A pool in the courtyard
Small, with a mosaic edge and surrounded by plants: just right after a day of sun and beach.
Bahía Ballena · Uvita · Puntarenas · Costa Rica
Villas Ela
★★★
Spacious rooms with a private bathroom, air conditioning and a kitchen area, set around a courtyard with a pool, a garden and wildlife murals. Free parking, about 2 km from the beaches of Marino Ballena National Park.
- 8.8on Booking.com · 174 reviews
- 4.5on Google · 65 reviews
- 2.2 kmfrom Uvita beach
Secure booking on Booking.com · Rates change by date
A quiet courtyard with a pool, near the whales
Villas Ela sits on the last lot of the Costa Linda residential area in Bahía Ballena, about 2 km from the beaches of Marino Ballena National Park and the whale's tail. The cabins surround a courtyard with trees, stone sculptures, a small pool and murals of macaws, toucans and dolphins that many guests mention.
It's a simple, well-kept place for people who spend the day in the park, at sea or at the waterfalls and come back to a quiet spot with safe parking and a kitchen for something easy. On Booking.com the staff score 9.4 and cleanliness 9.2; reviews keep coming back to how clean, cozy and complete it is.
See availability →What makes it special
Six concrete things, all taken from the listing and from guest reviews.
Wildlife murals
Scarlet macaws, toucans and dolphins painted on the walls. "The murals are lovely," writes one guest.
Cleanliness: 9.2
Rooms and common areas are "very well cared for and clean," according to several reviews.
Staff: 9.4
The best-rated category on Booking.com: friendly service and quick communication before you arrive.
A kitchen of your own
A kitchen area with a fridge and microwave in the room, and a shared covered kitchen in the courtyard.
Free private parking
Safe and convenient, "literally next to the room" for one guest. Handy if you're driving the Costanera on your own.
Hotel photos
The rooms
Private, spacious rooms of about 24 m² with their own bathroom with a shower and hot water, air conditioning, a flat-screen cable TV, a seating area, a terrace or patio overlooking the garden, and a kitchen area with a fridge, microwave, toaster, coffee maker and kettle.
Quadruple room with private bathroom
The room shown on Booking.com: plenty of space for a couple or a small family, with a terrace and a garden or courtyard view.
See price →Rate for 2 guests
The rate you see on Booking.com is for two people, even though the room has extra beds. If you travel with children, say how many and how old they are when you book.
See price →Rate for 1 guest
The same room at a lower rate for solo travelers.
See price →Property amenities
A simple place with no restaurant or breakfast: its strengths are the courtyard with a pool, the kitchen and the parking.
- PoolIn the courtyard and free for guests. Booking.com lists it as an indoor or covered pool.
- Free wifiThroughout the property; Booking.com guests rate it 8.1.
- Air conditioningIn the rooms.
- Kitchen area in the roomWith a fridge, microwave, toaster, coffee maker and kettle.
- Shared kitchen in the courtyardCovered, with a counter and stools; guests say it's well equipped and clean. Some mention that coffee, oil and salt are provided.
- Free parkingPrivate and safe, inside the property.
- Garden and terraceTrees, stone sculptures and armchairs to sit back and relax.
- Airport transferAvailable for an extra fee; ask before you arrive.
- Family roomsWith extra beds for small groups; children from 10 years old are accepted.
- Smoke-freeSmoking is not allowed on the property.
Where to eat
There is no restaurant and no breakfast service, but with your own kitchen you can handle day-to-day meals, and the town of Bahía Ballena is close by.
Cook for yourself
The kitchen area in the room and the shared kitchen in the courtyard are enough for simple breakfasts and dinners.
Coffee and basics
One guest says coffee, oil and salt are left out for you; ask on arrival what's available.
Groceries in town
Central Bahía Ballena has a supermarket, sodas and bakeries a few minutes away by car; stock up on basics before heading to the park.
Nearby sodas
One guest mentions a soda not far away; sodas are family-run restaurants serving Costa Rican food, with set daily plates at a fair price.
Seafood by the sea
Along the coast there are fish and seafood restaurants; the catch of the day and ceviche are the standards.
More options in Uvita
To the north, in central Uvita, there are more supermarkets, ATMs and restaurants of all kinds.
The whale's tail and humpback whales, between the rainforest and the South Pacific
Uvita is a laid-back town on the Costa Ballena, at the foot of the mountains and facing Marino Ballena National Park, Costa Rica's place for humpback whale watching. Dominical lies to the north and Ojochal to the south. Distances are in a straight line from the hotel.
