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Marino Ballena National Park Combo Tour: Guided Exploration of Marine Wildlife & Snorkeling
4.3
79 Ratings
Uvita
Embark on a guided exploration of marine wildlife and snorkeling in Marino Ballena National Park. Discover Humpback Whales, False-killer Whales, Dolphins, Turtles, and more. Don't miss the chance to visit Ballena Island, a sanctuary for birds!
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Parque Nacional Marino Ballena - The tour departs from our office. Upon arrival, customers must apply the sanitation protocols and then go to check-in. An introductory talk about the tour is also given. • Parque Nacional Marino Ballena - At the entrance of the Marino Ballena National Park, we will have a talk about the park and the safety rules to follow during the tour, as well as the delivery of the tickets to the park. Then we will walk 100mts along the beach until we get to the boat where we will start the tour. Attractions on the Whale Whatching Tour Marino Ballena National Park : Parque Nacional Marino Ballena Operates: Departure: 8:30 a.m 12:30 m.d
What's Included
- Entry to Marino Ballena National Park
- Snorkeling gear provided
- Complimentary refreshments (water and fruit)
- Safety equipment available
- First aid kit on site
- Adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols
- Covered by Risk and Insurance Policy
What's Not Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Marine or dock
Additional Information
Experience a guided journey through Marino Ballena National Park, the first of its kind in Costa Rica, established to safeguard marine life. Enjoy the spectacle of Humpback Whales twice a year during their migration seasons - January through March and July to November. There’s a good chance to encounter species like False-killer Whales, Pacific Spotted and Bottle Nose Dolphins, as well as Olive Ridley and Black Sea Turtles.
Nestled within the park is the Ballena Island, a haven for avian species, including Brown Boobies, White Ibis, and Pelicans.
Not only does this tour offer the chance to learn about local sea life and bird species, but our certified guide will also teach you about the history and culture of the region! We facilitate snorkeling in summer, providing all necessary gear.
The journey encompasses snorkeling, exploring marine wildlife, and touring different sections of the Park.
Suggestions
Carry sunblock
Extra fluids
Cap
Sun shades
Open shoes
Easy-to-wear clothes or a swimsuit
- Not recommended for children under 1 year old and pregnant women under 3 months and over 6 months.
- Accessible for the elderly and people with special motor conditions
Location
Ballena Tour Costa Rica
Just after the soccer field 150 meters west big signs Ballena Tour to the right
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.3
(79 Ratings)
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Arbinderpal_r
Mar 27, 2024
Great tour - Mariela was incredible, great experience and tour. Would love to do again. Fruits are a great touch and seeing the wildlife
Review provided by Viator
Passenger37907505648
Mar 17, 2024
Dolphin tour - We had a wonderful tour, very relaxed with lots of interesting explanations and of course we were able to watch dolphins, sometimes from very close up and finally we were able to swim or snorkel from the boat. Thank you for this wonderful experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gunevesduarte
Mar 4, 2024
Amazing experience - The tour was amazing. The company provides breakfast at the agency before starting the tour. The guides are attentive and provide us with valuable information about the whales. Try to take the tour in the summer when the chances of seeing the whales are much higher. Incredible experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roam191011
Feb 16, 2024
Awesome - Thank you to the team for this awesome experience, for your welcome, your sharing of knowledge and your humanity.
I warmly recommend you
Review provided by Tripadvisor
393timothyg
Apr 1, 2024
Nice morning cruise. - It was near the end of whale season, so we didn't see any but we did see dolphins. The crew was great, and we had a nice time. Views were great!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sarah_m
Feb 18, 2024
Would recommend! - Great trip, your guide was friendly, but they really squish you on that boat - you’re practically on top of the person beside you.
Review provided by Viator
Lisaco2665wp
Feb 19, 2024
Whale Tour Feb 2024 - Pros: we saw whales and snorkelled.
Cons: Ridiculously large group of 22 people crammed onto the boat.
Admin took ages due to large group size which meant we were one of the last out on the boats.
As the whale (s) appeared at the surface the boats would rush over. This cycle was repeated many times and made me uncomfortable as I felt like we were interfering with nature rather than observing from a distance. I think the tour companies are treading a fine line between impacting the whales natural environment and providing exciting tourist opportunities. I hope they get the balance right.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jennifer_m
Feb 18, 2024
Spend your time and money doing something else - This was a disappointing experience. During a peak migration month, I expected to see something, but we saw no whales. I understood upfront there was no guarantee, but our tour operators didn't appear to even be looking for them, instead talking amongst themselves and relying on reports from other tour groups. Note-I've been on other whale watching experiences where the guides really spend time actively looking and finding. Now, we did come across some other boats who found a school of dolphins. But to my dismay, the boats from all the tour companies were moving in way too close. Instead of us just being able to stop and enjoy the moment, these boats were zooming around the dolphins and eventually they just left. The boat was small and uncomfortable. The swimming was mediocre, we were given masks and snorkels but there was absolutely nothing to see. This was a waste of 3 hours. Skip it unless you know of reports that morning of whale sightings.
Review provided by Viator
M8020afmonicap
Mar 22, 2024
I would not repeat, nor recommend it - I asked about the possibility of seeing whales and although they told me that we were in the middle of the season (end of season) they did not inform me of the real possibilities of seeing them. During the tour nothing was explained to us about whales either. We did not find them or look for them, we went directly to the point where they were informed that there were dolphins in the area that we could observe for a few minutes. The guide only said that we would try to find "little animals" (we don't know which ones), we only saw an iguana on the way to the beach. At the time of snorkeling at a point with few fish, the guide went his own way and each one tried to see what they could. The price seems high to me for the quality of the activity.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Margaret_a
Feb 20, 2024
Just an Expensive Boat Ride - Very disappointing tour. No whale sightings, no snorkeling. It was basically a expensive boat ride. Instead of snorkeling, we were only allowed to swim for 10 minutes next to the boat. The boat was packed and we were unable to move around. I had a seat in the back next to the driver (which blocked my view) and saw nothing but water. Been on many amazing Viator tour but this was the worst.
Review provided by Viator
