One of the four sectors providing access to Marino Ballena National Park, located in the Piñuela District of Osa Canton, Puntarenas Province, will remain closed beginning this week through May 2027.

The announcement was made by the Osa Conservation Area, the organization responsible for managing the park.

Officials said the closure is necessary because of deteriorating infrastructure in the affected sector, including roads leading to trails, rest areas, restrooms and showers.

"The measure seeks to guarantee the safety of visitors and staff, as well as prevent problems related to the damage," authorities said in a statement.

The closure prohibits access by pedestrians, vehicles and boats.

During the six-month closure, improvement and repair work will be carried out to upgrade the infrastructure in the affected sector.

Although one of the park's four sectors is closed, the remaining areas continue to welcome visitors. Admission tickets must be purchased at one of the park's three available ticket offices.

According to the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), the park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visitors may remain inside the park until 4 p.m.

The areas and services remaining open to tourists include:

• Docking and landing area: Available for maritime tour operators and their services.

• Rest and hiking areas: Designated spaces for visitors to relax and enjoy the park's trails.

• Boat travel areas: Designated areas where boat transportation is permitted.

• Marine area: Access is permitted between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m., as long as tidal conditions allow.

• Water recreation activities: Access to the marine zone for recreational water activities will be regulated according to the park's visitor capacity.

• Ticket offices: The park's entrance ticket offices remain open. Visitors must pay using credit or debit cards. Cash is not accepted.

The park takes its name from a rocky and sandy formation on the beach that resembles a whale's tail.

The place is famous throughout Costa Rica for its two annual humpback whale-watching seasons, when enormous cetaceans migrate from both the Northern and Southern hemispheres to the warm waters of Central America.

Humpback whale migration is part of the natural life cycle of these remarkable animals. During summer in both hemispheres, the whales remain in colder, higher-latitude waters, where they feed. When winter arrives, they make an extraordinary journey toward tropical waters to mate, give birth and raise their calves.

In addition to humpback whales, visitors may spot several other marine species, including spotted dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, manta rays and hammerhead sharks, among many others.

The Osa Conservation Area is part of the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), the government agency responsible for managing Costa Rica's national parks and protected areas.

Read more: Don't Miss a Once-in-a-Lifetime Costa Rica Humpback Whale-Watching Tour

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Have you visited Marino Ballena National Park during the whale-watching season? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com

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