MARINO BALLENA NATIONAL PARK

  The Marino Ballena National Park was created in 1990 to preserve and protect the 4500 ha of coral reef that surrounds Ballena & Las Tres Hermanas Islands. This park also protects 13 km of pristine coastline including beautifully scenic beaches such as: Playa Ventanas, Playa Piñuelas, Playa Ballena, Playa Hermosa and Playa Bahia. Marino Ballena Park's most interesting sedimentation process has formed a Tombolo, or land bridge, linking the offshore reef to the mainland of Uvita Bay. This interesting formation can be seen and accessed only at low tide.

   In the park there can be found sponges, corals, mollusks, algaes, echinoderms, crabs and other creatures which are adapted to the strong tidal swell. Green Iguanas abound in the park, feeding on plentiful alga plants. It is also an important refuge and nesting place for numerous marine birds including the frigate and the sea earwig. It is considered the most median point of reproduction of the Humpback Whale which comes to these tropical waters during winter months.

TOUR DESCRIPTION

Starting with 30 minutes drive from Dominical to the put in section in Ventanas Beach. During this 23 kilometer road trip, we will stop, if we get to spot some of the wildlife such as: birds, monkeys, sloth’s etc. You will see all this, along the most beautiful scenery of the Pacific Ocean and the exuberant vegetation of the coast. 

At the put in section we provide you the most professional and safe equipment a safety speech
by a professional and bilingual tour guide. After that, the guide will illustrate the 1 hour ease paddling to where the caves are, with natural history of the park, than you will witness one of the most scenic place in the area, over 30 different caves and 2 of them are accessible -depending on the oceans condition- by kayak. After that we will go to one of the most beautiful beaches of the area, Playa Ventanas, where we will set you up on a tropical way, with fruits and drinks. Steps away from our fruit stop, there are 2 caves for you to explore hiking through during the low tide, you can also enjoy and have fun surfing the waves at this beach on your kayak. After all this, we start to paddle back to our take out point at Playa Piñuelas and drive back to your hotel.

Tour Cost: $65.00

What to Bring: Comfortable clothing, strap sandals, hiking or sneakers shoes, mosquito repellent, sunblock, sunglasses, raincoat or poncho, binoculars, camera, plastic bags, extra water bottle, set of extra clothes, and a towel. And don’t forget your prescribed medicine if you take any.