ICT invites you to enjoy “magical and sustainable” whale watching at the 15th edition of the Whale and Dolphin Festival

Marino Ballena National Park and the South Pacific as a destination are once again preparing for the peak of the humpback whale watching season, a unique natural spectacle enjoyed by few countries in the world. According to National Geographic magazine, this park is one of the 10 best places in the world for humpback whale watching. This privilege is due to the fact that Costa Rica hosts the longest migration season in the world, lasting 10 months.

These aquatic mammals, the size of a school bus, travel up to 8,400 kilometers from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres to reproduce and teach their young behaviors in the warm, shallow waters of the Costa Rican South Pacific.

It is precisely in this context that the 15th edition of the Whale and Dolphin Festival will be held on September 5, 6, and 7, an event marking the arrival of the majestic humpback whales. The festival is organized by the Association of Tour Operators of the Ballena Marine Park (ASOTU), the Association of Guides of Bahía Ballena (ASOGUIBA), and the Integral Development Association of Bahía de Osa (ADIBO), with the support of the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).

Karol Monge Vázquez, president of the Bahía Ballena National Park Tourism Operators Association, emphasized that this festival not only celebrates whales, but also demonstrates the community's commitment to conservation and sustainable development, the result of many years of effort.

He also noted that this year's event will also offer a rich cultural and culinary offering.

For her part, Ericka Cordero, vice president of the Bahía Ballena Comprehensive Development Association, highlighted the importance of this activity for the economy and development of the area. "The whale and dolphin festival has demonstrated that these activities attract a large influx of visitors to the area, which benefits people who work in tourism activities within the sea, as well as local hoteliers, the restaurant sector, and other businesses in the community.

For his part, Alberto López, general manager of the ICT, emphasized that whale watching is an experience practically unique to Costa Rica. “The ICT supports these activities because they promote sustainable tourism. The tours are governed by observation protocols that protect the whales' tranquility, and visitors receive key information about ocean conservation,” he noted.

A unique and sustainable family experience

The event promises an adventure full of activities for the whole family:

Birdwatching Tours: Visitors can enjoy two-hour tours with educational talks on the importance of conservation. Each tour includes water, fruit, and park admission. Special prices for nations are 22,000 colones for adults and 15,000 colones for children (ages 4 to 9). Special raffles will be held for those who purchase the tours.

Cultural and sports activities: The festival program includes kite-making workshops, giant mandala designs on the beach, crafts, concerts by national bands, vehicle exhibitions, soccer matches, track and field races, and mountain biking.

Folklore and Gastronomic Night: A "ceviche for everyone" course will be offered, along with handicraft sales and a cultural and dance evening to celebrate local identity.

For those interested in lodging in the area, the community offers a variety of accommodation options. For more information, please call 8729-3624 or email ballenacr@gmail.com.

Keto Foundation develops whale tail photo identification program

A fascinating fact about these majestic cetaceans is the identification of individuals through the coloration of their tails. The Keto Foundation is developing a photo-identification program that uses the unique markings and edges of their tails as fingerprints. This monitoring allows scientists to confirm that humpback whales return to our shores after their breeding season.

These whales can live between 60 and 80 years. Adult males measure about 14 meters, while females reach 16 meters. As for their weight, an adult can reach 36 tons, and their young, the calves, weigh between 1 and 2 tons.

Marino Ballena National Park is home to a wide variety of marine life. Its inhabitants include spotted and bottlenose dolphins, manta rays, hammerhead sharks, parrotfish, and mackerel.

In Costa Rica, there are other sighting spots in the South Pacific with high humpback whale sighting rates between late July and late September, including destinations such as Golfito, Bahía Ballena, Caño Island, and Drake Bay.

Source: ICT.