Ojochal
Costa Ballena Area, Ojochal, Southern Pacific, Costa Rica
By Explore Costa Rica Staff
Feb 4, 2008, 15:27

Tours, Attractions, Things to do in Southern Costa Rica
Costa Ballena Area, Ojochal, Southern Pacific, Costa Rica

Uvita Playa Arco Costa Rica

Stretching from Dominical to Ojochal, Costa Ballena encompasses a vast stretch of a gorgeously rugged shoreline and a number of beautiful beaches. This southern Pacific region of Costa Rica features unspoiled beauty and natural charm that expresses an overarching appeal and gives a unique character to the region.

Celebrated for its incredible biodiversity, Costa Ballena is a hot spot for nature lovers, conservationists and eco-adventurers alike. The beautiful coastline of Costa Ballena includes the beaches of Dominical, Playa Dominicalito, Playa Hermosa, Playa Uvita, Playa Arco, Playa Ballena, Playa Pinuelas, Playa Ventanas and Playa Tortuga. These beaches offer various water sport opportunities like snorkeling, kayaking, diving, surfing and scuba diving. Other activities available in the area include sport fishing, canopy tours and tree-climbing adventures.

Buses from the Coca Cola terminal in Central Valley's San Jose will take you via Quepos down to Dominical. Those driving to the area can take the Inter-American highway to San Isidro de General and drive to Dominical from where they can take the paved Costera Sur highway to reach Costa Ballena.

Known as the Whale Coast, for the large number of migratory whale spotted here, the most popular attraction in this southern Costa Rica area includes the unique whale and dolphin watching adventures. The lush forestation surrounding Costa Ballena is teeming with wildlife and the mangroves near Ojochal offer excellent bird watching opportunities. Enjoy the tours to the pre-Columbian stone spheres or the ecology of the region on trips to the Hacienda Baru Wildlife Refuge with its miles of deserted beaches, variety of habitats and nature trails. You can horseback ride to the breathtaking Nauyaca Waterfalls, some 10km from Costa Ballena, and experience nature in its splendor.

The Ballena Marine National Park is the major attraction in the area. Created to preserve the fragile marine ecosystem and natural habitats of the marine species, it covers around 110 hectares of coastline and 5300 hectares of ocean. Attracting millions of tourists to its beautiful coral reef each year, this Costa Rica National park encompasses two gorgeous beaches of Ballena and Bahia while serving critical habitat to the endangered turtle species and various marine life.

Costa Rica travelers of all tastes and budgets will be delighted with the variety of lodging options available. You can find inexpensive eco hotels, cabinas and villas to luxury beach resorts and lodges. A wide variety of Costa Rica accommodations are available on Costa Ballena’s coastline all the way from Dominical to Ojochal.