Dolphin and Whale Watching Tour in Drake Bay

Six hours with dolphins, whales, a hydrophone and the water itself

A dolphin and whale watching tour in Drake Bay, Costa Rica, puts you on the water with a marine biologist aboard Delfin Amor, a custom-designed boat built for viewing and safety. You listen to the animals through an on-board hydrophone, snorkel in the same waters, eat lunch aboard and return with the sounds and the sightings still vivid. The Divine Dolphin has operated since 1998 and is the only tour operator in Drake Bay dedicated solely to dolphin and whale watching.

The experience

You arrive at Drake Bay and board Delfin Amor, a custom-built boat designed around what you came to see: comfort, safety and unobstructed sightlines for everyone aboard. The waters off the Osa Peninsula are one of the few places on earth where humpback whales migrate from both North and South America, and pods of dolphins numbering in the hundreds move through these warm tropical waters year-round. The Divine Dolphin's guides are marine biologists trained in research and conservation, and they know the behavior and patterns of the animals you're there to encounter.

The boat carries an on-board hydrophone so you hear the dolphins and whales underwater (their clicks, whistles and calls), while you watch them surface. When conditions allow, you snorkel in the same water, and lunch is served aboard. The six-hour tour is built around what the animals do, not a fixed schedule, so the day unfolds at their pace. The Divine Dolphin has worked in marine conservation for over twenty years and partners with international organizations on research and protection efforts in these waters.

What’s included

• Experience with wild dolphins and whales in their natural habitat.
• on-board hydrophone to hear the animals underwater.
• lunch.
• snorkeling gear.
• professional marine biologist guide.
• fully safety-equipped, custom-designed tour boat.
• local taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (1 to 9 years)

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by The Divine Dolphin

Is this one for you?The six-hour commitment means you need a morning or afternoon free, but it leaves room for other activities before or after. The tour is built around the animals' behavior, not a rigid schedule, so you move at the pace of what you're seeing.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 9 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What kind of dolphins and whales might I see in Drake Bay?

Humpback whales migrate through Drake Bay waters from both North and South America: the only place in the world where both populations overlap. Pods of several dolphin species, sometimes numbering in the hundreds, inhabit the warm waters year-round.

How long is the dolphin and whale watching tour?

The tour runs six hours, with timing set around where the animals are and what they're doing rather than a fixed schedule.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes the boat and guide, lunch, snorkeling gear, use of the on-board hydrophone to hear the animals underwater, and local taxes. A marine biologist leads the tour and explains the behavior and conservation of the dolphins and whales you encounter.

What should I know about boarding and getting to Drake Bay?

A minimum of two people per booking is required. Public transportation options are available to reach Drake Bay. Advise any dietary requirements when you book using the Special Requirements field at checkout.