The shoreline offers space to notice waves, coastal plants and shorebirds from permitted visitor areas. Follow park rules and local water-safety guidance; a broad beach does not mean the sea is suitable for swimming.
Playa Ballena
Another part of the wider protected coastline, Playa Ballena offers a different coastal perspective. Confirm the appropriate entrance and current access rather than assuming all park beaches share one arrival point.
Costa Ballena Whale Learning
Responsible marine observation can introduce families to humpback whales and their movements. Sightings depend on season and conditions; use an authorized operator that respects wildlife distances and never promises an encounter.
Dominical Nearby Outing
Dominical is a separate coastal community north of Uvita. Explore public shore areas, observe the surf from land and compare the landscape with other Costa Ballena beaches.
Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge
The refuge protects coastal and forest habitats in the southern Caribbean. Choose an authorized visitor route, follow current local guidance and observe animals from a distance.
Quepos
Quepos brings everyday coastal life into a visit to the Central Pacific. Walk a public waterfront, discover market ingredients and notice the boats that connect the town with the sea. Nearby Manuel Antonio and separate forest or mangrove outings add different ways to explore.
Limón — City
Explore Limón city through its public spaces, coastal setting and layered cultural history. Notice the architecture, listen to local stories and discover how the port, railway and communities helped shape this Caribbean city.
Puntarenas — City
Puntarenas city invites families to slow down beside the Gulf of Nicoya. Explore its public waterfront, notice the working port from permitted spaces and discover local stories through food, architecture and marine learning.
Playas del Coco
Playas del Coco brings a coastal town and a Pacific bay together. Discover everyday life along the waterfront, notice the boats and birds, and ask how the sea connects with the community around it.
Quepos Waterfront
The Quepos waterfront offers a place to notice the coastal town’s connection with the sea. Choose a suitable public walking area, watch the weather and stay back from water edges. A short walk can become a shared observation game.