The whale's tail · 2.3 km
Punta Uvita is a strip of sand and rocks that, seen from above, is shaped like a whale's tail. At low tide you can walk out to the tip; at high tide it's underwater, so check the tide table. It's inside the park, which charges an entrance fee.
Humpback whales
Two populations come here to breed and raise their calves: Southern Hemisphere whales from July to November and Northern Hemisphere whales from December to April. Dolphins are seen all year. Boat tours leave from the park's beaches, with guides and regulated distances.
Uvita beach · 2.2 km
A wide, almost untouched beach with palms and almond trees, inside the marine park. The water is calmer near the whale's tail, and at sunset it's usually quiet.
Nauyaca Waterfalls · 13 km
Two huge falls in the rainforest, with a pool for swimming, on the road to San Isidro de El General. You get there on foot along a dirt road or with the site's own transport. Closer by, at the edge of town, is the Uvita waterfall (4 km), small and with a natural rock slide.
Dominical · 17 km
A surf town with a beach of strong waves, craft stalls, restaurants and surf schools. Currents are dangerous: only swim where there are lifeguards or at the calmer beaches in the area.
Scarlet macaws, toucans and rainforest
Scarlet macaws feed in the beach almond trees, and the local rainforest has toucans, monkeys, sloths and plenty of birds. With a guide, on a day or night tour, you'll see more wildlife.
When to go to Uvita
Average high temperature and rainfall in Uvita and the Costa Ballena, month by month (approximate values).
32°Jan
32°Feb
33°Mar
32°Apr
31°May
31°Jun
31°Jul
31°Aug
30°Sep
30°Oct
30°Nov
31°Dec
Dry (Dec–Apr) Green season (May–Aug) Heavy rain (Sep–Nov) · mm
- ☀️ December to April is the dry season: sunny days, calmer seas and roads in better shape. It's also Northern Hemisphere whale season; at Christmas, New Year's and Easter, book early.
- 🐋 From July to November the Southern Hemisphere humpbacks arrive, and that's when most are seen; the Whale and Dolphin Festival is usually held in Bahía Ballena in September.
- 🌿 May to August is the green season: sunny mornings and afternoon rain, everything greener and fewer people.
- 🌧️ September and October are the rainiest months, with heavy downpours; rivers rise and some boat or waterfall tours may be cancelled.
- 🌊 You can only walk the whale's tail at low tide: check the tide table before you go and wear sandals for the rocks.
- 🧴 The sun is very strong all year: wear sunscreen and a hat and carry water. In the sea, follow the flags and watch out for rip currents.
How to get here
From San José Airport (SJO)
Juan Santamaría Airport, in Alajuela, has the most international flights (106 km in a straight line). From there it's about 3 h 30 min to 4 hours by car on Route 27 and the Costanera Sur (Route 34), via Jacó, Quepos and Dominical; shared and private shuttles are available.
Domestic flight to Quepos (XQP) or Palmar Sur
Short flights on small planes connect San José with Quepos (53 km in a straight line, a little over 1 hour by car on the Costanera) and with Palmar Sur, further south, less than 1 hour away. Baggage allowance is limited.
By bus
Buses run from San José to Uvita, along the coast or via San Isidro de El General, in about 4 to 5 hours. Along the Costanera there are also buses between Quepos, Dominical, Uvita and Ojochal, but not very often.
By car
The Costanera Sur (Route 34) is paved and links Uvita with Dominical (17 km) and Quepos (55 km). The other route from San José crosses the mountains over the Cerro de la Muerte and San Isidro (25 km): more scenic, but with bends and fog.
Getting around
Beaches, waterfalls and towns are several kilometers apart, so a rental car is the easiest option; there are also taxis. Some roads to hillside hotels are steep dirt tracks: ask whether you need a 4x4. The currency is the Costa Rican colón; there are ATMs and US dollars are accepted almost everywhere, though change may come in colones.
What's nearby
On the last lot of Residencial Costa Linda, 200 meters south of the entrance, in Bahía Ballena.
- Uvita beach2.2 km
- Punta Uvita (the whale's tail)2.3 km
- Playa Hermosa2 km
- Uvita waterfall4 km
- Playa Arco5 km
- Ballena beach7 km
- Playa Ventanas10 km
- Ojochal13 km
- Nauyaca Waterfalls13 km
- Dominical17 km
- Quepos Airport (XQP)53 km
- San José Airport (SJO)106 km
What guests say
8.8 out of 10 on Booking.com from 174 reviews, and 4.5 out of 5 on Google from 65 reviews.
