By Wendy Anders

During the upcoming two weekends, visitors can take part in whale and dolphin watching tours, as well as recreational and cultural activities, during the southern Pacific Bahía Ballena Marine Park‘s annual whale and dolphin festival.

From Sept 2-4 and again from Sept 9-11 visitors can participate in activities such as foot races, cycling, family walks, a sand sculpture contest, beach volleyball, concerts, parades, face-painting, and live music by Boruca, Non Cuanxa

The event is organized by the Bahía Ballena (Whale Bay) Tour Operators Association which consists of 23 companies in the Bahía Ballena area.

Guides will provide information to visitors on the different dolphin and whale species that can be seen in the coastal waters.

The Bahía Ballena National Marine Park is world renowned for its seasonal presence of different migratory cetacean species including humpback whales, pilot whales, Bryde’s whales, and false killer whales. There are also three resident species of dolphins including bottlenose dolphins, spotted dolphins, and spinner dolphins, and also several species of sea turtles – hawksbill, green turtle, and olive ridley.

During the festival boat tours will depart every two hours starting at 7am, with the last departure at 3pm. Tours are led by guides who specialize in cetaceans.

For more information, please visit the event website: www.festivaldeballenasydelfines.com.

The Costa Rican Tourism Institute offers some special prices and tours in the area as well at their site: www.vamosaturistear.com.

At low tide, visitors can walk out 250 meters onto the stretch of sand that forms the figure of a whale’s tail which is locally known as the “tómbolo” or “huella de Moisás,” which is a wondrous visual reminder of the presence of these magnificent mammals in this marine sanctuary.