Fruit And Swim Time Included

Marino Ballena National Park: Whale Watching Boat Tour

★ 4.4 · 4 reviews

from $90 per person

Opens the operator's official listing with live dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site. Free cancellation.

Duration: 3 hours
Meeting point: Pacific Expeditions office, Uvita
Cancellation: Free cancellation
On board: Snacks included
Run by: Pacific Expeditions CR

Overview

This three hour boat trip with Pacific Expeditions CR leaves from the operator's office in Uvita and heads out into Marino Ballena National Park. The boat is the main event: you spend the trip scanning for humpback whales and dolphins while a bilingual guide, Spanish and English, points out what the group is seeing and explains the marine life around you.

The flow of the day is simple. You check in at the office first, where coffee and cookies are served while the group assembles. From there you follow the guide in your own car to a parking area close to the park entrance, with the parking fee already covered in the tour price. If you have no car, the listing says you can be taken along.

During the tour the boat stops for a swim in the park's warm water and a serving of tropical fruit, watermelon and pineapple. Lifejackets are provided and the park entrance fee is included. It suits travellers who want a structured wildlife outing with swimming and snacks built in, and who are happy to accept that whales are wild animals and sightings can vary.

What's Included

Included

Parking
Tropical fruits (watermelon and pineapple)
Swimming time
Billingual tour guide
Boat tour
Lifejacket
Entrance fee to Marino Ballena NP
Security policies

Not Included

Transportation to the office (Extra Cost)
No snorkeling
No restroom on board

Itinerary

Check in at the officeMeet at the Pacific Expeditions CR office in Uvita for a briefing. Coffee and cookies are served while the group gathers.
Drive to the parking areaFollow the guide in your own car to the parking near the park entrance, or ride along if you have no vehicle. Parking is included in the price.
Board the boatBoard near the entrance to Marino Ballena National Park, where the parking area is located. Lifejackets are provided.
Wildlife watchingCruise inside and outside the park looking for humpback whales and dolphins, with commentary from the bilingual guide.
Sights along the coastPass Ballena Island, the Three Sisters and the Whale Tail formation, with panoramic views of the park's main points.
Fruit and swim stopStop for a swim in the warm water and a serving of watermelon and pineapple.
Return to shoreThe boat heads back to the departure point near the park entrance, ending the three hour tour.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical details will shape how this trip goes, from what to wear to what the boat does and does not have on board.

What to wear. Bring a hat, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen and flip-flops, as the listing recommends. You will get wet at the swim stop, so beachwear under comfortable clothes works well.
Bring water. There is no restroom on board, and the only refreshments are the coffee and cookies at the office plus the fruit on the boat. A reusable water bottle is on the operator's packing list for a reason.
Wildlife is wild. One reviewer reported seeing no whales at all despite high expectations, while another described traveling far from Uvita to see a whale and its calf, plus turtles. Sightings depend entirely on the animals, so treat whales as a strong possibility rather than a guarantee.
No snorkeling. Snorkeling is not part of this tour and is on the not allowed list. The swim stop is surface swimming only, and touching or feeding marine life is prohibited.
Pace and group. The tour is listed at three hours. One reviewer noted the crew extended the trip well past the scheduled time when whales were found far out, so the day can run long if sightings are good.
Getting there. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport to the office in Uvita. From the office you drive yourself to the parking area or ride with the team if you lack a car.

Common issues. The main downside raised in reviews is the chance of seeing no whales at all, and one traveller felt the trip was poor value when that happened, since the crew cannot control nature. There is no restroom on the boat and no snorkeling, which limits what you can do at the swim stop. Hotel pickup is excluded, so you need your own way to the office. Smoking, vaping, drones, alcohol and touching animals are all prohibited on the tour.

Common Questions

What is included in the tour price?

The price covers the boat tour, a bilingual guide in Spanish and English, lifejackets, the Marino Ballena National Park entrance fee, parking, the fruit snack of watermelon and pineapple, and swimming time. Coffee and cookies are served at the office before departure. Hotel pickup and transportation to the office are not included.

Where does the tour start and is there hotel pickup?

There is no hotel pickup. You meet at the Pacific Expeditions CR office in Uvita, Bahía, Puntarenas Province. After the briefing you follow the guide in your own car to the parking area near the park entrance, or you can be taken there if you do not have a car.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts three hours. One reviewer reported that the crew ran the trip longer when whales were spotted far from shore, so leave some flexibility in your day.

Can I go snorkeling or swim on this tour?

Snorkeling is not offered and is not allowed on this tour. Swimming is included, with time set aside for a swim in the warm waters of the national park during the fruit stop.

What should I bring?

The listing recommends a hat, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, flip-flops, beachwear and a reusable water bottle. There is no restroom on board, so plan accordingly. Drones, smoking, vaping, alcohol and drugs are not permitted.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The listing does not state terms for cancellations made closer to departure, so check the booking page before you reserve if your plans might shift.