No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsEnvironment and WildlifeWatch a humpback whale off the coast of Costa Rica

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:

Click here to learn more about whale watching in Costa Rica, or watch the below video:

Read: A Costanera road trip 

Trending Now

Dancing with the Stars Host Julianne Hough Shares Costa Rica Vacation

Julianne Hough, the dancer and actress known for her work on Dancing with the Stars, has returned to Costa Rica for a vacation. The...

Argentina’s Tomás Etcheverry Prepares for Australian Open Challenge

In the competitive ranks of men's tennis, few players have shown the steady climb of Tomás Martín Etcheverry. The 26-year-old from La Plata, Argentina,...

Nicaragua Frees Dozens of Political Prisoners Amid U.S. Pressure

The government of Nicaragua announced this Saturday the release of “dozens” of imprisoned opponents and critics, under pressure from the United States and a...

Costa Rica’s Passport Holds Steady in Global Rankings

Costa Rica's passport ranks 26th in the world according to the 2026 Henley Passport Index, released this January by Henley & Partners. This position...

New Private Aviation Hub Coming to Costa Rica’s Liberia Airport

Signature Aviation plans to build and operate a new general and business aviation terminal at Guanacaste Airport in Liberia, a move the company says...

Michael Jordan Lands in Costa Rica for Pelagic Rockstar Fishing Tournament

NBA icon Michael Jordan touched down in Costa Rica yesterday, marking his fourth trip to the country in the past year. Local reports confirm...
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica