Marino Ballena National Park: Costa Rica Family Beach Getaway

Shh. I don’t want you to go here. But I’ll tell you. 🤫🌊☀️ Ten tips to visit MARINO BALLENA NATIONAL PARK on your Costa Rica family road trip! On the southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica, head South from Quepos, away from the crowds of La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio to arrive in the small town of Uvita. 🌊Check the tide chart. Look at pics online, and you’ll see why. You can’t explore the Whale’s Tail at high tide. 🦶🏻Prepare to walk. It’s at least 20 minutes from the park entrance (where you pay) out to the Whale’s Tail. This is not a quick in and out. 🎒Bring bag a big enough to pack the extras with good handles or backpack straps. The long walk means you don’t want to hand-carry all the stuff. 🩴Wear strappy sandals. You’ll remove your sandals in the sand but need solid footwear to explore the rocky tide pools. Bonus if sandals have velcro straps to attach them to your bag. (Or bring a carabiner to clip them on!) 👀Plan to watch. The tree line is very far from the surf especially at low tide. Stay close and watch your kids in the water. 🎒Keep your stuff. Additionally, you will be too far away at the water to see your stuff at the trees. Prepare to stand at the ocean with all your stuff. - back to the good bag I mentioned before. 🧻No facilities in the park. Use it at the entrance or… Plan ahead. 🍪Bring snacks and water bottles. There are no coconut vendors or water refill stations here. 🚙Parking inside Marino Ballena NP doesn’t exist. Park in the tiny town of Uvita and take a short walk to the entrance. We found covered parking right before the entrance.. 🚿Rinse off in the showers at the entrance. You’ll be close enough get clean clothes from the car for the ride back to your hotel. BONUS TIP: Whale season is Dec to April and July to Nov.🐋🐋🐋 ‼️Don’t miss Marino Ballena Parque Nacionale. It may not have the monkeys like Manuel Antonio, but it’s beautiful. This Costa Rica beach is so big that you will never feel crowded. It’s the best of your Costa Rica vacation. ✋Just don’t tell your friends, so it stays lovely. But do. 😃 👉Save this for your trip. 👉Or share it with your friend! . . . .