With coastlines that touch both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Costa Rica is home to a huge variety of sea life. Snorkeling and diving are popular sports as are turtle, whale, and dolphin watching, and many outfitters specialize in tours that will take you close to the water or under-the-sea, allowing you to explore the rich marine life of the area.

 

 

A few of Costa Rica’s wonderful national parks are vital nesting areas for the green turtle, and thousands of guests travel here each year during nesting season to view the phenomenon. The prime area for nesting is Tortuguero National Park in Limon, where green sea turtles, hawksbills, and leatherbacks make their way to the 22 miles of beach for nesting. Guided walking tours that keep the health and safety of the turtles in mind are available on a limited basis.

 

In Costa Rica, whales can be found from about the mid-Pacific region down to the Osa Peninsula. The most commonly viewed species are humpbacks, pilot whales, and sperm whales. Humpback and sperm whales are best viewed from August through December and pilot whales can be spied year-round. Whale-watching tours depart from various locations on the Pacific coast.

 

Dolphin tours in Costa Rica are plentiful and concentrated around the area of Drake’s Bay. Not unlike whale-watching, dolphin watches or encounters are done with an interest in preserving the natural habitat of the dolphins. Dolphin tours are organized by a number of eco-lodges as well as through independent tour operators.

 

Snorkeling and diving are quite popular in Costa Rica. Snorkeling can easily be accomplished from most beaches and many hotels offer equipment so that patrons can explore the sea life that hovers near the coast. Divers especially enjoy excursions around Cocos Island, about 375 miles off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.