Whale Watching from Santa Teresa, Mal País & Cabuya: Where to Spot Humpbacks
If you are staying in Santa Teresa or Mal País between July and November or December and March, you are in one of the longest humpback whale watching seasons in the world. The southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula sees humpbacks from both hemispheres pass through — and most travelers leave without realizing it.
Why This Coast Is Special for Whales
Most people associate whale watching in Costa Rica with the Osa Peninsula, but our coast offers an equally special experience with far fewer boats. Humpbacks migrate here to breed, calve and rest in warm, calm waters, and the productive ocean shelf off the Nicoya Peninsula gives them food and shelter.
You can encounter:
- Humpback whales — the headline species, with breaches, tail slaps and singing
- Pilot whales — frequent in pods of 10–30
- False killer whales and orcas — rarer but possible
- Pantropical spotted dolphins, spinners and bottlenose dolphins — common throughout the year
- Mothers with calves later in the season as the calves grow stronger
Two Distinct Humpback Seasons
This is what makes the Nicoya Peninsula so special — we get two different populations:
July to November — Southern Hemisphere humpbacks Whales travel up from Antarctica to give birth and breed. These months tend to have the most active behavior — breaching, tail slaps and singing males.
December to March — Northern Hemisphere humpbacks A second group arrives from Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Sightings are common with calmer seas and clearer days.
Combined, that’s nearly 9 months a year of whale watching opportunities — far longer than most destinations.
Departing from Santa Teresa & Mal País
The best whale watching in this area happens off the coast between Cabuya, Cabo Blanco and Isla Tortuga. Cabuya is a 20–30 minute drive from Santa Teresa and Mal País, and our private tours can include pickup or meet you at the launch.
Tours typically last 3–4 hours and cover the productive zones along the cape and offshore drop-offs where whales feed and rest.
Why Choose a Private Boat Tour
Whales reward patience, silence and good positioning — three things shared catamarans struggle to deliver. With a private boat:
- The captain takes time to track behavior rather than rushing back on a schedule
- You can wait quietly when a whale is approaching the boat
- We can detour to dolphins, turtles or rays we spot along the way
- The boat stays at the right distance to respect the animals (Costa Rica rules require a minimum approach distance — we follow it)
What to Bring
- Polarized sunglasses (you’ll spot whales much faster)
- Camera with zoom — phones miss most of the action
- Light jacket for ocean breeze
- Sunscreen and water
Tips for First-Time Whale Watchers
- Watch the horizon, not the boat — spot the blow first, then the body
- Be patient between sightings — whales surface every 5–15 minutes
- Listen — humpback songs sometimes carry through the hull
- Don’t put your phone away too soon — they often surface again nearby
A whale watching tour from the Santa Teresa, Mal País or Cabuya area is one of the best experiences you can add to a Nicoya trip. Few coastlines in the world offer this much access to humpbacks for so many months of the year.