Watch a humpback whale off the coast of Costa Rica

I recently went on a family road trip down Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast. Over a long weekend, we stopped in Manuel Antonio, Uvita and at Finca 6. Our journey included a snorkeling tour at Caño Island. As we departed at 8 a.m. from Sierpe, at the edge of the largest mangrove reserves in Central America, our guides said we’d keep an eye out for whales when we navigated the open ocean.

And boy, did we get lucky.

Near Caño Island, we spotted a humpback whale mother and her calf enjoying the warm Pacific Ocean water. Our captain cut the engine, and incredibly, the whales approached us.

It was an experience unlike any other. Check it out for yourself:

Caño Island is perhaps Costa Rica’s best snorkeling destination. Unlike Cocos Island, it’s relatively accessible, and you can still come face-to-face with schools of fish, rays, sharks and sea turtles — as we did last year: