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How Much Do Things to Do in Uvita Cost?

Uvita is good value. Plenty of the best spots cost a few dollars or nothing at all, and the big spend is a boat tour.

Here’s a quick look at the main ones:

Activity	Price	Time Needed
Marino Ballena National Park	$6.78	2 to 3 hours
Whale watching tour	About $95	2.5 to 3 hours
Uvita Waterfall	₡2,000, about $4	1 to 2 hours
Nauyaca Waterfalls	$10 hike or $32 by 4×4	Half a day
Surf lesson in Dominical	About $65	2 hours
Corcovado day trip	About $160 to $187	Full day
Alturas wildlife rescue center	About $33	A morning
Chocolate or coffee tour	$45 to $60	A morning
El Pavón Waterfall	Free	About an hour

Kids pay less at most places. Bring a card for Marino Ballena, since the booths don’t take cash, and colones for the waterfalls and parking.

1. Walk the Whale Tail at Marino Ballena National Park

The whale tail is the reason most people come to Uvita, and it’s easy to see why. At low tide, a sandbar shaped like a whale’s tail stretches out from Punta Uvita. You can walk right out to the tip.

Entry costs $6.78 for foreign adults, tax included, and the ticket covers the whole day. The booths only take cards, so leave the cash at home.

Get there about an hour before low tide. The walk out takes 10 to 20 minutes. You’ll want time to poke around the rocks before the water comes back in.

2. Go Whale Watching

Seeing a humpback whale up close is the highlight of any trip here. Whales visit twice a year: southern humpbacks mid-July to October, peaking in August and September, and northern ones late December to March.

Tours cost about $95 for adults and $50 to $60 for kids, and they last 2.5 to 3 hours. Dolphin Tour Costa Rica and Bahia Aventuras both include the park fee, fruit and water.

When the sea is calm, some tours stop to snorkel near Ballena Island. Dolphins are often spotted between whale seasons too, so the boat trip is fun any time of year.

3. Slide Down Uvita Waterfall

Uvita Waterfall is a local favorite, just a few minutes up the hill from town. The smooth rock face works as a natural slide, dropping you into a cool pool below.

Entry costs ₡2,000, about $4, and kids under 5 go free. It’s open daily, 8 AM to 5 PM.

There’s a metal ladder back up to the top, so you can go again and again. Wear water shoes, since the rocks get slippery, and go early to have it mostly to yourself.

4. Hike to Nauyaca Waterfalls

Nauyaca is the big one: two tiers of water dropping into a wide swimming pool, about 30 minutes from Uvita. It’s worth the effort to get there.

At Don Lulo’s, the classic entrance, the hike costs $10 plus $5 parking. It’s 3.5 km each way, so plan on about an hour in each direction. A 4×4 truck costs $32 and drops you about 150 meters from the falls.

Nauyaca Nature Park, the other entrance, has a shorter 2.7 km trail and a trolley ride, for $28 to $38. Swim in the lower pool, not under the upper fall, and be out by 3:30 PM, when the falls close.

5. Watch the Sunset at Playa Colonia

Playa Colonia is the quieter side of Marino Ballena, just south of the whale tail. It’s wide and flat, and when the tide is out, the wet sand reflects the sky like a mirror.

Your park ticket covers it, and the Colonia sector stays open until 6 PM. Sunset is about 5:15 to 6 PM depending on the month, so arrive an hour early for a walk first.

There’s no bar here, so bring your own snacks and water. Alcohol isn’t allowed in the park.

6. Surf in Dominical

Dominical is about 15 to 20 minutes north of Uvita, and it’s the surf town of the area. The waves are strong and consistent, which is great for good surfers and tough for first-timers.

A 2-hour group lesson with Dominical Surf School costs about $65, with two students per instructor and the board included. Beginners often get taken to gentler spots nearby, like Dominicalito or Playa Hermosa.

Watch out for rip currents, especially near the river mouth at the north end of the beach. Lifeguards are back on duty, which helps, but stay where you can stand.

7. Spend an Afternoon at Playa Hermosa

Playa Hermosa, about 5 km north of Uvita, is the beach for doing nothing. It’s long, quiet and lined with trees, so there’s plenty of shade.

There’s no paid lot, just an informal spot to park, and you can rinse off at the showers for about $1. The waves are smaller than Dominical’s, so it’s a good beach to learn to surf.

Swim with care, though, since rip currents can pull hard here. Stay close to shore and follow the locals’ lead.

8. Take a Day Trip to Corcovado National Park

Corcovado is the wildest park in Costa Rica, and a day trip from Uvita is the easiest way in. You need a certified guide by law, so you’ll go with a tour.

Dolphin Tour Costa Rica charges $160 for adults and $100 for kids, with the park ticket, guide and a picnic lunch included. Other operators charge about $170 to $187.

It’s a long day. You leave around 7 AM, ride about 1.5 hours by boat to San Pedrillo station, hike, then get back around 4 PM. Bring bug spray, a dry bag and shoes that can handle mud.

9. Meet Rescued Animals at Alturas

Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary is a rescue center in the hills above Dominical, where injured and orphaned animals get cared for. You’ll meet sloths, monkeys and birds, and hear their stories from the guides.

Visits are by guided tour only, at 9 AM, 11 AM and 1 PM, with no regular tours on Mondays. Tours cost about $33 for adults and $17 for kids, and you need to book and pay ahead.

The road up is steep, so a 4×4 is a good idea in rainy season.

