Catamaran Whale Watching Uvita

Puntarenas Province, Uvita, Costa Rica

PD
Pirate Drake
  • Email address verified
4 reviews
Duration: 1 day
Group size: 4 - 35
Catamaran Whale Watching Uvita
Puntarenas Province, Uvita, Costa Rica

Pirate Drake
  • Email address verified
4 reviews

$85
Deposit: $40
Duration: 1 day
Group size: 4 - 35

About this trip

From July to early November and mid-December to March, Marino Ballena National Park offers exceptional whale-watching opportunities. During these two peak periods, southern humpback whales migrate northward from July to October, and northern humpback whales head southward from December to March. These times bring the highest chances of seeing whales around Uvita, as humpback whales migrate from colder waters to Costa Rica's warm seas to breed and give birth.

Outside of whale season, there’s still a great chance to spot dolphins, and we’ll extend the snorkeling time for a more immersive experience.

  

• 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚!

· inclusive Stand-up-Paddle, water slide, jumping platform and lounging nets

· Minibar with beers and drinks


Join us for an unforgettable adventure and witness these majestic creatures in their natural habitat from the comfort of a catamaran. 

What’s included

  • Whale watching
  • Snacks
  • Snorkelling equipment
  • Paddle board
  • Extras on board
    Water slide, Jumping platform, relaxing nets
  • Restrooms available
  • Park entrance ticket
    Day pass to Marino Ballena national park
  • Catamaran
    63ft long catamaran for 60 people capacity. For comfortability we bring max 35 people
  • Swimming / Snorkeling
    depending on the weather and water condition

What’s not included

  • Alcoholic Beverages
    Our small bar on the catamaran offer drinks
  • Smoking
    Smoking is not allowed

Available Packages

Adults
Deposit:$40
$85
Deposit:$40
Kids 4 - 9 years
Deposit:$25
$50
Deposit:$25
Babys & Toddler
$0
$85
Deposit: $40


Itinerary

Whale watching
Whale watching

The tour start at 8am at the restaurante La Parcela in Dominicalito. Free parking is available! You'll join your guide and head to the beach, where a small boat will take you to our catamaran.
Once aboard, your guide will provide a brief introduction to Marino Ballena National Park, offering fascinating insights into its history and diverse marine life. The tour's highlight is searching for whales—during whale season, sightings are almost guaranteed—along with dolphins, birds, and turtles. You'll also see the famous whale tail formation on the beach.
During our designated swimming time, you’ll have the opportunity to take a dip in the refreshing waters. Enjoy the catamaran’s additional features, including paddle boards, water slide, and jumping platform. If weather and water conditions allow, we’ll also offer a snorkeling session to explore the vibrant underwater world.
We’ll provide snacks and fresh fruits to keep you energized, and the bar on the catamaran will be open for you to purchase drinks. Please note, this is a nature-focused tour, not a party boat.

After the tour, you can continue exploring the park with your day-long access. 

Your Organizer


PD
Pirate Drake
4 reviews
Pirate Drake is a renowned company specializing in thrilling adventures and travel experiences. We offer a variety of tours, including catamaran excursions to the stunning Cano Island, sunset tours, and night diving. We also organize tours to the amazing Corcovado National Park. Our professional guides ensure a safe and unforgettable experience. Check us out on Tripadvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g313830-d24853546-Reviews-Pirate_Drake-Drake_Bay_Osa_Peninsula_Province_of_Puntarenas.html

