Seas the Day

A day on the beach is probably pretty high on your hit list – and luckily you have the choice of several in Parque Nacional Marino Ballena. Framed by rainforest, Playa Colonia (10 minutes’ walk) is a popular sunset-watching spot, and other local favorites include cliff-backed Playa Arco (35 minutes) and Playa Piñuela (five minutes’ drive) for safe swimming. You can look forward to crystal-clear water, pink or black sand, and – if you’re lucky – the sighting of turtles, whales or dolphins. When you want to stretch your legs, wait until low tide and stroll down to the ocean at Punta Uvita (50 minutes’ walk), a sand-and-rock outcrop that resembles a whale’s tail. To up the action a bit, go wild swimming in the nearest waterfall with natural pools (10 minutes’ drive), and white-water rafting or canyoning on the Savegre River (15 minutes). And if you hit Seas the Day in early March, you’ll coincide with the annual Envision Festival (10 minutes’ drive, a shuttle bus to the site is supplied), where you can watch fire eaters, join yoga sessions and participate in sunset ceremonies on the beach.