10. Walk Through the Bamboo Forest

The bamboo forest is a short, shady walk in the hills near Uvita Waterfall, and it’s free. Tall bamboo arches over the trail, so it stays cool even at midday.

It’s about 1 km of bamboo, and the path leads to a few small waterfalls. Parts of it cross private land, so stick to the trail and be respectful.

Bring bug spray, because the mosquitoes love it here too. It pairs well with a morning at Uvita Waterfall.

11. Swim at El Pavón Waterfall

El Pavón is a small waterfall about 20 minutes south of Uvita, near Ojochal. Its party trick is a round boulder wedged between two rocks right above the falls. It looks like it could drop any second.

It’s free, and the path from the road is only about 100 meters. The last stretch in is 3.5 to 4 km of gravel road, so take it slow.

Roadside parking isn’t secure, so leave nothing in the car, or use the lot at Tilapias El Pavón nearby.

12. Eat Your Way Through Ojochal

Ojochal is a tiny village about 20 minutes south of Uvita. It’s known for restaurants you wouldn’t expect in a place this size.

Citrus is the one to book, with French, Middle Eastern and Asian dishes, open Monday to Saturday from noon. Heliconia is the easygoing pick for Tico food, pasta and steak, and it’s closed on Mondays.

Exotica, a long-time favorite, opens Tuesday to Saturday evenings, but it’s had a temporary closure, so check before you go. Mains cost more than in Uvita, so make this your treat night.

13. Take a Chocolate or Coffee Tour

A farm tour is a nice break from the beach, and you get to taste everything at the end.

The Uvita Chocolate Tour costs $60 per person, with groups of up to 7, about 5 km north of town. You see how cacao turns into chocolate and try it fresh.

For coffee, Café Don Emilio in the hills about 30 minutes from Uvita runs 3-hour tours for $45. Kids 9 and under go free. Tours leave at 10 AM and 2 PM, with none on Wednesdays or Saturdays, and you’ll want a 4×4 for the road.

14. Take a Yoga Class

Uvita and Dominical have a big yoga scene, with open-air decks in the jungle and plenty of retreats.

Danyasa in Dominical runs drop-in classes, and Selva Armonía has yoga decks and hosts retreats. Bodhi Surf + Yoga pairs yoga with surf camps, for a longer stay.

Call ahead for times and prices, since schedules change with the season. Wear light clothes and bring water, because the humidity makes even a slow class feel like hot yoga.

15. Take a Day Trip to Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio is about an hour north, and it makes an easy day trip for sloths, monkeys and calm beaches.

Tickets cost $18.08 for foreign adults and are sold online only, through SINAC. The park opens at 7 AM, closes every Tuesday, and food isn’t allowed inside.

Leave Uvita by 6 AM to be at the gate when it opens, before the heat and the crowds. Hire a licensed guide, since they spot far more wildlife than you will. Our 3 days in Manuel Antonio itinerary has more ideas for a longer stay.

Which Things to Do in Uvita Should You Pick?

With one day, walk the whale tail in the morning and slide down Uvita Waterfall after lunch. Then watch the sunset at Playa Colonia.

With two or three days, add whale watching in season, or Nauyaca Waterfalls when it’s not. Save Corcovado for a longer stay, since it’s a full and tiring day.

On a budget, the whale tail, Uvita Waterfall, El Pavón and Playa Hermosa cost about $11 in total. Our 2-day Uvita itinerary puts it all in order.

Uvita FAQ

What Is Uvita Known For?

Uvita is known for the whale tail at Marino Ballena National Park. That’s a sandbar shaped like a whale’s tail that shows up at low tide. It’s also a top spot in Costa Rica for whale watching.

Waterfalls like Uvita Waterfall and Nauyaca, quiet beaches and the restaurants in nearby Ojochal round it out.

When Is Whale Season in Uvita?

Whale season in Uvita comes twice a year. Southern humpbacks visit mid-July to October, peaking in August and September, and northern humpbacks come late December to March.

Tours cost about $95 for adults and last 2.5 to 3 hours, leaving from Marino Ballena. Dolphins are often spotted outside whale season too.

How Do You Get to Uvita?

The easiest way to get to Uvita from San José is a shared shuttle. It costs about $69 with airport pickup and takes about 4 hours. The Tracopa bus costs about ₡6,900, roughly $15, and takes 4 to 5 hours.

Driving takes 3.5 to 4 hours on paved roads, along Route 27 and Route 34.

Do You Need a Car in Uvita?

You don’t need a car in Uvita, but it helps. The beach and park entrance are close to town, while Nauyaca, Dominical and Ojochal are 15 to 30 minutes away.

Taxis cost about $5 to $15 around town. A compact rental costs about $35 to $50 a day plus mandatory insurance.

How Many Days Do You Need in Uvita?

Two or three days in Uvita is enough for most people. Two days covers the whale tail, Uvita Waterfall and whale watching or Nauyaca, without any rushing.

A third day fits a Corcovado day trip or a slow beach afternoon. Stay longer to surf, do yoga or work through the Ojochal restaurants.

Where Should You Stay in Uvita?

On a budget, Tucan Hotel in Uvita has rooms around $53. La Cusinga Lodge is an eco-lodge near Marino Ballena from about $135, and Selva Armonía is an adults-only jungle spot around $96.

For a splurge, Oxygen Jungle Villas and Kura Boutique Hotel are adults-only, with big ocean views. Most hillside lodges need a 4×4.