Bahia Ballena Whale and Dolphin Tour - Morning

Recommended by 98% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Central Pacific, Costa Rica

Great choice

20+ bookings last month.

2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Increase your chances of spotting whales and dolphins in Bahia Ballena—home to one of the world’s longest whale-watching seasons—on a wildlife cruise. Escape the crowds on land as you enjoy unrivaled views of the coastal landscapes and learn more about the behavior and biology of the marine mammals from your guide.

See more species of wildlife on a whale-watching tour in Bahia
This short tour is ideal if you're pressed for time
Your skipper knows exactly where to see the most wildlife
Admire beaches and rock formations from the water

What's Included

Snacks
Bottled water
Use of Snorkeling equipment

Use of Snorkelling equipment
Free on-site parking by main office

Restroom on board

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

5755+9V, Provincia de Puntarenas, Uvita, Bahía, Costa Rica
Take Costanera Sur/Ruta Nacional Primaria 34 south to Uvita. Pass the Rio Uvita bridge, then make a right (.75km) on the street just after the Naluri Collections Home Goods Store. Then, drive .60km until you see the Martin Adventours office on the left, 80 meters before the intersection.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.8:00 am

Itinerary

Parque Nacional Marino Ballena

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Punta Uvita (Pass By)

Ballena Bay

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Isla Ballena

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Uvita Beach

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers

No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
All guests must be 6 or older with valid ID or passport.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 24 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Peter_K

Although recent sitings had been limited, we were able to video that tail rising out of the ocean - it was great.

Reviews

4.9

based on 175 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Whale siting success!

Peter_K, Mar 2026

Although recent sitings had been limited, we were able to video that tail rising out of the ocean - it was great.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you for sharing your experience! Even though recent sightings had been limited, we’re so glad you were able to witness and capture that special moment of the whale’s tail rising out of the ocean. It truly is an incredible sight. We appreciate you joining us and hope to welcome you again for another unforgettable adventour on the water. Pura Vida!

A little disappointed

Susan_H, Feb 2026

Very knowledgeable guides. We saw dolphins but unfortunately no whales. They gave us a choice after giving us the information that about 30 boats had not seen any whales in that we can look for whales or go swimming. Unfortunately the majority wanted to look for whales but we actually headed inland and then stayed out to have fruit. The majority were older people and clearly did not have swim wear on. We were disappointed not to go swimming or see whales so for us - a little disappointing.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you very much for your review and for highlighting the knowledge of our guides. We truly appreciate that. We’re glad you were able to see dolphins during the tour. As for whales, unfortunately their presence depends entirely on natural conditions, and even when many boats are actively searching, sightings cannot be guaranteed. We always try to be transparent with our guests about real-time wildlife reports so everyone can make informed decisions during the experience. Regarding the swimming stop, our tours operate as shared experiences, and when options are presented, we do our best to consider the majority preference while also taking weather, sea conditions, and group logistics into account. On that particular day, given the feedback and conditions, the decision was made accordingly. We understand that this may not have been your personal preference, and we’re sorry it felt disappointing for you. Our goal is always to create a balanced experience that is enjoyable, safe, and respectful for all guests on board. We truly appreciate your feedback, as it helps us continue improving how we manage group decisions and communicate expectations during the tour. Thank you again for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back in the future for another opportunity, perhaps during peak whale season!

Well organized whale watch

Kyle_S, Feb 2026

We saw multiple whales and other wildlife. Tour well organized. Great facilities and boat. Not rushed at all.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thanks, Kyle! We’re so glad you had a great time with us, that’s exactly what we’re here for. Pura Vida!

Whale Watching

Julie_B, Feb 2025

This was an excellent small tour. We saw whales and dolphins. We were given the choice of finding more whales or snorkeling at the Whale’s Tail. The boat voted for snorkeling. Raymond was a fun guide.

Response from Host, Feb 2025

Great to hear that you all enjoyed our adventour, always making our hearts full! Pura Vida!

Whale watching

Colleen_F, Jan 2025

No whales today, but beautiful neotropical spotted dolphins. Guide was friendly and knowledgable. We had a wonderful day. Short visit to a lovely beach.

Response from Host, Jan 2025

Thank you for joining us on this unforgettable adventure! Pura Vida!

Baby whale action!

Sebastian_F, Oct 2024

Fantastic tour! Saw a mom and baby whale for about 20 minutes and lots of cute jumping action. Tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable. This tour was also Martin tours which is not the name advertised so maybe message before arriving to the meeting spot to clarify. 10/10 would do again!

Response from Host, Oct 2024

We loved to hear that you had a fantastic adventour with us; we always want to ensure satisfaction from our guests in every adventour we embark on! Pura Vida!

Awesome boat tour & wildlife sightings

Holly_T, Aug 2024

We had an awesome experience with this tour company. Our guide Michael was very knowledgeable and the boat crew helped us locate a few whales and several dolphins. Everyone was very kind and provided us with delicious fresh fruit on board the boat. We felt very safe the whole time.

Response from Host, Aug 2024

Holly, we are pleased that you had an awesome adventour with us! Pura Vida!

Disappointing

pablo_s, Apr 2026

I understand that this tour can be interesting during whale watching. But I don’t understand how they continue to offer it in April, when once you start the tour they tell you that the time of sighting ends in March. Our tour was summarized to a boat ride for 3 hours which due to the speed of the boat was not comfortable at all by the hits against the waves, we just saw a small group of dolphins. We took a bath but did not snorkel and explanations were scarce. For the price you pay, I consider time and money wasted if you don't do it during the time of sighting.

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Excellent service

Silvia_M, Dec 2025

It was an unforgettable experience, the very friendly guides and the amazing tour, we could see some whales and also visited some islands, I recommend them

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Response from Host, Dec 2025

Muchas gracias, muy contentos de que la experiencia con nosotros fuera inolvidable, realmente es nuestra meta. Pura Vida!

Best value for money and lots of whales

Birgit_S, Sep 2025

The whalewatching tour we can absolutely recommend. Already at the meeting point there were fruits and drinks to strengthen. As with all tours in Uvita, it is a combination of whale watching and a trip to a beautiful, secluded beach on an island. There were fruits and cookies as a snack, and Jordy even showed us how to open a coconut with a stone. We were lucky enough to see several humpback whales and offspring, as well as a caiman at the entrance to the national park. After the tour you can stay in Marino Ballena National Park for as long as you want. Maybe you have to run a little longer with this provider (as it is with others, we don't know), but it was by far the cheapest tour – without anything missing or the quality suffering. Value for money top!

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Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you! We are truly happy to know that your adventour with us was great; that is mainly our goal. Pura Vida!

Absolute Empfehlung!

Florian_B, Feb 2025

Wir haben Wale und Delphine gesehen, insgesamt ein tolles Erlebnis mit tollem Guide, wir würden die Tour noch einmal wählen

Response from Host, Feb 2025

We’re thrilled to hear that you had an amazing experience on our adventure! It warms our hearts to hear such feedback from every guest. We’d love to have you back for even more unforgettable moments. Pura Vida!