Uvita Whale Tour Questions

Whale watching trips from Uvita start at $75 per person with Martin Adventours, and most 3-hour tours sit between $80 and $105. Caño Island snorkeling runs higher, from $150 to $185, because it is a full day on the water. One private option books the whole boat at $1,120 per group.

Most whale watching tours run about 3 hours. The shortest, from Martin Adventours, runs 2.5 to 3 hours, while Caño Island snorkeling tours run 6 to 8 hours.

Several tours include drinks and snacks, and one listing names them right in its title. Others list nothing, so read each listing before booking.

Most boats leave from beaches inside Marino Ballena National Park near Uvita and Bahía Ballena. Each listing names its meeting point, usually the operator's office in town.

Whale watching trips here mostly go out in the morning, and one operator runs a mid-day departure. The listing for your date shows the exact time. Caño Island trips leave earlier, since they run most of the day.

Several listings put motion sickness prevention on the packing list, and one advises taking medicine an hour before departure. Seven listings state there is no restroom on board, so use the office toilet first.

Several listings accept children, and Marino Ballena charges non-resident children a reduced entry fee of $5.65. Age minimums vary by operator and tour type, so the listing states each cutoff.

Bring a swimsuit, quick-dry clothes, a towel, biodegradable sunscreen, a hat and a light rain layer. Several listings exclude tips, and a reusable water bottle is on many listings' packing lists.

Two humpback populations visit: northern-hemisphere whales from December to March, and southern-hemisphere whales from July to mid-November (IWC Whale Watching Handbook). Bottlenose and pantropical spotted dolphins are also commonly seen on tours.

All but one tour in the lineup list free cancellation, usually up to 24 hours before the start. Check the live booking page for the exact terms before you book.