The waters off Drake Bay are among the most extraordinary places in the world to watch humpback whales and dolphins. The Osa Peninsula sits in the heart of the Eastern Pacific, where warm currents attract an abundance of marine life that you simply will not find anywhere else in Costa Rica. On a single morning out here you may encounter five different species of dolphins, spinner dolphins riding the bow wave of the boat, bottlenose dolphins leaping alongside, spotted dolphins moving in tight coordinated groups. Sea turtles surface to breathe a few meters away. Manta rays glide past below. And above it all, humpback whales breach with a force that sends water spraying twenty feet into the air.
What makes Drake Bay truly exceptional is that it receives two separate populations of humpback whales every single year. Southern Hemisphere humpbacks travel all the way from Antarctica, arriving between July and November to give birth and nurse their calves in the warm Pacific. Then, from December through April, a second population from the North Pacific makes the same journey south. Very few places on Earth can say that. It means whale sightings are possible for most of the year, with peak season from August through October when the ocean around Drake Bay comes fully alive.
$ Price
- $120 per person
Time and Duration
- Starts at 8:00 am
- Duration: 5 hours (back at 1:00 pm)
What to Bring
- Sandals
- Swimsuit and towel
- Sunscreen
- Water bottle or drinks
Our tour departs from the main beach in Drake Bay at 8:00 am. You will spend five incredible hours on the water aboard our comfortable boat, watching for humpback whales, spinner dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, manta rays and other marine wildlife. Lunch is included on board. We return by 1:00 pm, leaving you the rest of the afternoon to relax or explore.
No two tours are alike. Sometimes we find dolphins and whales close to shore, especially during humpback season when the mothers prefer the warmer, calmer coastal waters to nurse their newborns. Other days we travel further offshore into the pelagic zone, where mega pods of dolphins can number in the thousands and the horizon seems to be moving. Our guides read the ocean, the weather, and the behaviour of the animals every morning to find the best spots for that day. What you see will be different from what anyone else has seen, and that is part of what makes this tour so special.
When is whale watching season?
Drake Bay is one of the only places on Earth where two separate humpback whale populations visit the same waters. The first season runs from July through November, when Southern Hemisphere humpbacks arrive from Antarctica to give birth and raise their calves. The second season runs from December through April, when North Pacific humpbacks make the journey south. The peak of the main season is August, September and October, when you stand the greatest chance of seeing mothers with their newborns, powerful full body breaches and the tail slaps these animals use to communicate. Even outside peak season, spinner dolphins and bottlenose dolphins are present year round.
During high season we strongly recommend booking at least one month in advance. This tour departs exclusively from Drake Bay.
$ Price
- $120 per person
Time and Duration
- Starts at 8:00 am
- Duration: 5 hours (back at 1:00 pm)
What to Bring
- Sandals
- Swimsuit and towel
- Sunscreen
- Water bottle or drinks