Marino Ballena National Park in Puntarenas

Wonder beach to splash around and take a long walk. Dont go in too deep, there can be riptide

Beautiful beaches. Seeing the whales made me more optimistic for the future of mother nature in the face of the violent usery and abuses of capitalism.

It’s very very beautiful, but not really what I consider a National Park. It seemed more like we paid an entrance to a “private” beach. Way too many people, the entrance seems like one to a public swimming pool and later like a construction site. No information about the place whatsoever when you get in, about the flora & fauna, that there are paths with information that you can read. We found those because we walked around, although many of the info plates were on the ground. Most people just laid on the beach and walked to the whale’s tail which wasn’t very exciting either (no information whatsoever how it was formed etc until we walked the not finished pathsAll the time traktors that are driving around LOUDLY destroying the natural soundscape as well as the 5-8 motorboats that take up to 20 persons/boat to the shells so they can snorkel around in masses. Seems more like a mass tourist site, not a national park sadly.

Amazing place - a national park worth visiting. During the cruise, we managed to see a few humpback whales and dolphins. Amazing experience!

Long walk to whales tail, could not walk to end tide was too high. Nice restrooms and showers.

Its a haul out to the tip of the whale tail, so bring water and a hat. Saw holler monkeys, scarlet macaws and tons of scuttling red crabs. Bring colones if you plan to park right outside the park.

Distinctly average park. Basically you are paying to walk on a beach. Yes we did see lots of crabs and a few birds, however please do not think that you will be spotting whales breeching and pods of dolphins chirping and squeeking as they swim by. You can walk to the "whales tail " which we did, but its not very exciting really.

Beautiful spot!! Make sure you have sunscreen on, and bring some binoculars as they have wild toucans and macaws. Tide needs to be low to enjoy, so between 9-12pm is very good

Nice, long beaches and walking on the whale tail is cool. Watching the tide come in is a lot of fun too. Good for bird watching too. We saw macaws from the beach.

Beautiful beach with washrooms and showers at the gate. A bit of a walk to the whale’s tail area but lots of swimming within 5 minutes of the gate if you don’t want to see the whale’s tail. Warmest ocean water I’ve ever swam in!!

Beautiful area. You need to pay to get in but you may see some wildlife or whales! :)

Nice, but we expected something different.

Lovely park. We finally saw howler monkeys here!

We stayed at uvita and drove to parque nacional marino Balleno. Possible to walk but hot and humid. Wide beautiful beach. Partner walked partway to the so called whales tail but its a long way. Tide came in very quickly. Tide times are displayed at parque entrance. We would have liked to go whale watching but were advised that none would be seen in April!

Nice looking beach but not worth paying an entrance fee. Try to go after 5pm so you dont need to pay. Or just find a way around.

Excellent beach to visit in the southern Pacific. Go early to get a spot in the shade!

Nice long beach but it is all. I dont know why I have to pay 7$ ntrance fee for visit it. This very flat sand beach looks beautiful during low tide, but not more beautiful than public beaches along the coast. (+ parking, adds another 2000 colones)

Beautiful spot. Make sure to time the tide if youre walking to the point of the tail. The beach is great and makes for a enjoyable walk. Careful if you wonder by the creek as there has been sights of crocodiles. There are stores and restaurants right outside the park as well as plenty of locals offering tours.

Traveling can shift you spiritually and this place was def one of them. Other reviews def helped us enjoy the walk out to the whale tail. Must haves: know when low tide is, water shoes, sunscreen, hat, and drinking water.People who complain about the $6 entrance fee should stay home. Lol

This place is simply stunning. Beautiful beach with a little causeway type walk (shaped like a whale tail). Macaw play in the palms, and hermit crabs shoot sand out of their little holes in the sand, then scurry back in to the hole when you look at them.The sea is warm, and can have a bit of a current and waves that might bash you about a little.Not overcrowded.You pay an entrance fee, which is fine considering that its a conservation area.We did see a little Cayman in the mangrove area to the left after you go through the main entrance.Wear sunscreen!!