Reviews

We had a really amazing time on this trip overall, and felt like it was very worthwhile. The staff was very kind and helpful, and we got to swim in beautiful water with all kinds of fish and a few turtles! I do have a few critiques that I hope will help improve this experience though. Several people in our party got really bad cuts and scrapes from climbing onto the boat from the water. It seems like the fiberglass on the boat steps is extremely sharp, so I hope they'll fix that. Additionally, they advertised vegan options for lunch but only provided rice, a few raw vegetables and watermelon which was definitely not an adequate lunch after so much swimming. Again, this was a great time with great people, so I do recommend this experience!
By Jess D for Catamaran Snorkeling at Caño Island from Uvita on Jan 24, 2025
Dear Jess, Thank you for sharing your experience and for letting us know about the sharp fiberglass on the boat steps! We truly appreciate your feedback, and I’m happy to inform you that we addressed and fixed this issue immediately to ensure the safety of our guests. Regarding the food, we strive to accommodate a variety of dietary preferences. That day, we had vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free guests on board. Our picnic buffet included rice, vegetables, pasta salad, salad, bread, fruits, and cookies. I’m sorry to hear that the vegan options didn’t meet your expectations, and we’ll use your feedback to improve the variety and quantity of our offerings moving forward. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the trip overall and that you had the chance to swim in such beautiful waters with turtles and fish! Thank you for your kind words about our staff and for recommending the experience. Kind regards, Margarita Pirate Drake
By Pirate Drake on Jan 29, 2025
PD
Terrible experience! Both boats broke down, there was no other Option than staying on the Catamaran at the start Point. We do not move. No refund was offered.
By Sophia M for Catamaran Whale Watching Uvita on Jan 22, 2025
Dear Sophia, Thank you for sharing your feedback. On the day of your tour, we informed you in the morning that the catamaran was not operational for whale watching and offered the option of using a speedboat instead. Unfortunately, the engine of the speedboat encountered an issue, but we promptly arranged for another boat to take you to the location where whales were at that moment. You were able to see the whales, and upon returning to the catamaran, we completed the snorkeling session and served snacks as planned. Given that the full itinerary of the tour was completed, we believe a refund is not warranted simply due to the change of boat. However, we truly value your experience and are sorry for any inconvenience caused by the unexpected adjustments. If there is anything else we can do to improve your impression, please let us know. Kind regards, Margarita Pirate Drake
By Pirate Drake on Jan 29, 2025
PD
I don't advise anyone to contact this company. We booked a catamaran whale watching tour. The catamaran does not look even close to what it looks like in the pictures. It's an old rusty boat all patched up with peeling paint. I don't know how by some miracle it still floats. The organization of the trip is terrible. On the website it is stated that the meeting is at the main entrance of Marino Ballena National Park, but no one even bothered to inform that the team collects clients in a completely different place. You should check it out before you go. Everyone arrived at 8:00, but the tour started at the beginning of 10:00. Quote on their website: “your guide will provide fascinating insights about the park, its famous whale tail formation, and the rich marine life”. The guide did not say a word of what was stated. She approached everyone with small talk. We heard nothing else from her during the entire 4 hour voyage. They claim that the tour price includes park fee at Marino Ballena National Park. Since no one physically provided us with the tickets, we were not allowed into the park. We had to pay park fee. When I asked them to reimburse me for the money I spent, they kept promising me for 2 weeks, but never returned anything. Do not count on the Water slide & Jumping platform as they do not look safe. No one warned about the large number of active jellyfish and almost everyone who got in the water was stung by a jellyfish. Restroom on the catamaran doesn't work and I assume it hasn't worked for a long time and no one plans to fix it. Fruits and snacks are pineapples, cookies and apples. Needless to say, we didn't see any whales. Disappointment in the service and in the trip as a whole.
By Iryna N for Catamaran Whale Watching Uvita on Jan 12, 2025
Dear Iryna, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We are sincerely sorry to hear that your tour did not meet your expectations, and we apologize for the inconvenience you encountered. The condition of the catamaran during your visit was due to significant storm damage, during which the boat was severely affected by rocks and stones. We are pleased to inform you that extensive repairs have since been completed, and the catamaran is now back in excellent condition. However, the slide and jumping platform were safe at all times and underwent regular maintenance. We also apologize for the confusion regarding the meeting point. While the correct meeting point was stated on our booking page, our website contained differing information. Due to this misunderstanding, we ensured you were picked up at the alternative meeting point. We are currently working on unifying the information to avoid such issues in the future. We understand your concerns about the parking fees at the meeting point in Uvita. Since no fees are required at Dominicalito, we are reviewing how we can better communicate this information or offer alternatives to minimize any inconvenience for our guests. We regret that the guide did not meet your expectations. Your feedback is very important to us. We are currently reevaluating our staff to ensure that our guests always receive professional and attentive service. We understand your disappointment at not seeing any whales. Unfortunately, sightings cannot be guaranteed due to the unpredictability of nature. During your tour, the whale season had just begun, and sightings in the region were inconsistent at that time. Regarding the jellyfish in the water, we would like to note that this is a natural occurrence beyond our control. However, we will strive to better inform our guests about potential risks in the future. Your feedback is invaluable and helps us to continuously improve our services. