Marino Ballena National Park

He Marino Ballena National Park It is a natural treasure on the South Pacific coast of Costa Rica.

This park, which covers 110 hectares of beach and coast and 5,400 hectares of ocean , It was created to conserve the marine habitats of the country's South Pacific , threatened by overfishing, logging and uncontrolled tourist development.

 

 

Climate and Seasons

•  Climate: Hot, rainy and very humid.
•  Dry season: From mid-December to mid-April, with sporadic rains.
•  Rainy season: From mid-April to mid-December.

Flora and Fauna of the Marino Ballena National Park

 Fauna of the Park

• Humpback Whale: Observe these majestic mammals during their migration season, which can be observed from late December to April and from July to November.
• Dolphins: Species such as the spotted dolphin and the bottlenose dolphin are common in these waters.
• Sea Birds: Whale Island is an important nesting site for the white ibis, among other species.

 

Flora of the Park

•  Tropical forest: In Punta Ballena and Punta Piñuela there are trees such as the ojoche, cedar maria and chicozapote.
•  Mangroves: Estero Negro and its surroundings are home to red mangrove, button mangrove, and palo de sal mangrove forests.

Marino Ballena National Park was officially created on June 9, 1992 by Executive Decree No. 21294-MIRENEM, after being initially decreed on December 14, 1989.

 This park covers 5,160 marine hectares and 171 hectares of land , with a coastal strip of 15 km long .

 The park's creation was driven by a group of residents and small-scale fishermen from the communities of Bahía Ballena and Piñuelas, concerned about the conservation of the area's marine resources.

 

How was this Park born?

 The idea to create the park arose due to the heavy commercial fishing activity, especially shrimp fishing, which was damaging local marine resources.

 Large fishing companies were invading artisanal fishing areas and damaging marine ecosystems.

He The main objective is to protect marine-coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, estuaries, sandy beaches, cliffs and islets, which are of great scenic beauty and natural value.

 Besides, The park serves as a temporary refuge for cetaceans such as the humpback whale and the bottlenose dolphin.

 

Marino Ballena National Park Schedule

 

The park has four sectors, of which only the Uvita and Colonia sectors are open to the public:

• Uvita Sector: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm (Open daily)
• Colonia Sector: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm (Open daily)
• Whale Sector: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm (Open daily)
• Piñuela Sector: Temporarily closed.

 

 The entrance ticket can be purchased at official booths open to the public and is valid for the entire day of the visit.

Remember to check the tide table before visiting the park, as access to the Whale's Tail is only permitted during low tide.

 

Entrance to the Marino Ballena National Park

 

Entrance Fees

• Adult Residents: ₵1130
• Non-residents: $6.78

 Payment is made Only by credit or debit card . Children under 11 and residents and nationals over 65 do not pay.