Nature and Bird Watching at Marino Ballena National Park

Overview

Available languages

English

Spanish

3 hours

Mobile ticket

This is a unique tour in the area because it focuses on the land-based wildlife, while most tours in the area focus on the marine life. Uvita and the National Park of Marino Ballena are chock-full of incredible and rare wildlife. If you are staying in the Bahia Ballena area, you do not have to travel far to get an incredible wildlife experience.

Additional Info

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

This is a NATURALIST FOCUSED activity to help our guests learn about the local wildlife around Parque Marino Ballena. This tour is for seasoned and amateur nature and bird lovers. It is also a great tour for nature photographers! Allow me the opportunity to introduce you to the biodiversity of the area.

What‘s Included

Telescope

National Park Entrance Fee

Options

Nature and Bird Watching at Marino Ballena National Park

Reviews

5.00

11 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Walter the guide was...
Abby A,,Nov 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Walter the guide was informative and entertaining. We saw so many creatures not just birds we otherwise would have missed. He also sent us the photos we took. Highly recommend.
We are in Costa Rica...
Olivia G,,Oct 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
We have been in Costa Rica for 3 weeks and this is the best tour we have done since we arrived. Our guide, Walter, is passionate about wildlife and transmits his knowledge in an exciting way. We couldn’t have dreamed of a better ride to finish our trip. I recommend this experience 100%
Great experience with Walter and nature!
BuffyL13,,May 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Walter gave us an amazing experience. His expertise and kind manner was truly appreciated. He accommodated our 5 year old as well as the adults! We saw so many species, and having the scope was an added feature that allowed us to see the wildlife up close and personal! We highly recommend Walter for a guide!
Want to be captivated while learning local birds, animals & plants, AND see the most beautiful landscape? TAKE THIS TOUR
Andrew M,,Mar 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Meeting Walter and learning from his expertise in the local flora and fauna was an experience not to be missed. His ability to see birds and spiders before you even knew they were there was amazing. Walter never rushed you, and while this was a three hour hike, it was very slow paced We spent a little time outside of the national park, watching for birds and Cayman, then entered the park, walked across the most beautiful beach, and into the jungle. We would definitely take this tour again, or better still, take Walter wherever we go!!! Even though our tour started at 6 am, take some UV protection clothing and water shoes. This was excellent value, educational, very relaxed, and simply wonderful. Thank You Walter.
Amazing Costa Rica nature guide!
U2445PXestherc,,Sep 21, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We did two different tours with Walter on our honeymoon and they were so amazing! He knows so much about CR nature and wildlife and explains everything in such a fascinating way. We enjoyed our time with him so much and highly recommend him as a guide!
Nice walk
Mirek59,,May 16, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Nice walk in the vegetation on a path that runs along the beach. We arrived late and could not reach the "tail of the whale". We did not take a guide. We saw macaws and two white-headed capuchins chasing each other and passing by us. We returned by the beach and the water there was very warm. very beautiful sunset. I recommend.
Memorable experience…
monazaiter,,Apr 14, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Walter is an amazing guide, passionate about nature and very knowledgeable. We had a great time on his tour!! Highly recommended.
Excellent birding guide for beginners or experts
jerryrK769EW,,Mar 26, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We went on a small group outing with Walter at Marino Ballena National Park, and it was a great way to start our love affair with Costa Rica birding. Walter was ready at 5:30am with a welcoming mix of enthusiasm, knowledge of the local bird life, and pura vida. With his guidance we saw many birds that would have otherwise eluded our attention. He knew the best spots to see examples of the park's different habitats, and helped us hone in on important details, such as those differentiating the different flycatcher species. He's also very handy with the spotting scope for close-up photos and views that can't be seen through binoculars alone. He is definitely an expert birder, but is also able to help beginners get oriented in this land of toucans, macaws, and many of the less-obvious treasures. He also knew right where to see the sloth and caiman! It would have been excellent to have him as our guide at Corcovado as well, since we ended up going with someone who was great with mammals, but not as passionate and knowledgeable of a birding guide as Walter. He is fluent in English as well as Spanish.
Good birding and wildlife tour in Uvita!
H8831QMmikes,,Mar 3, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We really enjoyed meeting Walter and seeing the park through his eyes. Just a first class guide and good guy. We went with several guides trips over a couple of weeks in the Costa Rican jungle, and he was the most knowledgeable and pleasant. His photos were excellent - he airdropped them to my phone. He mentioned that he also guides in Parco Corcovado, get him if he's available.He had good tips for spotting birds and other animals in the jungle. We had a full 2.5 -3 hours on this hike and it went fast. Maria Ballena Park is used by boats leaving on tours to Isla Cano and Parco Corcovado, so the road to the beach is noisy early in the day. But we saw howler monkeys and cool birds, a caiman and big iguanas, and a distant sloth, not scared away by the activity around the entrance. Also got to see a lot of unusual and fun birds as this is a migration stop. You'll walk a mile or so along the road, trails and beach, then you get to quieter forest and mangrove swamp, easy walking and lots of stops. Maria Ballena is not as big/ less jungle than you might find at Parco Manuel Antonio. So while there were dozens of bird species, not as many mammals like sloths and other types of monkeys -- more reason to go with a guide.
Great birding/wildlife tour with an expert
juliagR3653HX,,Jan 27, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Walter was so passionate and knowledgeable about every bird and animal. We had a great morning waking around Ballena National Park. He brought a scope and cell phone attached so we were able to get great pictures of everything we saw. Highly recommended!!