What to Do in Uvita, Costa Rica – A Complete Guide

Uvita is, by far, one of the most magical places I have ever been. I had the fortune of living two full months in Uvita, just a 3-minute walk from the beach of Marino Ballena National Park, watching what were some of the most beautiful sunsets of my life. During those two months I tried to explore every possible activity, from the well-known ones to some that are far off the tourist radar.

This is the best guide of what to do in Uvita.

Marino Ballena National Park – The Best of Uvita

Without a doubt, the absolute highlight of Uvita is its national park. Marino Ballena National Park was created on December 14, 1989, making it the first marine protected area in Central America. Its mission from day one was to protect the coastal and marine ecosystems of Costa Rica’s South Pacific, mangroves, estuaries, coral reefs, and most importantly, the migratory routes of humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins.

But what makes this park truly iconic is something you have to see from above to fully appreciate: the beach naturally forms the shape of a whale’s tail. This geological formation, known as a tómbolo, was created over thousands of years by two ocean currents meeting and depositing sand and rock on an ancient reef, forming the unmistakable outline of a whale’s tail stretching out into the sea. It’s one of those things that sounds like marketing until you actually stand on it.

[Check the tide schedule here before you go], it changes daily and it will define your experience.

Practical info:

• Entrance: $6 USD for foreigners / $2 USD for locals. Card only, no cash accepted.
• The ticket is valid all day and covers all three park entrances. You can come and go freely.
• Hours: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Three things to do inside the park:

1. Enjoy the beach. Simple, but it never gets old with those views.

2. Walk to the Whale’s Tail. Only accessible during low tide, so check the schedule. You can swim in the natural pools on both sides, surrounded by mountains in the background.

3. Surf. There are surf classes available right on the beach. The waves are beginner-friendly and the setting is unbeatable.

Whale Watching – A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience

One of the most unique activities you can do from Uvita is whale watching. Being close to those peaceful giants is something that marks you. Uvita is one of the few places in the world where two separate humpback whale migrations converge, giving it the longest whale watching season on the planet.

July to October brings the southern migration. These groups tend to be larger and more social, getting quite close to the boats. December to March/April is the northern migration. Fewer whales, a little more reserved, but just as impressive.

We went in December and had the fortune of spotting a competitive group of 5 males all together, a behavior that only happens when males compete for a female. The sound of a whale breathing, that deep resonant exhale just meters from the boat, is something that stays with you.

Uvita Waterfall

The Uvita Waterfall is the best-known waterfall in the area and it’s worth every cent. Entrance: $4 USD per person, and it includes access to a butterfly sanctuary where you can see Morpho butterflies and Owl Eye butterflies, plus caterpillars at various stages. About 100 meters from the sanctuary, a wooden walkway leads you to a series of natural pools with a jumping platform, and if you continue to the end you reach the main waterfall. The current is strong, and if you’re feeling adventurous, you can climb to the top and slide down like a natural waterslide.

Natural pools

A little less known and completely free are the natural pools you can reach by crossing a river. If you’re driving there and the water level is low, you might need to park on the other side and walk across. These pools are calm, refreshing, and almost always empty compared to the waterfall. [Here they are on Google Maps]

Playa Arco – Low Tide Only

Playa Arco is also part of Marino Ballena National Park, which means if you’re already visiting on the same day, your entry ticket covers it.
You need transportation to get to the beach, is five to 10 minutes by car from Uvita.
This beach requires low tide to be fully enjoyed. At high tide there’s almost no beach at all.

The real reward is the walk to the far end of the beach, where you reach enormous rocky cliffs with trees growing directly overhead and a sea cave you can walk through at low tide. Inside the cave, hundreds of crabs cover the walls. It’s one of those spots that feels completely secret even though it’s technically inside a national park.

Corcovado National Park Day Tour

One of the greatest day trips you can do from Uvita is a full-day tour to Corcovado National Park, which National Geographic called one of the most biologically intense places on Earth. And honestly, that description isn’t an exaggeration.

Established in 1975 after scientists successfully petitioned the government to halt a planned large-scale logging operation, Corcovado protects the largest area of primary forest on the American Pacific coastline. The park covers 424 square kilometers on the remote Osa Peninsula and is home to an estimated 3% of the world’s total biodiversity, all four Costa Rican monkey species, five of the six feline species including jaguar and puma, tapirs, sloths, scarlet macaws, toucans, and over 400 bird species.

The tour from Uvita departs at 6:30 am and takes you by boat to the park, about an hour and a half of navigation. Lunch is included, plus two or three guided hikes through the rainforest in search of wildlife.

We saw an incredible amount of birds, toucans, scarlet macaws, wild peccaries, coatis, a sloth, and a squirrel, and on the way to the park we witnessed something wild: a dolphin leaping 4 meters out of the water repeatedly because it had a remora attached to it, desperately trying to shake it off. Pure chaos, pure nature.
We also saw a mother whale with her baby, happily playing with the waves, only in Costa Rica you can see all of that in the same day.

You’re back in Uvita by 4:00 pm, completely exhausted and completely happy.

Nauyaca Waterfalls

Nauyaca is the largest waterfall on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, located about 40 minutes by car from Uvita. It’s one of those places that earns its reputation.

Entrance: $10 USD per person to hike in, approximately one hour each way on foot. Or $40 USD per person to go by 4×4 truck if you want to save your legs.

The waterfall has two tiers, a large main drop and a smaller one above it, with a deep pool at the base perfect for swimming. If you’re adventurous, you can jump from about 4 to 5 meters off the rocks into the pool. The hike there goes through jungle and river crossings and is part of the experience.

Where to Eat

El Hornito is Argentine pizza and empanadas. Good, beautiful, affordable, and located very close to the park entrance. Try the homemade alfajores. They are life-changing. No, seriously, try them.

Indómitos is a purely vegetarian restaurant that is simply incredible. The food is inventive and exquisite, they have live music once a week, and the atmosphere is exactly what you want after a day in the jungle.

Where to Stay

Arboura is one of the best places to stay in Uvita. Very close to the beach, with beautiful facilities, private eco-cabins with fully equipped kitchens, and a comfortable shared common area with plenty to do. Special mention to the Arboura managers, who genuinely make you feel the pura vida in every single interaction.

Uvita is one of those places that gets under your skin. Two months wasn’t enough. The kind of place where you plan a few weeks and find yourself wondering how to stay longer.

And as always, Exist to Travel and Travel to Exist.