1. Choose from two distinct whale seasons: the Southern Antarctic Humpback whales (July to November), and the California Humpback whales (December to April).

2. Visit one of the most pristine tropical gulfs in the world, whose warm and shallow waters attract whales that are raising and nursing calves.

3. Watch whales breaching from the shore at nearby beaches and easily spot whales that congregate close to shore, like Pacific Humpbacks which swim in pods of about a dozen in the known calving areas along the coast of the Osa Peninsula.

4. Enjoy the wind in your face while viewing the sights & wildlife of the shoreline, including pelicans, turtles and dolphins.

5. Experience "the most biologically intense place on Earth” with 500,000 different species of wildlife - or 3% of the world’s biodiversity - and learn about its value to our planet.

As one of only four tropical fjords in the world, the Golfo Dulce’s bed is rich with volcanic reefs, crevices and caves that have become the breeding grounds for a staggering variety of marine life. It is believed that the gulf is the only place in the world where the humpback whales from both the northern and southern hemispheres gather to breed. Its calm waters have created the preferred home for super pods of dolphins with numbers up to 10,000.

On the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica we have two distinct whale seasons: the Southern Antarctic Humpback whales (July to November), and the California Humpback whales (December to April).

Our tropical fiord, the Golfo Dulce, plays a primary role in attracting these giants of the sea, as the warm and shallow waters of this gulf make it ideal for raising and nursing the whale calves. When the calf is born, it needs warm waters to accumulate energy as it begins to discover the world around it!

Here at Crocodile Bay Resort, we are fortunate to be right next to the Golfo Dulce, and we have the benefit of being close to these gentle creatures as they pass by our pier on the way to the shelter of the gulf interior. Besides our colorful whale tour by boat, it is also possible to head out to the nearby beaches and watch whales breaching right from shore.

From a guest who was here recently:

“Yesterday I had the day off, and I ventured with my family out to the Playa Preciosa or “precious beach” as it translates into English. Playa Preciosa is just around the corner from Crocodile Bay Resort and is a short ten-minute drive from town. It is one of my favorite places on the Osa.”

“When we go to the beach, we like to make an afternoon of it and bring beach chairs and a picnic lunch. Playa Preciosa is a great beach for swimming, but the spectacular view of the gulf is what really makes it special. As I was settling into my beach chair and was about to take a bite of a sandwich, something caught my eye a short distance from the shore. I could see the black and white fin of a Humpback whale slapping the water about a quarter of a mile from the beach. After about ten slaps, a baby Humpback came completely out of the water next to the bigger whale. The young Humpback breached about three more times as its mother continued slapping the water, encouraging him. Then suddenly, as if to show their support, three more adult whales began breaching further out in the bay. They were a couple of miles away, but their big black bodies were easy to see, and the giant splash of water they created was unmistakable. This went on for about ten minutes as we sat there eating our sandwiches watching the thirty-plus-ton animals coming out of the water as the baby Humpback continued to practice its jumps.”

“It is experiences like this that make Crocodile Bay Resort, the Golfo Dulce and the Osa Peninsula such a great place to visit and even though I am a diehard fisherman, sometimes it is not always what is at the end of your line that makes the day special.”

The Golfo Dulce, one of the most pristine tropical gulfs in the world, is surrounded by lush mountainous rainforest and mangrove wetlands. Approximately 30 miles long and nearly half an hour by boat to the far shore, it is an ideal leisurely ride for those who want to enjoy the wind in their face while viewing the sights & wildlife of the shoreline, including pelicans, turtles, and dolphins.

Even though the whales along the Pacific Coast represent only a small percentage of the world population, they’re relatively easy to spot because they congregate close to shore. Pacific Humpbacks swim in pods of about a dozen in the known calving areas along the coast of the Osa Peninsula, in the protected waters.

This is just the beginning of the magic of the Osa Peninsula, “the most biologically intense place on Earth”. And along with our nearly 30 eco-tours, your desire becomes our goal, to not only to show you the natural world, but to educate you on its value to our planet. In fact, there are 500,000 different species of wildlife, right here, and that translates into 3% of the world’s biodiversity.

Crocodile Bay Resort, so much to discover!

The first regulation in Costa Rica for whale and dolphin watching activities was established in 2005 (DE-32495, which is a section of the Fisheries law (N° 8436). These regulations were implemented following the first evaluations of the impacts of whale and dolphin watching in Costa Rica (see below).

The regulations stipulate that whales and dolphins-

Should be approached at low speeds, from behind and at an angle of 45° and parallel to the direction of movement of the individual or group of whales/dolphins.

The minimum approach distance for dolphins is 50m, and 100m for whales.

The observation time should not exceed 30 minutes.

A total of two boats are allowed to observe a group at the same time.

In the context of tourism, feeding, swimming and diving with dolphins and whales is strictly prohibited in Costa Rica’s coastal waters.

Even though the whales along the Pacific Coast represent only a small percentage of the world population, they’re relatively easy to spot because they congregate close to shore. Pacific Humpbacks swim in pods of about a dozen in the calving areas in the protected waters off the coast of the Osa Peninsula.

This is just the beginning of the magic of the Osa Peninsula, "the most biologically intense place on Earth”. And along with our nearly 30 eco-tours, your desire becomes our goal, to not only show you the natural world but to educate you on its value to our planet. In fact, there are 500,000 different species of wildlife, right here on the peninsula, and that translates to around 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity.

Crocodile Bay Resort, so much to discover!

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Costa Rica | Crocodile Bay Resort | Whale Watching Golfo Dulce

Costa Rica | Crocodile Bay Resort | Whale Watching Golfo Dulce

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