Whale Watching
- karenleehall
- Nov 1
- 3 min read
photo: Martina Clerc
Breathtaking to Behold
Difficult to describe, breathtaking to behold, breaching whales are visible most months of the year off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
Costa Rica has the enviable distinction of more months with humpbacks in residence than anywhere else in the world. The thousand or so whales that spend their summers off the coast of California and the northwestern United States head south in December to warmer waters off the Pacific coast of Central America
When winter comes to the southern tip of South America in June, the Antarctic whales have built their blubber reserves in preparation for the longest migration in the animal kingdom to head north along the coasts of Chile and Ecuador to arrive at the tropical waters of Central America. Waters that their cousins from the north vacated a few weeks earlier.
Each group arrives in Costa Rica at the beginning of their respective winter and stays until spring comes to their home. Females who mated twelve months earlier give birth to a single calf who grows to at least 8 meters (26 feet) feeding on rich milk over the first year. The prevailing theories about why humpbacks migrate to the tropics are that the warmth allows the calves to grow more quickly, and/or that the waters are safer because of lower numbers of predators like orcas.
July to October
Whale season in Manuel Antonio spans from July to October. During this period, the area enjoys pleasant weather, calm seas, and enhanced visibility, providing optimal conditions for whale watching.
The humpback whale season in Costa Rica is December to mid March and mid/end July to mid October. Uvita, a small beach town in the South Pacific coast is the only place that has a great abundance of humpback whales during both of these times of the year. For this reason, Uvita is the best place in Costa Rica to see humpback whales.
What is even more truly special about Uvita is the unique rock and sand formation that has evolved through time into the Pacific Ocean in the shape of a whale’s tail coincidently where humpback whales can be found.
While Humpback Whales are the in the majority during whale watching season, there are other whales that come to these waters. Bryde’s Whales are less well known, possess a slender body and are often found close to shore. Orcas are also less common, otherwise known as killer whales, and occasionally make appearances during the whale season in Manuel Antonio. And finally, Blue Whales: the largest creatures on Earth. These magnificent marine mammals reach astounding lengths of up to 100 feet and emit powerful blows that can be spotted from a distance.
Each is Unique
Just like no two human fingerprints are the same, no two whales look exactly alike. Scientists and researchers use distinctive features on a whale’s body—especially the tail fluke, dorsal fin, and skin patterns—to identify individual whales. Tourists often contribute to citizen science by submitting photos to ID databases. Sites like Happywhale.com let whale watchers upload photos and get notified if their whale is spotted elsewhere. In places like Alaska, New Zealand, or Costa Rica, tour guides often contribute to ongoing whale research using this technique.
It is a non-invasive system of research. There is no need to tag or capture the whale—just a good photograph can add to the database of migratory patterns.Vital for conservation, photos can help estimate population sizes, monitor migration patterns, and even assess the impact of threats like ship strikes or entanglement. If you have a chance to photograph one of these amazing creatures, consider sharing the photo with scientists doing research.
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