No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeCosta RicaCosta Rica's Golfo Dulce Tapped 1st Regional Whale Site

Costa Rica’s Golfo Dulce Tapped 1st Regional Whale Site

The pristine waters of Golfo Dulce on Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coast were just distinguished as Latin America’s first Whale Heritage Site by the World Cetacean Alliance (WCA). This elite designation recognizes destinations worldwide where local communities protect and celebrate whales and dolphins.

Nestled between the Osa Peninsula and mainland Costa Rica, Golfo Dulce’s rich biodiversity houses two dolphin species — bottlenose and pantropical spotted. The gulf also provides a safe haven for humpback whales to birth and nurse their young.

In 2023, the IUCN Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force tagged Golfo Dulce as an Important Marine Mammal Area based on its ecological significance. Costa Rica also legally deems its waters a whale and dolphin sanctuary.

The WCA praised Costa Rica’s conservation efforts, including Golfo Dulce’s Marine Area of Responsible Fishing protecting cetaceans from commercial fishing. Rigorous dolphin and whale watching regulations also govern tours.

Beyond legal measures, locals cherish these creatures through community events. The Golfito Public Library hosts presentations on whale songs and art workshops, among other educational programming.

“The WCA congratulates Golfo Dulce on its commitment to supporting cetaceans through sustainability, research and cultural events,” said the WCA upon granting the honor.

Golfo Dulce now joins an exclusive group of only eight certified Whale Heritage Sites across the globe. Other recipients include Canada’s Churchill River and Australia’s Hervey Bay.

Conservationists have applauded the designation as a boon for protected species. “This prestigious honor draws attention to the gulf’s fragile ecosystems requiring stewardship,” said marine biologist Maribel Obando.

Local leaders aim to continue earning the title through cetacean conservation and deepening community bonds.

“We strive to be global stewards, safeguarding whales and dolphins while sharing our pride and practices with visitors,” said gulf commissioner Sergio Venegas. “This is only the beginning.”

With its extraordinary natural bounty and progressiveness, Costa Rica sets an example in responsible eco-tourism. Golfo Dulce’s status as a Whale Heritage Site spotlights the nation’s emerging leadership in ethical approaches to marine mammal tourism.

Trending Now

Keylor Navas Joins Pumas After Controversial Exit from Newell’s

Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas is officially the newest player for Pumas UNAM, but his move from Argentina’s Newell’s Old Boys has been anything...

Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s Drowning in Costa Rica Ruled Accidental

The death of American actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner has been confirmed as accidental drowning, according to Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ). Warner, 54, was...

Costa Rica Celebrates 201st Annexation Anniversary With New Nicoya Park

Nearly 200 people joined the Municipality of Nicoya this Sunday to inaugurate a new park at the Annexation Monument, an initiative that blends recreation,...

Remittances to Central America Surge 20% Amid U.S. Deportation Fears

Family remittances in Central America grew by around 20% in the first half of 2025, according to official data—a rise that experts attribute to...

Costa Rica Faces Economic Blow as Intel, Pfizer, and Qorvo Announce Restructuring

Intel announced that it will shut down its chip assembly and test plant in Costa Rica, part of a broader global restructuring aimed at...

Venezuela Accuses El Salvador of Torturing Deported Migrants From U.S.

Sexual abuse, daily beatings, rotten food: The government of Nicolás Maduro on Monday denounced “torture” against Venezuelan migrants sent by the United States to...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica