Marino Ballena National Park: Complete Visitor Guide (Sectors, Hours & Fees)

Marino Ballena National Park is the reason Uvita shows up on almost every “must-see” list for Costa Rica. Besides being one of the best places in the world to see humpback whales, it’s home to the famous Whale’s Tail (Cola de Ballena) — a sandbar tombolo shaped exactly like one, visible only at low tide — plus several beaches inside its boundaries. Here’s how to visit it right: sectors, hours, fees, and what to do once you’re in.

The park’s 4 sectors

Marino Ballena isn’t a single entrance — it has several sectors, each with its own access point:

• Uvita Sector: the main and most-visited entrance. Closest to the Whale’s Tail and the one almost everyone uses. Open daily, 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.
• Colonia Sector: about 10 minutes from the Uvita sector (search “Playa Chamán” on GPS). Quieter, better surf conditions, fewer crowds. Same hours as Uvita.
• Ballena Sector: access to Playa Arco. Shorter hours, 7:00 am to 4:00 pm, and tide-dependent.
• Piñuela Sector: currently closed temporarily.

All four sectors sit right on the Costanera Sur (Route 34), just minutes by car from downtown Uvita — no 4×4 needed.

Hours and entrance fee

Entrance is card-only (no cash accepted). Approximate fee: $7 per person for foreign visitors (tax included), a reduced rate for Costa Rican residents/nationals, and free entry for children under 12 and adults over 65. Private parking lots are available near the Uvita sector entrance (₡2,000-₡4,000 per day).

How to see the Whale’s Tail (and why it depends on the tide)

The tombolo is only exposed at low tide — the rest of the time it’s underwater. The ideal window is about 2 hours before and 2 hours after the day’s lowest tide, so check a tide chart before you go (search “Costa Rica tide chart” or “tide chart Uvita”). Walking from the Uvita sector entrance to the tip is about 1,000 meters (roughly 30 minutes each way).

What else to do in and around the park

Besides walking the Whale’s Tail, the park and its surroundings are the setting for several of our tours:

• Whale and Dolphin Watching — the boat tour departs from Uvita Bay, inside the protected area of the park.
• Kayak in the Sea — a guided paddle along the park’s coastline, with snorkeling depending on the tide.
• Beaches inside the park for swimming or just relaxing: Playa Uvita, Playa Colonia, and Playa Arco (Ballena sector).

Park rules

No alcohol, pets, single-use plastics, or bonfires. Stay on marked trails, take all trash with you, and never feed or disturb wildlife. Bring sunscreen, water, and shoes you don’t mind getting wet.

Where to stay for your park visit

Hotel Uvita Forest is 5-8 minutes from the Uvita sector of Marino Ballena National Park and 600 meters from Uvita Waterfall. Eight rooms with fiber-optic Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and a private pool — the ideal base for heading into the park early (before the heat sets in) and coming back to relax.