A small town between jungle and ocean, Uvita is the perfect base to explore Costa Rica’s South Pacific coast. Whales, wild beaches, waterfalls and day trips to Caño Island or Corcovado: here are our top picks.
Wildlife you can see
Marino Ballena National Park and the whale tail
Uvita’s icon: at low tide, a sand and rock bar forms a giant whale tail in the ocean. You can walk on it — check the tide times first. Park entry is about $6 for foreigners (card payment) and it is open 7 am to 4 pm.
Whale watching
From December to March and July to November, humpback whales breed just off Uvita. A half-day boat tour is enough to see them, often with dolphins around.
Waterfalls and beaches
- Uvita waterfall, a few minutes from town, for a refreshing swim.
- Nauyaca waterfalls, more spectacular, near Dominical (about 40 minutes’ drive).
- Playa Ventanas and its sea caves, reachable at low tide.
- Dominical for surfing, Ojochal for great restaurants.
Day trips from Uvita
Uvita is well placed for day trips: Caño Island for snorkeling, the mangroves of Sierpe or Coronado, offshore fishing, and Corcovado National Park (via Sierpe and Drake Bay) for the adventurous.
Getting to Uvita
From San José, allow about 3.5 to 4 hours via the Costanera (Route 34) along the Pacific coast. There are also direct buses from the capital. A rental car is the easiest way to explore the area.
Frequently asked questions
How many days should I spend in Uvita?
Three to four days let you see the whale tail, do a whale or Caño Island tour, and enjoy the waterfalls and beaches.
When can you see Uvita’s whale tail?
At low tide only. Check the tide chart and arrive one to two hours before low tide.
