Puntarenas, Osa
One of the most family-friendly and fun-filled festivals in Costa Rica is happening again in just a few days. The 6th Whales and Dolphins Festival in Ballena Bay will star this Friday, September 5th. Although whale watching season in Costa Rica runs from July until October, the peak month for migration is September. Some of the activities that visitors to the Osa Peninsula will enjoy include: concerts, sand sculpture exhibitions, environmental workshops, delicious food and, of course, whale watching tours.   The festival is organized by the Association of Tour Operators (Spanish acronym: ASOTU). The festival has been organized as… Continue reading →

One of the most family-friendly and fun-filled festivals in Costa Rica is happening again in just a few days. The 6th Whales and Dolphins Festival in Ballena Bay will star this Friday, September 5th. Although whale watching season in Costa Rica runs from July until October, the peak month for migration is September. Some of the activities that visitors to the Osa Peninsula will enjoy include: concerts, sand sculpture exhibitions, environmental workshops, delicious food and, of course, whale watching tours.

 

The festival is organized by the Association of Tour Operators (Spanish acronym: ASOTU). The festival has been organized as a central meeting point for people to understand how whales are one of Costa Rica’s most valuable natural resources.

 

Whales migrate to the Southern Pacific region of Costa Rica each year for birthing. Our Pacific Coast is blessed with a very rich concentration of plankton and a strong marine ecosystem. The expectant whales that migrate here do so because they feel this is a safe and nurturing place for them to give birth and to nurse their young during their early days. The whale species that can be sighted in Costa Rica during the season include:

 

  • Humpback
  • Pilot
  • Bryde’s
  • Pseudo orca or false killer whale

 

Fellow cetaceans that can also be spotted during the season include bottle-nosed, spinner and spotted dolphins. Although dolphins and sharks exhibit mutual tolerance, ocean researchers have noticed that other will gather around dolphin pods in their most vulnerable moments (such as whales giving birth) because they know that the pod will get nervous and will exercise strength in numbers in the presence of sharks, which are also abundant in Costa Rica.

 

Visitors to the festival this year may see an increased presence of the National Coast Guard Service and park rangers from the National System of Conservation Areas (Spanish acronym: SINAC). As previously reported by The Costa Rica Star, there is an ongoing interest in making sure that whale watching tours comply with conservation and acoustic guidelines.

 

Thousands are expected at the Whales and Dolphins Festival, so we encourage you to make a reservation from the Contact Page:

 

http://www.festivaldeballenasydelfines.com/contactar/

 

Learn more about this special event: