Costa Rica’s tropical climate makes it a great place to spot whales and dolphins; these marine mammals enjoy the warm waters of specific areas of the country and visit during certain months a year, according to the Keto Foundation close to 34% of the world’s cetacean species can be found in Costa Rica.

Dolphin and whale watching tours continue to grow in popularity, and although with some luck they can be spotted at the distance even from the coast, if you really want to see them up close it is important to know which are the best areas and the ideal time a year to spot these wonderful animals.

Golfo Dulce: Humpback whales make their way to the warm and soft waters of the Golfo Dulce in the Osa Peninsula from the North and South hemispheres to breed and give birth. This is not the only species that can be spotted here, different species of dolphins, and false killer whales are also seen here along with a wide variety of marine life.

Papagayo Gulf: You are not the only one that loves visiting the Papagayo Gulf in Guanacaste, whales, dolphins, sea turtles, stingrays, are regular visitors, with a little luck and at the right time a year, usually December through March there is a big chance to see them. Take a boat tour and cross your fingers, you might be pleasantly surprised to come across different species of whales or dolphins. August to December is also a good time.

Caño Island Biological Reserve: The small island close to the Corcovado Bay in Osa (South Pacific) is known as a great place for scuba diving, so its only natural that it is also a popular destination for whale and dolphin watching, manatees are also commonly seen here.

Marino Ballena National Park: Located in the South Pacific, this National Park hosts every year during the month of September the Whale and Dolphin Festival, there is a big chance of seeing these mammals in their natural element during September and October and sometimes during the months of December through April.

Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge: Although whales and dolphins are more commonly seen in the waters of the Pacific Ocean; if you are in the Atlantic Coast you shouldn’t lose your hope, bottlenose dolphins are very common and with some luck you can get to see orcas (killer whale) swimming in the turquoise waters.