9.4Staff
9.2Cleanliness
9.2Value for money
9.1Location
«The peace and quiet of the whole place, and the paintings on the walls, so pretty and about Costa Rican wildlife.»
«The room and the whole property are very well kept and clean. There's a kitchen with a fridge in the covered area, which is very handy, and the parking is very convenient.»
«It's very complete and comfortable. A shared kitchen with tables and individual counters to eat at, spacious and pleasant.»
«Comfortable lodging with good value for money. The rooms have hot water and space to leave your things.»
«A beautiful, private place with lovely common areas, a fully equipped kitchen and spacious rooms, very close to the beach.»
«Excellent place to stay for visiting Marino Ballena Park, super clean, very well kept and with all the comforts you need.»
What to know before you book
Check-in from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Tell the property what time you'll arrive, as they ask for it in advance. Check-out is until 11:00 AM.
Minimum check-in age: 18
Children from 10 years old are accepted. There are no cribs or extra beds.
Cash payment
Booking.com lists cash as the accepted payment method, paid at the property. Bring colones or US dollars.
Quiet hours: 10:00 PM to 9:00 AM
No parties or events, no pets and no smoking.
The shared kitchen is outdoors
It's covered, but in a downpour you'll have to cross the courtyard. Some older reviews mention that the fridges were showing their age, so don't count on them cooling to the maximum.
It's not beachfront
The nearest beach is about 2 km away: a short trip by car, bike or taxi. Guests say it's "close to everything," but it isn't a beach hotel.
A small pool
It's for cooling off and relaxing, not for swimming laps.
A property with few rooms
It's a private, quiet place, not a big resort; a few guests missed a bit more upkeep in the wooden structures, as in any humid climate.
Insect repellent
With a garden and a humid climate it's worth bringing some, as everywhere on the South Pacific coast.
Things to do from Uvita
Highly rated tours on Viator: whales and dolphins in Bahía Ballena, snorkeling at Caño Island, Corcovado National Park from Uvita, a night walk, waterfalls with a sunset lookout and a surf lesson in the marine park. Check each tour's meeting point or whether it includes hotel pickup; cancellation terms vary by tour.
Bahia Ballena Whale and Dolphin Tour - Morning
See the tour →
Snorkeling at Caño Island
See the tour →
Corcovado National Park San Pedrillo Station from Uvita
See the tour →
Night tour guided experience Uvita
See the tour →
Chasing Waterfalls and Sunset View Point
See the tour →
2-Hour Guided Surf Lesson in Playa Chaman Uvita Costa Rica
See the tour →Tour texts and photos: Viator.
Where it is
Residencial Costa Linda, 200 meters south of the entrance, last lot, 60504 Uvita, Bahía Ballena, Osa, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Book your stay at Villas Ela
See today's rates and availability on Booking.com. Many rates can be cancelled for free; check the conditions of each one before you book.
See availability →Frequently asked questions
Where is Villas Ela?
In Bahía Ballena, near Uvita (Puntarenas), on the last lot of Residencial Costa Linda, 200 meters south of the entrance. It's about 2 km from Uvita beach and the whale's tail.
Is breakfast included?
No. There is no restaurant or breakfast, but every room has a kitchen area with a fridge and microwave, and there's a shared kitchen in the courtyard.
Does it have a pool?
Yes, a small pool in the courtyard, free for guests.
Is there parking?
Yes, free private parking inside the property, no reservation needed.
What time is check-in and check-out?
Check-in is from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM and you need to tell them your arrival time. Check-out is until 11:00 AM.
How far is the beach?
Uvita beach is about 2.2 km away and Playa Hermosa about 2 km. The Uvita entrance to Marino Ballena is a few minutes by car.
Does it have a private bathroom?
Yes, the room shown on Booking.com has its own bathroom with a shower and toiletries.
Are pets or children allowed?
Pets are not allowed. Children are accepted from 10 years old, and there are no cribs or extra beds.
How do I get here from San José?
By car it's about 3 h 30 min to 4 hours along the Costanera Sur (Route 34), or by bus to Uvita in about 4 to 5 hours. The property offers an airport transfer from Quepos for an extra fee.