Private Cruise, Meal Included
3.5 hours · Travel Costa Rica -Worldwide Experiences
from $1,120The whole boat is yours; the price is quoted per group, not per person.Private boat trip with lunch.
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Private Whales And Dolphins Charter
Uvita: Whales & Dolphins Watching -Marino Ballena Park Costa Rica
from $95 Private tour; price depends on group size, confirm on the booking page.
Check Price & Availability →Opens the operator's official listing with live dates. Book there; nothing is charged on this site. Free cancellation.
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Meeting point
- Aventura Uno office, Uvita
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation
- Run by
- Uvita Surf Experience
Overview
This is a three-hour private boat trip out of Uvita, run by Uvita Surf Experience, that goes looking for whales and dolphins inside and around Parque Nacional Marino Ballena. Because it is private, only your own group is on the boat. The crew, led by team members named in the booking details, meets you at their office in Bahía, Uvita, and the trip ends back at the same point.
The route covers two stops. First comes Parque Nacional Marino Ballena, the main watching area, where the boat spends three hours across the outing according to the listing's itinerary. The second stop is Punta Uvita, listed with free admission. Snorkelling equipment is supplied, along with bottled water and parking fees, though one reviewer noted that snorkelling only happens if the ocean cooperates; choppy water cancels that part.
Marino Ballena Park admission itself is not included, so budget for the entry ticket at the first stop. Expect a half-day commitment in total. Reviews describe rough conditions on some days, and the listing states the trip is not wheelchair accessible and not recommended for pregnant travellers.
What's Included
Included
- Bottled water
- Parking fees
- Use of snorkelling equipment
Itinerary
- Meet at the Uvita officeMeet the crew at the operator's office in Bahía, Uvita. The listing asks you to contact them via the WhatsApp number on your ticket if you have questions before the trip.
- Parque Nacional Marino BallenaThe main watching stop, listed at 3 hours for the overall experience. Admission to the park is not included and is paid separately.
- Punta UvitaA stop at Punta Uvita with free admission, as given in the listing.
- Return to the officeThe trip ends back at the same meeting point in Uvita.
What To Expect From The Tour
A few practical points from the listing and from traveller reviews will help you plan this trip realistically.
- Wildlife is not guaranteed. Whales are wild animals and several reviewers were honest about this. One saw no whales at all in rough water, and another described only brief glimpses of a back rather than the spectacular breaches shown in tour advertising. Go in expecting a boat trip with a chance of sightings, not a certainty.
- Confirm the meeting point. Reviewers have reported that the address shown in the app did not match the actual departure spot, and that they had to follow a staff member by car to the right office. Message the operator on the WhatsApp number from your ticket beforehand to confirm where to go.
- Snorkelling depends on conditions. Masks and snorkels are included, but one reviewer explained that snorkelling is simply not possible when the ocean is choppy. Life jackets must be worn at all times, including while swimming, so plan around that.
- What is provided. Bottled water, parking fees and snorkelling equipment are all covered. One reviewer also mentioned free water and fruit as part of a well arranged outing. Park admission is separate, so plan for that extra cost.
- Rough seas happen. One reviewer described extremely rough water on the day of their trip, and the same review noted that no whales were seen in those conditions. Conditions at sea vary and affect both comfort and what you see.
- Who it suits. The listing states most travellers can participate, but infants must sit on laps, it is not wheelchair accessible, and it is not recommended for pregnant travellers. The private format means only your group is aboard.
Common issues. The main frustrations in reviews are logistical and natural rather than about the crew. Two separate reviewers reported wrong or confusing meeting point information in the app, one requiring help from a confused local who called the operator and led the way by car to the correct office. One reviewer also described a boat with mechanical problems that had to be fixed mid-ocean before continuing. On the nature side, whales stayed absent or distant for some groups, and one reviewer cautioned that choppy water makes snorkelling impossible.
Common Questions
What is included in the price?
Bottled water, parking fees and the use of snorkelling equipment are included. It is a private tour, so only your group takes part. Anything beyond that, notably Marino Ballena park admission, is on you.
Is park entry included?
No. Admission to Parque Nacional Marino Ballena is listed as not included and is paid separately. Punta Uvita, the second stop, has free admission.
Where do I meet the boat?
The meeting point is the operator's office in Bahía, Uvita, in Puntarenas Province, and the tour returns there. The listing asks you to contact the crew through the WhatsApp number on your ticket with any questions. Reviews indicate the address shown in booking apps has sometimes been wrong, so confirming directly is wise.
How long is the tour?
The experience runs for 3 hours from the meeting point, covering both the Marino Ballena watching area and Punta Uvita. Plan for a half-day outing overall.
Is it suitable for kids or people with limited mobility?
Infants can come but must sit on laps. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, though it is near public transportation, and it is not recommended for pregnant travellers. The listing says most travellers can participate.
What is the cancellation policy?
You get a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancel later than that and the amount paid is not refunded, and changes made within 24 hours of the start are not accepted. Cut-off times follow the local time in Costa Rica.
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Live dates, times and prices are on the booking page.
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