In southern Costa Rica, one of the best places to see wild dolphins and migrating humpback whales is the gulf of Golfo Dulce, on a Golfo Dulce Dolphin Tour with Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge.
Article by Shannon Farley
The gulf of Golfo Dulce in southern Costa Rica is one of the best places to see wild dolphins and, at certain times of the year, also migrating humpback whales. The almost-always calm and very clear, jade green-blue water of this protected gulf makes it easy to see abundant marine life.
Its marine ecosystem is unique since the Golfo Dulce is one of only four tropical fjords in the world and is among the planet’s deepest gulfs. More than 25 species of dolphins and whales, four kinds of sea turtles, tranquil and friendly whale sharks, rays, and a host of tropical fish can be found here.
Dolphins, like whales, are regarded as some of Earth’s most intelligent animals. They are highly sociable and live in groups called “pods” of a dozen or more individuals, although pod sizes vary greatly between species and locations. Dolphins communicate using a variety of vocalizations like clicks, squeaks, whistles, trills, grunts and creaking noises, in addition to nonverbal communication like touch and posturing.
Humans can only hear some of the sounds that dolphins make since our range of hearing is only from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, while the frequency of the sounds produced by dolphins ranges between 0.2 and 150 kHz. Of all the mammals, dolphins can hear and produce some of the highest frequency sounds.
The three most common kinds of dolphins you can see in the Golfo Dulce are: Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), Coastal Pantropical Spotted Dolphins (Stenella attenuata graffmani), and Spinner Dolphins (Stenella longirostris).
Bottlenose Dolphins in the Golfo Dulce are very social and are commonly seen in pods of two to 15 dolphins. They like to surf the bow waves and wakes of boats, and can also often be found near river mouths, using the tidal cycles to catch fish, especially needlefish.
Coastal Pantropical Spotted Dolphins are found in shallow inshore waters and out in deeper ocean, although still close to shore. They have been seen to gather in huge “super pods” of up to 500 dolphins when food is plentiful.
Spinner Dolphins, as is indicated by their name, are known for spinning vertically out of the water on their tails. They love to jump, flip, and twist above the surface of the water, sometimes spinning multiple times in one jump.
Golfo Dulce Dolphin Tour
Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge offers a wonderful Golfo Dulce Dolphin Tour to see dolphins and whales in their natural environment. Whale watching season is from late July to October.
In one of the lodge’s small boats, aided by one of Nicuesa’s bilingual guides and your boat captain, you will spend several hours touring the gulf looking for dolphins, sea turtles and marine birds. During whale migration season, you’ll also be on the lookout for humpback whale mothers and babies. During the Golfo Dulce Dolphin Tour, you will stop to snorkel at one of the reefs and/or a secluded beach, where you’ll also take a break to enjoy some fresh coconut water and other snacks. Along the way, you’ll learn about the natural and cultural history of the gulf and its marine life.
Nicuesa Lodge fronts the unspoiled coastline of the gulf of Golfo Dulce on a 165-acre private rainforest reserve that borders the Piedras Blancas National Park.
