Hello from Golfo Dulce: The most spectacular whale season is almost here
Published 3 months ago • 1 min read
Golfo Dulce is one of the few places in the world with two humpback whale seasons.
Each year, whales arrive from both hemispheres, making it possible to encounter them in the gulf for nearly eight months of the year. But the most intense migration is now on its way.
Within the next few weeks, the first humpback whales from Antarctica are expected to reach Golfo Dulce after traveling nearly 8,000 kilometers. Many females arrive pregnant, seeking the warm, sheltered waters of the gulf to give birth and spend their calves' first weeks of life before beginning the long journey south once again.
By August and September, sightings often become a daily occurrence. Mothers and calves rest close to shore, males compete for attention, and breaches and tail slaps become part of the landscape.
Their arrival coincides with an unusual year.
Meteorologists continue to monitor the effects of the Super Niño, which is expected to bring less rainfall than usual to much of Costa Rica. Yet Golfo Dulce remains one of the wettest regions on Earth, receiving over five meters of rain in an average year. Even under drier conditions, the green season remains very much alive and usually extends until December.
Rivers continue to pulse with passing storms, waterfalls appear and disappear overnight, and the rainforest seems to change shades of green every few weeks.
This seasonal rhythm also influences our culinary experiences.
From May through December, we pause our dry-season gastronomic experiences and focus on beach picnics and ocean snacks served during the exploration. Most picnics take place on secluded beaches only accessible by boat. If the weather has other plans, we simply move to our private beach rancho at Playa Cacao, where the same menu is enjoyed under shelter with a table overlooking the gulf—a small upgrade that turns a rainy afternoon into part of the experience.
one of our beach picnic setups
For us, this is one of the most rewarding times to be on the water. A calm morning can become an afternoon of tropical showers, dolphins accompany us throughout the year, and every excursion carries the possibility of witnessing the first whale blow of the season rising above the surface.
If you've been looking for a moment to discover Golfo Dulce, the coming months may be the most memorable time of all.
Golfo Dulce is one of the few places in the world with two humpback whale seasons. Each year, whales arrive from both hemispheres, making it possible to encounter them in the gulf for nearly eight months of the year. But the most intense migration is now on its way. Within the next few weeks, the first humpback whales from Antarctica are expected to reach Golfo Dulce after traveling nearly 8,000 kilometers. Many females arrive pregnant, seeking the warm, sheltered waters of the gulf to give...
