Marino Ballena National Park

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

🐋 Humpback Whales Off the Whale's Tail
🌍 #111 Global · 4.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #18 in Central America #48 in Tropical Forest
South Pacific, Costa Rica 999 spp. recorded

Marino Ballena is Costa Rica's first marine national park, famous for its whale tail-shaped sandbar (tombolo) visible at low tide and two annual humpback whale migration seasons. The park protects 5,375 hectares of marine habitat along 15 km of coastline, including coral reefs, mangroves, and nesting beaches for hawksbill and olive ridley sea turtles.

9.123° N   83.750° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Humpback Whale ★
LC

Humpback Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Megaptera novaeangliae

40–50% · Likely
Magnificent Frigatebird ★
LC Endemic

Magnificent Frigatebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fregata magnificens

40–50% · Likely
Scarlet Macaw ★
LC

Scarlet Macaw

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ara macao

60–70% · Likely
Green Iguana ★
LC

Green Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Iguana iguana

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

70–80% · Very likely
Tropical Kingbird
LC

Tropical Kingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tyrannus melancholicus

70–80% · Likely
Black Vulture
LC

Black Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coragyps atratus

60–70% · Likely
Scarlet-rumped Tanager
LC

Scarlet-rumped Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphocelus passerinii

60–70% · Likely
Black Spiny-tailed Iguana
LC Endemic

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Ctenosaura similis

60–70% · Likely
Great-tailed Grackle
LC Endemic

Great-tailed Grackle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quiscalus mexicanus

50–60% · Likely
Mantled Howler Monkey
VU

Mantled Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta palliata

50–60% · Likely
Orange-chinned Parakeet
LC

Orange-chinned Parakeet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Brotogeris jugularis

50–60% · Likely
Common Basilisk
LC

Common Basilisk

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Basiliscus basiliscus

50–60% · Likely
Blue-gray Tanager

Blue-gray Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thraupis episcopus

50–60% · Likely
Red-lored Parrot
LC

Red-lored Parrot

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Amazona autumnalis

40–50% · Likely
Southern House Wren

Southern House Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Troglodytes musculus

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Humpback Whale ★
LC

Humpback Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Megaptera novaeangliae

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Mantled Howler Monkey
VU

Mantled Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta palliata

50–60% · Likely
Central American White-faced Capuchin
VU

Central American White-faced Capuchin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cebus imitator

40–50% · Likely
Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth
LC

Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Choloepus hoffmanni

30–40% · Possible
Central American Agouti
LC Endemic

Central American Agouti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dasyprocta punctata

20–30% · Possible
White-nosed Coati
LC Endemic

White-nosed Coati

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Nasua narica

Insufficient data
Variegated Squirrel
LC

Variegated Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus variegatoides

10–20% · With luck
Brown-throated Sloth
LC Endemic

Brown-throated Sloth

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Bradypus variegatus

10–20% · With luck
Pantropical Spotted Dolphin
LC

Pantropical Spotted Dolphin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Stenella attenuata

Insufficient data
Northern Tamandua
LC Endemic

Northern Tamandua

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamandua mexicana

Insufficient data
Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine

Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Sphiggurus mexicanus

Insufficient data
Common Raccoon
LC Endemic

Common Raccoon

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Procyon lotor

5–10% · With luck
Collared Peccary
Endemic

Collared Peccary

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Pecari tajacu

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

Magnificent Frigatebird ★
LC Endemic

Magnificent Frigatebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fregata magnificens

40–50% · Likely
Scarlet Macaw ★
LC

Scarlet Macaw

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ara macao

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

70–80% · Very likely
Tropical Kingbird
LC

Tropical Kingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tyrannus melancholicus

70–80% · Likely
Black Vulture
LC

Black Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coragyps atratus

60–70% · Likely
Scarlet-rumped Tanager
LC

Scarlet-rumped Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphocelus passerinii

60–70% · Likely
Great-tailed Grackle
LC Endemic

Great-tailed Grackle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quiscalus mexicanus

50–60% · Likely
Orange-chinned Parakeet
LC

Orange-chinned Parakeet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Brotogeris jugularis

50–60% · Likely
Blue-gray Tanager

Blue-gray Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thraupis episcopus

50–60% · Likely
Red-lored Parrot
LC

Red-lored Parrot

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Amazona autumnalis

40–50% · Likely
Southern House Wren

Southern House Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Troglodytes musculus

40–50% · Likely
Black-mandibled Toucan
LC

Black-mandibled Toucan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphastos ambiguus

40–50% · Likely
Bananaquit
LC Endemic

Bananaquit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coereba flaveola

40–50% · Likely
Social Flycatcher
LC

Social Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myiozetetes similis

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Green Iguana ★
LC

Green Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Iguana iguana

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana
LC Endemic

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Ctenosaura similis

60–70% · Likely
Common Basilisk
LC

Common Basilisk

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Basiliscus basiliscus

50–60% · Likely
White-throated Gecko
LC Endemic

White-throated Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Gonatodes albogularis

