Day 20 to 25: Uvita

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I left Quepos for Uvita, a small beach town further south into Costa Rica known for the Marino Ballena National Park.

I took the public bus, takes about 1.5 hours.

At Uvita, I was staying in a hostel just next to the park. I reached and headed straight to the national park (it's a Marine park with a beautiful beach and the famous whale's tail). There is an entry fee of $6 to the park, most people don't like paying to go to a beach, but in my mind the money is used for conservation, so it's fine.

I saw some of the best sunsets in Uvita. The whale's tail is beautiful but to be seen at low tide only. And you need a drone to get the full whale's tail picture. Post sunset, while walking back through the beach, saw a snake and some crabs. Nature, at its purest.

The hostel in itself was interesting - there are two Caimans, a turtle who live next to the hostel in a sewer line and the owner of the hostel knows how to call them and show them to guests. In the night, had a big crab roaming the kitchen area, harmless but just watch where you are going.

I met a variety of people at the hostel - environmental science students, medical students/professionals, students traveling in their gap year, a guy who played amazing Ukulele. It's the place I made most friends and sometimes chatted with them well into the night. Couple of days I also taught them some basic yoga, it was good to see the level of interest in yoga and meditation with people from around the world.

I visited the Uvita waterfall, which has some nice pools and a waterfall you can slide down from. There is also a natural pool near the Uvita waterfall that most people miss, but to me it was even more beautiful than the waterfall itself.

I also visited Playa Hermosa, a beach with high waves, chilled on the beach with an Iguana who calls it home.

Uvita, to me, will always have fond memories. I reconnected with people and felt at peace. It's also where I figured where I was going next based on recommendation from other travelers. Beauty of backpacking 😊

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Photos

Marina Ballena National Park
Beach at Marina Ballena National Park

Sunset at Marina Ballena National Park
Sunset at Marina Ballena National Park

Uvita Waterfall
Uvita Waterfall

Walk to the natural pool near Uvita waterfall
Walk to the natural pool near Uvita waterfall

Uvita
Blooming in Uvita

Iguana
Iguana at Playa Hermosa

Playa Hermosa
Playa Hermosa

Sunset at Playa Hermosa
Sunset at Playa Hermosa

Sunset at Playa Hermosa
Sunset at Playa Hermosa

Comments

[Rubén Grisaleña]

Playa Hermosa
That place pays honor to his name: “beautiful beach”!