$6 entry fee. Make sure to go at low tide in order to walk the whale tail portion.Walking the whale tail part, there was a portion submerged underwater when we went. In the middle section there are a ton of rocks. When we went, We found that the left side of this path was all sand and was much more comfortable heading to the whale tail.

No cash accepted, credit cards ONLY! The beach itself is beautiful but slightly underwhelming. I dont see a reason to come back - other nearby beaches are more interesting.

Its a beautiful clean beach, not too crowded and you can walk all the way to the "tail of the whale". Sometimes, depending on season the tide is high and reaches more than 3 feet.

This is a unique place in a way. The shoal that rises from the sea at low tide has the shape of a whale fin. We stopped here on the way from Quepos to the Osa Peninsula, unfortunately we misjudged the time of the low tide, so we arrived late and people who probably managed to cross the entire fin came against us. Not us anymore, but we still enjoyed a beautiful swim in the sea. Unfortunately we did not have enough time to explore the park. At the entrance there are toilets and especially showers that come in handy. The parking lot at the entrance is relatively small.

Very nice beach with little waves only during low tide! Makes it an ideal place for those who do not need high waves to enjoy the Pacific.Out on the beach there is no shade at all - the sun burns brutally hot on you! :-)Entry fee is pricy for families, as each head over 12yrs counts as an adult and pays USD 6.- for a day…Some discount would be highly welcomed! ( tourist rate )

Heavenly beach area in Costa Rica. Worth the admission ticket fee.

The most beautiful beach in Costa Rica. Check to find out when low tide is so you can walk out onto the whale’s Tail. The water is shallow and safe for swimming. Laying on the beach we saw so many birds and giant green iguanas you have to pay a small entrance fee but can re enter the park at different points throughout the day.

Went twice during my 4-day stay in Uvita. Such a beautiful beach and the water was swim-able. The waves were manageable and less daunting than other beaches in other beaches I’ve been to in CR.Lots of little mosquitos and not many shady areas to protect yourself from the sun (unless you want to hang around the edge of the forest). Wear lots of sunscreen and bug spray. Maybe a waterproof beach towel as the sand is wet all the way to the forest.

Beautiful place it is a 100% must visitOnly thing is working hours of national park are too short

Beautiful deserted* beach with lots of crabs digging holes in the sand. High tide might be even just as special at the “whale tale” because waves are crashing into each other from both sides of the tale.* we hear construction going on in the Forrest at the beginning of the park and jar the whale tale itself. I hope they will PRESERVE NATURE so it won’t turn into just another beach with big crowds.

A must see. What a beautiful beach/Park. A small fee to enter. On some days or time Park is hard to find.

Yes, the very flat sand beach looks beautiful during low tide, but not more beautiful than public beaches along the coast. Entrance fee is 6,78 US$ pP (+ parking, adds another 1000-2000 colones), which you can only pay by credit or debit card. They advise you to not leave belonging unattended but I have to bring my credit card? Doesnt make a lot of sense to me. Additionally, during low tide you can see trash on the beach. For that high entrance fee for a marine national park I would expect them to clean the beaches every day to avoid that the plastic goes back to the sea. I dont mind paying money for beautiful places and especially national parks, but the money should be used to protect the environment and nature. I dont have the feeling this happens here. Also, tourist boats and boat trailer park along the beach within the national park. Again, doesnt sound like protecting nature to me.

We just moved to the area and this seems to be the best beach. Wide, Sandy and beautiful. Too bad you have to pay each time going in. We wish there was a yearly membership

This place is truly breathtaking, pictures don’t do it a justice. I saw macaws flying overhead, and walked to the whale’s tail. The sand is hard but not too bad to lay on. Save a day to do this while you’re in Uvita.

This is a unique natural phenomenon to visit. Be prepared to get there at low tide and to do a lot of walking. You will have to cross two creeks, so your shoes will get wet unless removed. Flip flops are easiest until you get to the rocky "tail." You will need sturdier shoes to walk among the rocks and to see the tidal pools. Take water as it gets very hot. The rocks would be very slippery if it is raining, so try to avoid visiting when it is very wet. Mornings are best.