40–50% · Likely
Common Caiman
LC

Common Caiman

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Caiman crocodilus

40–50% · Possible
Border Anole
LC

Border Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis limifrons

30–40% · Possible
Mourning Gecko
LC

Mourning Gecko

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Lepidodactylus lugubris

30–40% · Possible
Four-lined Ameiva
LC

Four-lined Ameiva

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Holcosus quadrilineatus

20–30% · Possible
Common House Gecko
LC Endemic

Common House Gecko

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Hemidactylus frenatus

20–30% · Possible
Many-scaled Anole
LC

Many-scaled Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis polylepis

20–30% · Possible
Fer-de-lance
LC

Fer-de-lance

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Bothrops asper

10–20% · With luck
Turniptail Gecko
LC

Turniptail Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Thecadactylus rapicauda

10–20% · With luck
Puffing Snake
LC

Puffing Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Phrynonax poecilonotus

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Rosenberg's Gladiator Frog
LC

Rosenberg's Gladiator Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Boana rosenbergi

30–40% · Possible
Giant Marine Toad
LC

Giant Marine Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Rhinella horribilis

30–40% · Possible
Green and Black Dart-poison Frog
LC

Green and Black Dart-poison Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Dendrobates auratus

20–30% · Possible
Masked Tree Frog
LC

Masked Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Smilisca phaeota

20–30% · Possible
Savage's Thin-toed Frog
LC

Savage's Thin-toed Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Leptodactylus savagei

10–20% · With luck
Red-eyed Treefrog
LC

Red-eyed Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Agalychnis callidryas

Insufficient data
Granular Poison Frog
VU

Granular Poison Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Oophaga granulifera

Insufficient data
Fitzinger's Robber Frog
LC

Fitzinger's Robber Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Craugastor fitzingeri

10–20% · With luck
Milk Frog

Milk Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Trachycephalus macrotis

10–20% · With luck
Guayaquil Dwarf Frog
LC

Guayaquil Dwarf Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Engystomops pustulosus

Insufficient data
Yellow Treefrog
LC

Yellow Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Dendropsophus microcephalus

Insufficient data
Harlequin Treefrog
LC

Harlequin Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Dendropsophus ebraccatus

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🐋

Humpback Whale Season

JulAugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarApr

Two humpback whale populations — one arriving from Antarctic waters, the other from the northern Pacific — converge in these warm shallows to breed and raise their newborn calves. Watch for spouts, breaching, and mothers gliding alongside young calves near the surface.

Humpback Whale
LC

Humpback Whale

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Megaptera novaeangliae

40–50% · Likely
🐦

Coastal Seabird Congregation

JanFebNov

Magnificent Frigatebirds hang almost motionless overhead on long angular wings while Brown Pelicans crash headlong into the surf, plunge-diving in squadrons for fish. Their swirling, wheeling flocks make one of the coast's most dependable bird spectacles.

Magnificent Frigatebird
LC Endemic

Magnificent Frigatebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fregata magnificens

40–50% · Likely
Brown Pelican
LC

Brown Pelican

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pelecanus occidentalis

30–40% · Possible

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
Humpback Whale
50–60
30–40
20–30
5–10
5–10
5–10
20–30
50–60
80–90
40–50
30–40
20–30
Magnificent Frigatebird
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
30–40
30–40
30–40
10–20
30–40
30–40
50–60
40–50
Scarlet Macaw
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
40–50
70–80
70–80
Green Iguana
50–60
40–50
50–60
30–40
20–30
20–30
30–40
20–30
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
Great Kiskadee
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
Tropical Kingbird
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
60–70
Black Vulture
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
Scarlet-rumped Tanager
50–60
60–70
60–70
80–90
70–80
50–60
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
50–60
Black Spiny-tailed Iguana
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
Great-tailed Grackle
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
70–80
70–80
60–70
50–60
30–40
40–50
50–60
60–70
Mantled Howler Monkey
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
70–80
60–70
70–80
30–40
30–40
40–50
60–70
Orange-chinned Parakeet
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
60–70
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
Common Basilisk
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
10–20
60–70
40–50
Blue-gray Tanager
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
40–50
Red-lored Parrot
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
30–40
40–50
Southern House Wren
40–50
20–30
40–50
20–30
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
40–50
10–20
40–50
Animal Events
🐋 Humpback Whale Season
🐦 Coastal Seabird Congregation

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent
🐋 Humpback Whales Off the Whale's Tail

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
611
🐒 Mammals
203
🦎 Reptiles
121
🐸 Amphibians
64
999 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
38 Threatened 65 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Very good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
61%
📊
Coverage (201 species at ≥5% of 999 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
20%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (9 bird, 2 reptile, 1 mammal)
46% Global avg
54%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
129
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
15
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
26

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Marino Ballena National Park?

The most likely sightings are Great Kiskadee (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Tropical Kingbird (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Black Vulture (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Scarlet-rumped Tanager (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Black Spiny-tailed Iguana (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 999 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Marino Ballena National Park for wildlife?

June has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Humpback Whale in Marino Ballena National Park?

Yes — about 41% of wildlife watchers report a Humpback Whale sighting in Marino Ballena National Park, based on 36 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Magnificent Frigatebird in Marino Ballena National Park?

Yes — about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Magnificent Frigatebird sighting in Marino Ballena National Park, based on 550 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Scarlet Macaw in Marino Ballena National Park?

Yes — about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Scarlet Macaw sighting in Marino Ballena National Park, based on 823 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Green Iguana in Marino Ballena National Park?

Yes — about 42% of wildlife watchers report a Green Iguana sighting in Marino Ballena National Park, based on 38 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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