SouthernCostaRica.comUvita is a small town on Route 34 and the main base for Marino Ballena National Park. SINAC lists Uvita as one of the park's four official sectors, along with Colonia, Ballena and Piñuelas. The town suits families, couples and wildlife watchers who want beach days, boat trips and whale season.
Who it suits
- Whale watchers: boats leave from the park's beaches during both humpback seasons.
- Families: Playa Uvita has moderate waves, and the sandbar walk at low tide is a short outing.
- Travelers on a road trip: Uvita sits between Dominical and Ojochal, with Corcovado and Drake Bay farther south.
Beaches and the park
Playa Uvita has moderate waves, with estuaries and mangroves at its northern end. Off Punta Uvita, a sandbar called a tómbolo forms a shape that looks like a whale's tail from above. You can walk it only at low tide, so plan around the tide table and start back before the water rises.
Park sectors, hours and closures change, and the sandbar walk depends on the tide. Read about visiting Marino Ballena National Park for entry points and tide timing, and check current conditions at the ranger station on the day.
Whale season
ICT identifies two humpback whale populations off Costa Rica's Pacific coast. Whales from the northern hemisphere arrive from December to April, and whales from the southern hemisphere arrive from July to November. Bahía Ballena and Uvita are among the sighting areas ICT names. Dolphins can be seen all year, but whales are seasonal, and no tour can promise a sighting. Read more about whale-watching seasons and the rules boats must follow.
Tours from Uvita:
- Bahía Ballena whale and dolphin tour, morning: a boat trip from Uvita that starts with a 15-minute walk through the park to the beach. Snorkel gear, snacks and water are included. View on Viator Partner link
- Whales and dolphins from Uvita: a boat tour in Marino Ballena with snorkeling and a visit to sea caves. Park entrance fees and snorkel gear are included. View on Viator Partner link
Compare more Uvita activities on GetYourGuide.
View on GetYourGuide Partner linkWaterfalls
The hills behind Uvita hide several waterfalls. Hotel Uvita Forest gives its address as 600 meters from the Uvita waterfall. Read about places to stay in Uvita.
- Waterfalls and a sunset viewpoint: a guided trip to two or three waterfalls near Uvita and a mountain lookout over the whale's tail at sunset, with pickup in Uvita, Dominical or Ojochal. View on Viator Partner link
Where to stay
Uvita has small hotels close to the park entrance and villas in the hills above town. Some hill stays need a 4x4 for the last stretch of road, so ask before you book. Compare places to stay in Uvita.
Getting there
From San José airport (SJO), the drive to Uvita is about 208 km, by our OpenStreetMap routing measure (October 2026). ICT's 2023 Osa guide gives about 4 to 5 hours by road from San José to Marino Ballena, depending on traffic and stops. Dominical is about 19 km north and Ojochal about 17 km south on Route 34.
Yuli Hotel is close to the village center and the bus station. Read more about places to stay in Uvita and getting to Uvita, including bus and transfer options.
What to pack
Reef-safe sunscreen and water shoes help on boat days and on the rocky stretches of the sandbar.
- Reef-safe mineral sunscreenView on Amazon Partner link
- Water shoesView on Amazon Partner link