Please call our front desk at +1 305 853 8700 or +506 2640 0404 or write to us on WhatsApp at +506 8550 0404 or email [email protected] to get all the necessary tour information and recommendations.

• Primary season: July through October, best months being August and September
• Secondary season: December through March, best month being February 

The Gulf of Nicoya is a spectacular and unique place for whale watching since it has two seasons, unlike many other locations. Both Northern and Southern Pacific humpback whales migrate through the Gulf, creating an incredibly long visiting time period. 

The Southern Pacific humpback whale has one of the longest migration patterns of any mammal. They start off in the cold climate of Antarctica and travel thousands of miles to the quintessential tropical and warm climate of Costa Rica. Since they are a larger group than the Northern Pacific population, their fascinating passage and presence creates the primary seasons for watching humpback whales in Costa Rica. The Northern Hemisphere humpback whales, a smaller group, travel from their feeding grounds of Alaska to Costa Rica in the second season to participate in whale watching activities. 

The peak season for watching humpback whales in the Gulf of Nicoya is late July through October. More specifically, the best months in this timeframe are the months of August and September, when there tends to be more sightings. During these important months, whales tend to be significantly active and present in greater numbers. The second season for whale watching is December through March. However, this season is less popular. In this second season, the best month is February, when there might be more potential sightings. 

The Gulf, which is accessed from Montezuma, is a short drive from Santa Teresa and it separates the Nicoya Peninsula from the mainland. Since it offers warm water, it’s a perfect environment for breeding and calving. Mothers and their calves tend to be together and often interact with each other during this crucial time. The Gulf is unique in that it also serves two purposes for the humpback whales; it’s a fundamental migration corridor and it’s known as a secondary calving ground. 

Research shows that the primary reasons that the Gulf is so precious to humpback whales is due to the warm water, safety, protection, and cleanliness. The calves need a place for survival and protection, where they can learn to dive, feed, and breach without using a significant amount of resources. Interestingly, young whales have trouble regulating body temperature. In cold waters, they even build up a layer of bladder in order to insulate themselves! It’s essential to know that it’s recommended to visit unique micro-environments, like the Gulf of Nicoya, where you are more likely to witness the whales, instead of the open ocean. 

Some of the incredible whale activities that can be witnessed during a tour can be breaching, tail slapping, which is when a whale strongly slaps its enormous tail against the water, and spouting, which is the iconic blow of water vapor from the blowhole. A Pacific humpback tends to be more active when tending to her newborns, increasing the chances of seeing them. While on a tour around the Gulf, you might witness different dolphin species, including spinner and rough-toothed dolphins. Also, well-known to the area, bottlenose and spotted dolphins are year-round residents!

Hotel Santa Teresa by the Beach recommends a day boat tour to Tortuga Island, where whale watching is part of the journey to and from the island. Even though the seasonal data shows promise and high expectations for whale sightings, nature is unpredictable and it’s not guaranteed that there will be an abundance of whales. Early morning tours are also most recommended, when the ocean is calm and visibility is much better. 

Please call our front desk to get all the necessary tour information and recommendations.