Marino Ballena National Park


A squirrel monkey


Divers can spot a range of fish


for many species of whale including orcas and humpbacks, as well as dolphins, some of which can even be glimpsed from the shore. The sheltered bay also makes the gulf an ideal place for snorkelling, and swimmers may be lucky to enough to spot stingrays, turtles and various species of fish.


Recommend clients stay at one


of the area’s trendy eco-lodges for the full back-to-nature experience – and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune, with options at a variety of price points – and they can dive straight into those warm, blue waters to see what marine life they can find. Some lodges are so secluded, you can get there only by boat.


lsla del Caño: Coral coast Less than an hour’s boat ride away across the Pacific Ocean, off Costa Rica’s west coast, lies Isla del Caño. It’s only about 12 miles from Drake Bay on the Osa Peninsula, yet its waters are full of some of the richest sea life in the country. The island has five platforms of


live coral reefs, so snorkellers know exactly where to go to spot the most colourful marine life. And since the island is a reserve, tourist numbers are limited, which helps preserve the marine habitat and protect its endemic species. On land, Isla del Caño is the setting of a real-life mystery that has left archaeologists stumped. Spherical stones, thought to date back to pre-Columbian times, can be found dotted around the island. They range in size from a couple of centimetres to two metres tall – but how they were made is still a puzzle.


Marino Ballena National Park: Where the whales are With a formation shaped like a whale’s tail, and named after the whales themselves, Marino Ballena National Park is one of the best places to spot the magnificent animals that migrate here. Humpback whales come from the north and south to these waters from July to October and from December to March.


Travel by boat to Corcovado National Park from Drake Bay. Boat trips visit San Pedrillo Ranger Station or Sirena Ranger Station, which are surrounded by some of the richest biodiversity in the park and attract scientists from around the world.


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The park has pristine golden beaches covering more than nine miles of coastline, but most of it is at sea, encompassing more than 13,000 sea acres. At low tide, take a walk up the Uvita Tombolo (‘whale’s tail’) to explore some of the tide pools and sea creatures on the rocks. But be sure to take a moment to look back towards the mainland to appreciate the stunning views of the park, with its towering mountains and greenery stretching for miles.


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