Marine Eco Tourism | Bahia Aventuras

In Costa Rica there are two seasons to spot the humpback whales. They migrate from their feeding areas in the North and South Americas to our warm tropical waters for mating. These whales are characterized as being very sociable, but usually travel alone or with their offspring. They are rarely found in groups, which are mostly formed by males, to compete for the females. One of the strategies the whales use during their breeding season is to stay in warm shallow waters, such as bays, because their geographic features provide better protection for their young, known as a calves.

In Costa Rica we have the great Coronado Bay located in the South Pacific. This bay includes the waters of the Marino Ballena National Park, Drake Bay and Cano Island. The temperature and depth of the water around Cano Island provide some of the best conditions for reproduction and protection of the calves in their first weeks of life. This is also the area where the majority of migrating whales give birth to their young, giving it an important biological value. The conditions of the Coronado Bay area favor ecotourism, making it the largest in the tourism industry for the sighting of cetaceans in Costa Rica, especially for humpback whales. Three species of dolphins are seen regularly, along with the occasional visit from Bryde’s whales, pilot whales and false killer whales.

The migration of the humpbacks whales to Costa Rica occur at two different times: [Read more…]

Bahia Aventuras, the KETO Foundation, and the Association of Marine Tour Operators of the Marino Ballena National Park, in Uvita – Bahia Ballena have been working together over the last few months in the development of Responsible Marine Tourism Practices. Through many meetings, discussions, and trainings, drafts of the standards were developed, reviewed, and revised in a consensus-building process. Development of the standards for Planning of Boat Tours, Boat Maintenance, Training of Boat Captains and Guides, Community Responsibility, Navigation, Whale watching, Snorkeling and Scuba Diving, is only the beginning. Next, is the implementation phase and then field-testing. Many local companies are still in the process of adopting the standards and will work together with the KETO Foundaton and the Association of Marine Tour Operators of the Marino Ballena National Park to evaluate their overall effectiveness, attainability, and affordability.

Leading the way in accomplishing the standards is Team Bahia Aventuras. Establishing a plan for each category, Bahia Aventuras will be implementing the rigorous standards in 2010 to achieve the most Responsible Operation of Marine Tourism possible, and continue providing visitors the best and most sustainable boat and nature tours in Uvita – Bahia Ballena, Osa, Costa Rica.