three star hotels, luxury hotels and eco-hotels and lodges in Dominical, Uvita and Ojochal for visitors. For more information visit our page about Uvita Hotels, or contact us if you need assistance booking your hotel. The Uvita area also has cozy bars and restaurants that offer delicious local delights and exotic cuisine.
Uvita Beaches
Uvita and the beaches of Marino Ballena National Park are accessible year-round. The main attraction on Playa Uvita is a 1 km sand bar resembling a giant whales tail, which forms everyday during low tide. Visitors can walk the Punta Uvita Whale Tail during low tide or they can hike the lush rainforest mountains to grab a birds eye view of this natural wonder. Swimming conditions are ideal at the beaches of Uvita and tourists can enjoy a relaxing day sunbathing and swimming. Uvita is also excellent for our nature and adventure tours. Horseback riding, kayaking, nature hikes, waterfalls, canopy and scuba diving are very popular activities here.
Where Is Uvita Located?
Lying south of San Jose, Uvita is located roughly 17 km south of Dominical and 44 km north of Palmar Sur, in the southern Puntarenas province near the Osa Peninsula. Uvita is beautiful placed between two amazing Costa Rican National Parks; to the north, approximately 1 hour, lies the famous Manuel Antonio National Park and to the south, approximately 2 hours is the Corcovado National Park, which holds 5% of the biodiversity on this side of the planet.
How to Get to Uvita
The best way to get to Playa Uvita and the Marino Ballena National Park is to fly to the Juan Santamaria International Airport and then either drive or take a domestic flight to Uvita.
Driving from San Jose to Uvita:
Option 1: Take the Inter-American highway to San Isidro de General and drive to Dominical. From Dominical take the paved Costanera Sur highway to reach Uvita. On average the trip takes 4 hours.
Option 2: Take the the newly paved Costanera Sur that passes through Jaco, Quepos and then Dominical to Uvita. On average the journey takes 4 hours.
*Private land transportation and shuttle services are available in the area.
Flying from San Jose to Quepos or Palmar Sur:
Those flying to get to Uvita from Juan Santamaria International Airport or Pavas Airport:
Option 1: Land in Quepos and take the newly paved Costanera Sur to Uvita. On average the journey takes 1 hour.
Option 2: Land in Palmar Sur and take the Costanera Sur and head north through Palmar Norte, Cortes, and Ojochal, until arriving to Uvita. On average the journey takes 45 minutes.
