Nature and Adventure Tours

Caño Island is the best spot in Costa Rica for snorkeling and scuba diving. The island’s clear blue waters offer sensational underwater visibility, allowing you to see sea turtles, dolphins, stingrays, giant manta rays, sharks, and large schools of fish.

Tours to Caño Island depart at 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. from Uvita Beach or from Sierpe by boat. Once at the island, you will be provided with the necessary equipment for snorkeling (swim fins, mask and life vest). You will snorkel in two different sites (each lasting approximately 40 minutes), during which you can admire amazing marine life and brilliantly-colored corals.

Between each snorkeling session, the boat will take you to the island’s beach to enjoy a picnic lunch. There you can spend time lying on the beach or exploring the forest trails.

On the voyage back to the hotel, you may be lucky enough to see whales or dolphins.

Costa Rica’s south Pacific region is brimming with an extraordinary number of tropical bird species, including toucans, trogons, motmots, manakins, chachalacas, and many more. There is fantastic bird-watching right on Hotel Cristal Ballena’s property, and in several places near the hotel.

Experienced guides give you important information about the animals and plants of the southern region of Costa Rica. In addition to many bird species, hopefully you will see monkeys, coatis, sloths, squirrels, and bright blue Morpho butterflies, among other wildlife.

Hotel Cristal Ballena Jungle Trail

The Jungle Trail at Hotel Cristal Ballena is an excellent place to see birds and animals of the rainforest.

Fishing tours depart from Uvita beach or Dominicalito Beach. You will journey offshore to fish for Tuna, Mahi Mahi (Dorado), Mackerel, Snapper, and other types of fish. Boats are equipped with fishing rods.

You can also agree with the boatman to take a tour around Whale’s Rock.

With advance booking, you could even travel to Caño Island (approx. 2 hours).

Led by an experienced guide, you will paddle single or double open kayaks along broad waterways and narrow canals, often only passable during high tide, through the biggest mangrove forest in Central America.

Kayaking tours are one of the best ways to discover the wonderful world of animals and birds in Costa Rica.

If desired, the tour operator can pick you up at the hotel and take you to the start of the kayak tour (about 20 min. from the hotel).

Visit the only reptile park in the southern Pacific region of Costa Rica.  Stroll along, either accompanied by a knowledgeable guide or on your own, through the beautifully-designed botanical garden. In 55 different terrariums, you will see an incredible collection of poisonous and non-poisonous snakes, frogs, iguanas, caimans, crocodiles, turtles, and an amazing Komodo Dragon.

For a very special experience, attend the feeding of the turtles and crocodiles which takes place every Friday.

Surfing and stand-up paddle boarding are very popular activities on the south Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. Whether you are experienced or a beginner, there are great places near Hotel Cristal Ballena for both sports.

For surfing, there are two top places close to Hotel Cristal Ballena:

Playa Uvita (approx. 7 km north of the hotel): small waves ideal for learning surf techniques. Classes are offered for 2 persons and up.

Playa Dominical (approx. 19 miles north of the hotel): bigger waves, ideal for surfers who are already more expert.

The Stand-Up Paddling Tour lasts about three hours; you will paddle from Uvita Beach to Uvita Point (also called the Whale’s Tail), where you will snorkel in the calm waters of the Ballena Marine National Park.

After snorkeling, you will make your way to the famous Whale’s Tail sandbar for some water and fruit refreshments, and to check-out this natural land formation that is an iconic landmark in the Costa Ballena region. After your short break, you will get back on your board and paddle back to Uvita Beach.

Both expert and beginner riders will enjoy horseback riding through the mountains or along the beach on the south Pacific Coast. While riding, you can see birds and other wildlife, and also gallop down the beach. There are horseback rides at Uvita Point in the Ballena Marine National Park, in the forest in Ojochal, or at Playa Tortuga.

For experienced riders, galloping on the beach is an unforgettable adventure.

Caño Island has some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in Costa Rica. The island’s clear blue waters offer remarkable underwater visibility, allowing you to see sea turtles, dolphins, stingrays, giant manta rays, sharks, and large schools of fish.

Tours to Caño Island depart at 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. from Uvita Beach or from Sierpe by boat, and last all day. Once at the island, you will be provided with the necessary equipment for diving. You will dive at two different sites (each lasting approximately 40 minutes), during which you can admire amazing marine life and brilliantly-colored corals.

You can spend time lying on the beach or exploring the forest trails. On the voyage back to the hotel, you may be lucky enough to see whales or dolphins.

Diving in the Ballena Marine National Park is a half-day tour; you depart from Dominicalito Beach or Uvita Beach at about 8:00 a.m. Dives are conducted in different parts of the park, such as Whale’s Rock, Three Sisters, and Rock Window, among others. This tour includes water and snacks, diving equipment and a dive guide.

This very scenic, easy-paced ATV tour takes you over the mountains and into some deep jungle, providing you with many spectacular ocean and valley views.

You will pass through several streams, coffee and banana plantations, and have the chance to see monkeys, toucans and other exotic wildlife. On your way home, you will visit the San Luis Waterfall.

San Buenas Golf Resort is the latest creation of Dan Lavis, a Canadian golf course architect. It broke ground in April 2009, and opened the first 9 holes in 2010, combining links, tropical forest and an astonishing mountain view.

Located about 25 minutes south of Hotel Cristal Ballena, San Buenas Golf Resort offers everything for an enjoyable round of golf – motorized carts, pull carts, and rental clubs.

The existing 9 holes are Par 37, over 3,700 yards long from the back tees, and affordable from the blue, white or red tees. The grass used is Paspalum, a salt water resistant turf from Australia that is ideal for this climate and conditions.

The greens are big and fast, with challenging slopes and always well-protected by strategically placed bunkers. The fairways are rather wide, but with deep rough, and water hazards longing or crossing.

We are happy to help you on your tour selection and booking. Latest tour information is available at our reception where you also can book tours directly.