dolphins

Answers to Commonly Asked Questions Whales & Dolphins

Q. Is it guaranteed that I will see whales and dolphins?

A. Bahia Aventuras is located in the south pacific of Costa Rica near the Osa Peninsula. Our tours are focused in and around the Marino Ballena National Park, one of the most cetacean-rich areas in all of Costa Rica. Visitors have the opportunity to see a wide variety of different species from humpback whales to bottlenose dolphins as well as sea turtles, manta rays, sea birds and other marine life. We could never guarantee 100% that visitors will have encounters with whales and dolphins as they are not held in captivity. The beauty of the Marino Ballena National Park is that we do encounter whales and dolphins about 95% of our outings during the whale season which stretches from mid July and October, and again in December through March, as they migrate to and from feeding and mating grounds in the north and south hemisphere. We recommend that you plan two different tours and get your 10% discount with us to see the widest range of behaviors, species and opportunities for close encounters with the amazing marine life the area has to offer.

Q. What can I expect to see?

A. We can never offer 100% guarantee of encounters with wild animals. However the following list is to be used as a guide to what we commonly see throughout the year. This list is based on the areas past years of recorded sightings:

January: Spotted Dolphins, Humpback Whales, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Pilot Whales

Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins

February: Spotted Dolphins, Humpback Whales, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Pilot Whales

Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins

March: Spotted Dolphins, Humpback Whales, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Pilot Whales, Beaked Whales

Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins

April: Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Pilot Whales

Occasional: Humpback Whales, Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas

May: Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins

Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Common Dolphins, Pilot Whales

June: Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins

Occasional: Humpback Whales, Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Pilot Whales,

July: Humpback Whales, Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins

Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Pilot Whales

August: Humpback Whales, Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins

Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Spinner Dolphins, Pilot Whales

September: Humpback Whales, Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins

Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Pilot Whales

October: Humpback Whales, Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphin

Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Spinner Dolphins, Pilot Whales

November: Humpback Whales, Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins

Occasional: Orcas, Sei Whales, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins, Pilot Whales

December: Humpback Whales, Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Pilot Whales

Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins

Q. Can I swim with whales and dolphins?

A. Swimming with whales and dolphins is illegal in Costa Rica. Also illegal is keeping whales and dolphins in captivity, not following legal practices for sightings and encounters and hunting. We encourage other companies to also follow best practices for marine tourism and not put too much stress and disruption on the whales and dolphins natural behaviors. By following best practices for marine tourism we can avoid causing constant disruption to their feeding, resting, nursing and other behaviors that might impact the health and well being of entire populations of whales and dolphins. Whale watching and dolphin encounters from our boats are powerful experiences that ignite a feeling of true awe! By viewing whales and dolphins in their natural habitat from our boat, you can start to explore their world while minimizing the disruption to their natural behaviors.

Q. When is the best time to come?

A. Anytime is a good time to come to Uvita-Bahia Ballena, Costa Rica and visit the Marino Ballena National Park. The “high tourist season-dry season” in Costa Rica is considered to be mid-November through April due to little or no rain. However, our tours continue year-round! Please remember that the whale season stretches from mid July through October, and again in December through March. As for the dolphins, they are always here! Many visitors enjoy coming during the “low season-rainy season” as there are less people and everything is green and blooming.

Q. What is the water and air temperature?

A. The water temperature is always between 82-85 degrees (perfect!) and air temperature stays in the low to mid 80’s.

Q. Is it guaranteed that I will see whales and dolphins?

Q. What can I expect to see?

January: Spotted Dolphins, Humpback Whales, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Pilot Whales

Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins

February: Spotted Dolphins, Humpback Whales, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Pilot Whales

Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins

March: Spotted Dolphins, Humpback Whales, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Pilot Whales, Beaked Whales

Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins

April: Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Pilot Whales

Occasional: Humpback Whales, Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas

May: Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins

Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Common Dolphins, Pilot Whales

June: Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins

Occasional: Humpback Whales, Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Pilot Whales,

July: Humpback Whales, Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins

Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Pilot Whales

August: Humpback Whales, Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins

Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Spinner Dolphins, Pilot Whales

September: Humpback Whales, Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins

Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Pilot Whales

October: Humpback Whales, Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphin

Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Spinner Dolphins, Pilot Whales

November: Humpback Whales, Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins

Occasional: Orcas, Sei Whales, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins, Pilot Whales

December: Humpback Whales, Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Pseudo Orcas, Spinner Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Pilot Whales

Occasional: Orcas, Brydes Whales, Rissos Dolphins

Q. Can I swim with whales and dolphins?

Q. When is the best time to come?

Q. What is the water and air temperature?

A. The water temperature is always between 82-85 degrees (perfect!) and air temperature stays in the low to mid 80’s.

COSTA RICAS MARINE RESOURCES

Costa Rica’s marine area reaches 580,000 km2, approximately 10 times larger than its land area of only 52,100 km2. The Costa Rican ocean generates countless biological, economical and social benefits and in its resources lays the future of the country. The Marino Ballena National Park and the surrounding areas of Cano Island Biological Reserve and front bays of the entire Osa Peninsula are beautiful marine areas where locals and visitors alike can experience whales, dolphins, sea turtles, marine birds, colorful fish and amazing coral reefs.

WHALES

Whales are large, magnificent, intelligent, aquatic mammals. They breathe air through blowholes into lungs (unlike fish who breathe using gills). Whales have sleek, streamlined bodies that move easily through the water. They are the only mammals, other than manatees (seacows), that live their entire lives in the water, and the only mammals that have adapted to life in the open oceans.

Scientists believe that early whales actually walked the earth. The theory, supported by recent fossil finds in the foothills of the Himalayas, is that about 53.5 million years ago, whales were amphibious. They originated as land mammals, and gradually ventured into the water in search of food. They fed on fresh and saltwater fish. Eventually, they lost their legs and nostrils, and became the creatures we know today.

The Humpback Whale, Pilot Whale, Bryde’s, and False Orca are just some of the whales that visit the Marino Ballena National Park and the surrounding areas of Cano Island Biological Reserve and front bays of the entire Osa Peninsula.

DOLPHINS

Dolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in seventeen genera. They vary in size from 1.2 metres (4 ft) and 40 kilograms (88 lb), up to 9.5 m (30 ft) and ten tonnes. They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating fish and squid. The family Delphinidae is the largest in the Cetaceans, and relatively recent: dolphins evolved about ten million years ago, during the Miocene. Dolphins are considered to be amongst the most intelligent of animals and their often-friendly appearance and seemingly playful attitude have made them popular in human culture.

The Bottlenose Dolphin, Pan-Tropical Spotted Dolphin, Common Dolphin and Spinner Dolphin are permanent residents and can be generally observed year round breeding and feeding in the warm tropical waters of the Marino Ballena National Park, Cano Island Biological Reserve and Osa Peninsula.

SEA TURTLES

Sea turtles are large, air-breathing reptiles that inhabit tropical and subtropical seas throughout the world. Their shells consist of an upper part (carapace) and a lower section (plastron). Hard scales (or scutes) cover all but the leatherback, and the number and arrangement of these scutes can be used to determine the species. Sea turtles come in many different sizes, shapes and colors and the most common sea turtles in the South Pacific, Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica are the Green Sea turtles, Hawksbill turtles and Olive Ridley turtles.