It had only been a few days since we had moved to Costa Rica. One fine morning, I woke up to a text message from a school friend back home in India. It said “Visit this beach when you can” with an accompanying screenshot of a photo she had come across on the internet. I thought to myself how cool would it be to walk on this distinct looking beach! I immediately added Uvita Beach to our unwritten list of places to visit in Costa Rica.
Few years have passed since then, and in all this time, we have managed to visit Uvita beach on multiple occasions. But every time we are there, we still get amazed by Uvita beach, particularly because of its special feature.
Related Reading: Things to do in Uvita, Dominical and Ojochal
Uvita, The Whale’s Tail Beach – Quick Resources
🏖️ Beach Time: Enjoy the long Uvita Beach and walk on the Whale’s Tail during low tide
💲Marino Ballena National Park Entry Fee: 6 USD for foresigners and 1000 CRC for Residents
🛥️ Top activity: Whale Watching is top activity that starts from the Uvita beach.
The Special Feature: Whale’s Tail Uvita
Playa Uvita is unique because of the iconic whale’s tail formation on the beach. During low tide, the ocean water retreats to crescent shapes on either side, thus revealing a strip of sand and rocks. From above, this looks like the shape of a whale’s tail. Hence the name.
This whale’s tail formation on the map is called Punta Uvita, which literally translates to Uvita point.
Check out our YouTube video on Whale’s Tail to get a visual feel of how this unique formation on the Uvita beach looks like, on ground as well as from above. Subscribe to our channel Paradise Catchers for notification about new videos.
Activities at Uvita Beach
Although part of a protected national park, activities at Uvita beach can range from lazing under the sun to watching whales in the wild.
Whale Watching in Marino Ballena National Park
The whale’s tail formation at Punta Uvita is a cool feature of the beach, not just visually, but also symbolically. The warm Pacific waters of this region are known to be frequented by one of the most majestic marine creatures of our planet, the humpback whales.
Since humpback whales from both the north and the south travel to this part of the world, whale watching is one of the best activities at Uvita beach.
So, the whale’s tail formation at Uvita beach is like the nature’s way of advertising about this wonderful phenomenon of humpback whales visiting the tropical waters.
The Whale Watching trips also provides opportunities to see dolphins and aquatic birds and a swim in the Pacific. Book your Whale Watching spot online with local companies – Pacific Expeditions or Ballena Tour.
Walk on the Whale’s Tail
Walking on the whale’s tail during low tide is another awesome way to enjoy Playa Uvita. Before you head out, be sure to check the tide hours so that you can time your walk accordingly.
Beach R&R
With long stretch of golden sand beach lined by lush vegetation, Uvita beach is great for just chilling out at the beach, a perfect day of sun, sea and sand.
Snorkeling
If you wish to snorkel in the Uvita beach, the ocean near the Whale’s Tail has better visibility for watching the marine species. But you need to plan during the low tide and carry your snorkeling mask.
If you want to go for an organized snorkeling trip, we recommend Isla del Caño (Caño Island) which is one of the best places to snorkel in Costa Rica.
How to reach Uvita Beach
Uvita beach is part of the protected area, Marino Ballena National Park. So you need to reach the park entrance and buy the tickets to start your walk on the beach towards Punta Uvita.
From San Jose airport, Uvita bech is 213 km (132 miles) and the drive takes 3.5 hours. From Liberia airport, it is 321 km (199 miles) away, the drive takes around 5 hours. The drive times are estimates without traffic, without breaks. Both the routes are on paved highways in good conditions.
Here is the Google Map location of Playa Uvita entrance of Marino Ballena National Park.
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Hours, Tickets, Entrance Fees
Marino Ballena National Park is open everyday between 7:00 am and 4:00 pm.
You can buy the tickets at the booking office near the entrance. Also, you can book online from the official SINAC website.
Entrance fees vary by nationalities.
- Foreigners: 6 USD
- Costa Rica residents and citizens: 1000 CRC
Facilities at Uvita Beach
Parking: Free parking is available next to the entrance of Marino Ballena National Park, Playa Uvita entrance. Tip the guard while leaving. If the onsite parking is full, you may consider parking at one of the paid parking sites down the road.
Restrooms: Wash basins, restrooms and showers are available next to the ticket office of the national park.
Restaurants: There are no restaurants or cafeterias inside the national park. But there are plenty of cool eating joints in town for a filling meal before or after your beach time at Playa Uvita. Check out this Uvita restaurants guide for our recommendations.
Final Thoughts on Uvita Beach
The whale’s tail is the poster child of tourism in Uvita, not just for its formation but also because of the uncanny representation of a favorite spot frequented by the whales. Whether you intend to watch the humpback whales or are just seeking a quiet beach by the Pacific, Uvita beach can be a great addition to your Costa Rica itinerary.
Plan Your Uvita Trip
Looking for other things to do in and around Uvita? Check out these articles.
Still Planning your Costa Rica trip? Check out our starter resources:
- Costa Rica Packing List
- Best Time to Visit Costa Rica
- Costa Rica Activities: Things to Do
- Costa Rica Itinerary (from San Jose airport)
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