Just 17 kms south of Dominical, this little hamlet is really nothing more than a loose straggle of farms, houses and tiny shops, though it should give you a good idea of what the central Pacific coast looked like before the tourist boom.

Uvita does, however, serve as the base for visits to  Marino Ballena National Park, a pristine marine reserve famous for its migrating pods of humpback whales, in addition to its virtually abandoned wilderness beaches.

The area is located in Uvita has been described by many as one of the areas most complete in the world biodiversity. This region, southwestern Costa Rica has many beautiful beaches and fantastic views. The offshore reefs provide a natural habitat for many species of animals and plants.

Watching whales and turtles …

The best months to observe a whale in the Marino Ballena National Park are in September, February and March.

During July to January the sea turtles come ashore to dig their nest eggs in the sand. The diversity of the terrain is a paradise for observers and lovers of nature, many animals can be seen doing a tour of this area on horseback.

Birds and monkeys can be easily observed in their natural environment. Birdwatchers worth to make a trip to the mangrove swamps on the coast, but they must be wary of alligators and crocodiles.