The breathtaking scenery alone is reason enough to justify the boat trips out into the Golfo Dulce and off the coast of Quepos in the hopes to catch a glimpse of the world's largest mammals in their natural habitat. But when lucky visitors do catch a glimpse of these giants surfacing, diving, blowing, and playing, they know they have had the experience of a lifetime. The entire nation of Costa Rica takes much joy and pride in these marine visitors that grace their waters, and when a newborn has been spotted, it makes national news and is known by children and their families across the country by its new name.

From November to March, then from July to September, whales can be found on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica as they come into the area to give birth to their young in a calm and nutrient rich environment where the calves may be protected and grow strong enough to continue the migration between the northern and southern hemispheres.

There are a number of areas in Costa Rica that offer dolphin and whale watching excursions, however the majority of those are present in the southern Pacific coast and the central Pacifc coast, where from December to May particularly, Humback Whales and Blue Whales come into the Golfo Dulce to give birth and protect their young until they grow enough to be able to take to the open sea.

The magnificent Blue Whale can reach size in excess of one hundred and fifty tons, and produces the loudest sound of any animal on Earth. When the capitan deems it is safe to do so, visitors are allowed to get into the ocean around their vessel, to submerge themselves and hear the whales in the water. The equally impressive Humback Whale has the longest migration of any known animal on the planet.

Currently there is an increasing concern in the world for the impact that the growing whale-watching industry will have on the world's whale population. Steps are being taken in Costa Rica today to assure that agencies that provide whale watching excursions provide safe vessels, maintain international standards of respect and care with their presense in the ocean around whales, and that adequate and accurate information on these magnificent creatures is provided as well.