Whales, Dolphins, Fishing and Sightseeing with Capt. Junior
What was supposed to be a leisurely 1/2 day of fishing and touring turned into an action packed adventure that included mingling with a family of whales and hearing their awe inspiring chatter as the mother and baby talked to the male that was swimming a short distance away. Heather’s birthday celebration turned out to be one for the memory books!
🐳 Marino Ballena National Park
Uvita is known far and wide for its connection to whales. The town sits beside Parque Nacional Marino Ballena, or Whale National Marine Park, which spans 15 kilometers of untouched shoreline. The park covers 5,330 hectares of beaches, river mouths, lowland rainforest, mangroves, and nearby marine habitat. It also features the iconic Whale’s Tail formation and the stunning Playas Uvita and Hermosa—often ranked among the world’s most beautiful beaches.
Twice each year, migrating Humpback Whales arrive just offshore. From mid-July to mid-November, Southern Hemisphere whales travel from Antarctica. From mid-December to April, Northern Hemisphere whales arrive from the Arctic. These visits mark Uvita as one of the best places in the world to witness these majestic creatures in their natural habitat.
🌅 An Early Morning Trip
We left for Uvita early, the standard Plaza Ventanas coffees in hand. Captain Junior, a familiar face from Ben and Heather’s past adventures, waited at the dock right on time—7am sharp. That early start gave us cooler air, softer light, and wide open seas. We followed the shoreline past coconut groves until reaching the launch point, where a tractor hauled our boat toward the surf.
Moments later, we were flying south over the waves. Coastal mountains rose in the distance, and rocky reefs, tiny islands, and jagged outcrops dotted the horizon. The morning felt alive with promise and motion.
🐬 So Long For The Fishing!
Captain Junior set the fishing lines while we cruised along the Costa Ballena coastline. Minutes passed before a radio call came through—someone had spotted a whale near Playa Uvita. We paused the fishing and switched to high power as the boat surged away from Garza Island toward the sighting. A distant water spout appeared, and we slowed down to approach the whale with care.
A pod of dolphins circled the boat briefly, then drifted off unnoticed as all eyes stayed fixed on the massive Humpback. For the next 30 minutes, we drifted quietly while the solitary male surfaced on different sides of the boat. Each breath sent a powerful spout into the air, breaking the silence with awe. Other boats arrived later, but we had already enjoyed the moment in peace. That early start gave us the whale—and the stillness—without interruption.
🐳 A Mother & Her Calf
Another radio call sent us racing back toward Playa Ventanas—someone had spotted a Humpback mother and calf just offshore. As we neared the beach, the pair surfaced together, spouting in perfect unison. They stayed close, gliding south past Playa Ventanas and toward Playa Tortuga. We watched in silence, trying to guess where they would appear next.
Their underwater movements kept us guessing. Sometimes they surfaced far away, other times just meters from the boat. A dark shadow beneath the water gave away their position seconds before they breached. Each appearance felt like a gift, wrapped in salt spray and sunlight.
🎶🐋 An Unforgettable Concert!
We left the whales behind as our time on the water was coming to a close. On the way back to Uvita we asked the Captain to stop the boat so we could hop into the water for a last dip. Upon turning off the engine, Captain Junior told us he can hear the whales and that if we put our ears under the water we will be able to clearly enjoy their chatter. We did, and were absolutely mesmerized as we spent the next 15 minutes hearing the solitary male and the female and baby talk to each other. You could distinctly make out the sounds of each whale. A surreal experience that will stay with us for the rest of our lives, and an unforgettable way for Heather to celebrate her birthday!
🙏🏼 Big THANKS to Captain Junior!
Captain Junior can be reached through FACEBOOK, under @JuniorMonge.
We got whale-watching, sport fishing, touring and a fun day out on the water – all bundled into just the first half of an ordinary day. Imagine what you could get up to during the rest of the week – or month – or years of living in our wonderful Costa Ballena! RE/MAX WE SELL PARADISE is your trusted real estate partner – while you browse the hundreds of properties available in our area, we are waiting for your call!
