Ballena National Marine Park
 

Has anyone gone to Ballena Park recently. Wondering how long it would take us to get there from Manuel Antonio. We would like to do some snorkeling and perhaps go whale watching.Thanks

It will take you a little over 2 hours, probably. It isn't that far, but the road down to Dominical from Manuel Antonio is a slow go-er. Maybe 2.5 hours. . . .

Shillmac,
Have you been to the park? I was going to go to Monteverde but I thinks it's just too much.. want something a bit closer. Any suggestions? Again, Thanks

I was there this past November. Nothing to write home about. Dominical is a funky little surf town. Not much there. There are miles of empty beaches there and Uvita/Ballena. It's called Ballena b/c the beach forms a "Whale's Tail" going out into the ocean.

It depends what you are looking for and how much time you have - Monteverde is up in the cloud forest so its completely different then Ballena - which is just a beach really.

I've also been to Ballena for a walk and swim. The beach vista is beautiful with the forested mountains rising up as the backdrop.2- 2.5 hrs sounds good to me. The road to Dominical was bumpity bump at 20 - 30 kms hr when we went south from Manuel Antonio two years ago. The drive south of Dominical is especially beautiful on a good road. A meal at La Parcela Restaurant, oceanside on a bluff, would be good option after your adventure coming back toward Dominical.
Finca la Merced has some great trails up into the hills for horse riding and is just before Uvita. We did the waterfall horse tour and enjoyed it.

Also in that area is Playas Ventanas, a cool beach with rock tunnels (windows, "ventanas") at the water's edge.

Do have a meal at La Parcela--very good. Also, Melanie at Roca Verde gives a great massage! She's a friend of Suzie, who owns Pacific Edge in Dominical--interesting place to stay. .