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you again in the future and to provide you with a significantly improved experience. Best regards, Oscar Pirate Drake Catamaran Tours
By Pirate Drake on Jan 29, 2025
PD
We did not get the experience we were hoping for. The best time to see animals is in the early morning, which is why we chose to depart at 6am with Pirate Drake. Unfortunately, Our boat departed Domincalito and hour late and made extra stops. We did not start our tour in Corcovado until 11am. We were supposed to be served fruit and lunch but instead waited around for two hours and no food was provided., and instead of spending that time hiking we sat waiting for food. When it was obvious that no food was arriving, we attempted another short hike, but we were requested to come back for 130 pick up. Our boat departed into the ocean at 4pm to head back to domincalito. Around 5:30pm the boat ran out of gas and we sat in the ocean in the dark until 8:30pm. Sitting in an anchored boat in the ocean during a lightning storm is not an experience anyone should ever have to go through, especially with children. While we were stranded in the ocean I called the owner of Pirate Drake multiple times, he was rude and less than sympathetic and repeatedly hung up on me. The tour cost us over $1000 and they refused to give us a refund.
By Emerald C for Corcovado San Pedrillo Station from Uvita on Dec 30, 2024
Dear Emerald, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We sincerely apologize that the tour did not meet your expectations, and we would like to address the points you raised. First, we apologize for the delayed departure in the morning. There was a misunderstanding regarding the pick-up location of other guests, and we made the decision to pick them up on the way to ensure everyone could participate in the tour. We understand this was frustrating for you, but our intention was to be fair to all our guests. Regarding the time in Corcovado National Park, we did our best to adjust the schedule to make up for the delay in departure. Unfortunately, it seems this did not meet your expectations, and we apologize for that as well. As for the lunch, it was originally planned to be served in Drake Bay. However, the late pick-up affected the schedule, and we regret that this caused an inconvenience. We are reviewing our processes to prevent such delays in the future. Concerning the fuel issue, we had purchased more than enough fuel for the day, and the captain was instructed to refuel during lunchtime. Unfortunately, this instruction was not followed, and we only became aware of the situation when you contacted us. We immediately responded by contacting the coast guard and local fishermen to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. We understand your concerns regarding the storm and your safety during the incident. This situation was unacceptable, and we take full responsibility for the stress it caused. We are no longer working with this captain, and we have reinforced our protocols to ensure such an incident does not happen again. Regarding our phone communication, we want to clarify that we were actively working to arrange help during your calls. We apologize if our responses seemed rude or dismissive. That was not our intention, and we regret that it may have increased your stress. Your feedback is very important to us, and we are constantly striving to improve our services to ensure that such issues do not occur in the future. As a local company, we are committed to providing unforgettable and safe experiences, and we take your concerns very seriously. Regarding the refund, we would like to clarify that the full service of the tour was provided despite the difficulties. According to our experienced tour guide, who is from the area, you had a great time in Corcovado National Park. During the tour, you saw all three species of monkeys (howler monkeys, white-faced capuchins, and spider monkeys), agoutis, scarlet macaws, and many other animals. Our tour guide, who is very familiar with the region, has extensive knowledge of the park’s flora and fauna, which he shared with you throughout the tour. We hope that you will remember these special encounters and that you were able to enjoy the tour despite the challenges. If you would like to discuss this matter further, please feel free to contact us directly. Thank you for bringing these issues to our attention. Sincerely, Oscar Morales Owner, Pirate Drake
By Pirate Drake on Dec 30, 2024
PD

References

The dolphin and whale watching tour in Uvita was a magnificent experience. The atmosphere was very family-friendly, and the crew made sure that everyone was comfortable and enjoying the trip. They were very informative about the animals we encountered, and their passion for marine conservation was evident. It was thrilling to see the dolphins playing and the majestic whales breaching the water. Definitely a trip that I will remember forever.
By Emilia M on 04 Jan, 2025