Marine mammals in Costa Rica

Everyone knows dolphins, maybe from the TV series Flipper. Dolphins are intelligent, playful and social animals and many dream of swimming with the popular marine mammals in the wild. In the seas off Costa Rica, this wish could come true on a dolphin watching tour.

Dolphins belong to the whale family numbering around 40 different species which all live in the seas. They belong to the mammals and can swim very fast and glide through the water at a speed of up to 35 miles per hour. You can imagine that dolphins feel very uncomfortable in a confined space, which is why we advise against visiting dolphinariums or similar facilities.

Dolphins are known both for their ability to perform acrobatic jumps and for their affectionate and playful nature, which can be observed especially in the open sea. They live together in schools which consist of groups of up to 1,000 animals that live in places with a lot of food resources. Dolphins communicate with clicking sounds and whistles as well as through physical contact. Their extraordinary intelligence also sets these animals apart from other sea creatures. Encountering dolphins in the open sea is a unique experience. Spinner and spotted dolphins are the most common in Costa Rica which often circle the boat in hundreds on boat tours and accompany it for a while. Places where there is a high probability of seeing dolphins are Isla Ballena National Park, the area around Isla de Caño, which is about 12 miles off the coast of Drake Bay, or Tortuga Beach.

Whales are among the largest mammals that can live completely underwater. They are estimated to have around 80 different species which are further divided into two species. First, there are the baleen whales, also called Mysticeti, which include the largest animals in the history of the earth that have been discovered so far. They feed on animal plankton which they filter out of the water while swimming. Then there are the toothed whales, also called Odontoceti which differ from the baleen whales both in their food intake and in the choice of their prey. Toothed whales feed on fish, squid and in some cases marine mammals. As the name suggests, toothed whales have teeth but their number, shape and size can vary widely.

Seeing the impressive animals with your own eyes is an unforgettable experience. It is especially fascinating for all “whale watchers” to see the beating of the whales tail fins on the sea surface. The whales use these sounds to talk to their fellow whales, a good way to communicate despite the often rough seas.

Humpback whales are particularly common in Costa Rica. These animals grow to between 46 and 56 feet tall, weigh between 25 and 30 tons and typically live up to 50 years. An amazing feature that distinguishes these animals is the pattern and color of their back or their caudal fin. It is as unique as a person’s fingerprint. Humpback whales are among the baleen whales and feed almost exclusively on krill (animal plankton) and smaller fish in summer. In winter they feed on their fat reserve from summer and, thanks to this natural reserve, hardly need any food. Humpback whales are considered to be particularly playful and curious which is why they are not afraid to swim closer to the boats and thus offer the observers an incredibly fascinating sight. Costa Rica travelers have a particularly high chance of seeing whales in the months between December and April, as well between August and October.

Costa Rica is often referred to as one of the best places in the world to watch whales. This is for the simple reason that one of the longest routes of whale migration is through the waters surrounding the Osa Peninsula. Marino Ballena National Park is particularly good for whale watching. Here you can see the giant mammals up to 8 months a year. The Corcovado National Park also offers many opportunities to watch the impressive game of whales around the Isla del Caño.