 Location
Situated at the hinterland, on the south along Punta Piñuela,
Ballena National Park offers an ideal location for scuba diving and
other water sport activities, as it includes Open Ocean, islands
and long, wide beaches. The park stretches from the southern end of
Playa Hermosa to the northern end of Playa Piñuela, about 9
miles seaward.
Ballena National Park, named after the Humpback Whales, is one
of Costa Rica's newest national parks. It was created with a
consideration to conserve and protect marine resources of the South
Pacific region, which are under potential threat, owing to over
fishing and increased occupancy by foreign tourists.
Prominent Landscapes
Playas Uvita and Ballena offer long stretches of unexplored white
and golden sand beaches. The visitors are sure to be delighted by
seeing Green marine iguanas (iguana verde) amidst algal vegetation
growing on the rocks and coral. Between the beaches are areas of
mangrove habitat. The National Park protects coral and rock reefs
in 4500 hectares of ocean around Isla Ballena, south of Uvita.
Further, from "Punta Uvita" as you move towards southeast, the park
includes 13 km of sandy and rocky beaches and mangrove swamps.
 The largest coral reefs on the Pacific
Coast of Central America shape into crescent necklace, with the
three small islands known as Las Tres Hermanas or three sisters and
Ballena Island situated at its heart.
Climate
The climate is very hot and humid, with an average temperature of
27.5ºC and average annual rainfall of 3500-4000
millimeters.
Flora and Fauna
Ballena National Park offers resourceful natural climes, surrounded
with beaches of grey sand at Ballena and Bahia. The park is fraught
with a variety of rare species of vegetation that includes mainly
Coconuts trees, Beach Almonds, Mahoes and Poros. Faunal belt
comprises resident and migratory birds such as the northern
boat-billed heron, little blue heron, white ibis, greater
yellowlegs, turkey and vulture. The sandy beaches are the nesting
sites of Olive Ridley and hawksbill turtles from May to
November.
 Several species of whales have been
reported in the surroundings of Ballena National Park. Melon-headed
whales, sperm whales, as well as common stripped and spinner
dolphins are commonly sighted here. Between December and April, the
humpback whale migrates from Alaska, Baja California and Hawaii to
tropical and subtropical waters. Crabs, worms, lobsters, several
species of fish, sponges and mollusks are common species protected
in different environments. Also, you can find two distinct kinds of
reptile species. Among sea birds you can see pelicans and bobo
birds.
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