Its just a beach, but you have 6 persons doing absolutely nothing at each entrance. At each entrance they told you that you have to go at a far other entrance to pay 6 dollars. Thats what I did. Finally I arrive at the entrance who actually sell ticket. Again 6 persons doing absolutely nothing. I gave them 6 dollars but they dont let me come inside the "national park" (honestly its just a beachbecause I only have cash on me. I wasted 30minutes to walk for nothing. Dont waste your money for just a beach and these people doing nothing. Congrats to you. Just to clarify, with all the person working for sinac that I see, no one told me that you have to pay in credit card.

It is a must to go out to the whales tale. If you can time it to go when the tide is going out you will see an awesome transformation of the beach.

Its important to know they dont accept cash (colónes), you must pay with card only. Also the main entrance is open 8am until 4pm and that is not posted at the gate. After buying tickets, its best to go to one of the other entrances because the main entrance has noisy tractors constantly dragging boats back and forth to the water. The beach is beautiful but crowded even during the rainy season.

On low tide not really worth visiting. You will see 2 beaches opposite to each other but thats pretty it. On high tide when waters and waves get closer to each other could be more interesting. Its 6$ entrance (only cardand 2000 crc parking (only cash).

Great place to go for a hike. Helpful staff.

Amazing beach, nothing like it elsewhere. The Whales Tail formation causes a unique phenomenon where waves come in from both sides and meet in the middle of the sand bar. Check the tide schedule because you can only walk out to the rocks at low tide.. Swimming is great. You can walk way out because the slope is gradual.

Go here during low tide - so worth it. Google what time low tide is :)Ps if you purchase a ticket here, you can go into any of the other national parks the same day!

Visit in low tide to see two calm beaches back to back with a rugged beach shielding the blows of the pacific swells. When you look to the side from the beaches towards Utiva, you’ll be greeted with a fantastic view of the tropical forest mountains. Only $6 to enter, but well worth the price. We just stopped through on our way back to San Jose for 2 hours during low tide and loved it!

One of the most beautiful places on earth.This is a National Park so there are - quite reasonable - fees to access the beach. Residents pay 1,000 colones tourists 3,000.Its a much longer walk than it looks on a map so it is a good idea to wear sunscreen a hat and take water along with you.You are not supposed to walk on the rocks at the end of the tail which was somewhat disappointing but still well worth visiting.

A nice National Park at the water front. You can walk to the whales tale with low tide. To become 5* the park should offer a view point where you can watch the whales tale from a higher elevation.

Very clean and pretty park. Can get some shade in the jungle line while still enjoying the beach. Waves low and water near shore a bit muddy.

Amazing beach and park.Most important for a great experience bring water and sunhat. Dont underestimate the sun and hot sand - the whale tail is 2 km walking from the entrance.

The beaches are beautiful and good for surfing. Since the national park consists exclusively of the beach on the coast of Uvita, it is not possible for tourists to visit the beach without paying $6 for a day ticket. In principle, you have to pay for a sunset on the beach.

When we arrived, we waited in a short, 10 minute line. We were asked to fill in some forms and pay a fee. As a national park, no dogs allowed.The sand and mud road to the beach is flat and not difficult for an average person to walk. When we exited the tree line onto the beach, we realized how big this beach was. It looked smaller in the pictures but it is so big, we walked for half an hour and didnt see other people.The sand was pristine and very spongy from the life within it and lack oh human impact. The waves were typical of a surf beach in the area, so definitely buddy up if you get in the water.The park guardians rode around on quads while tour groups loaded into boats on the beach. It was quite a production to watch. We walked out to the whale tail but people are restricted from going all the way to the end in order to preserve the integrity of the park.

Beautiful place! Unfortunately it was closed due to covid but we got to get in for the whale watching tour which was also amazing and an unbelievable experience! All beaches around Uvita are beautiful!