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Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
We are located in the Uvita Heart, 300 meters from the Marino Ballena National Park, we offer you full equipped bungalows with all the amenities that you need to feel like a home.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
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Nestled amid lush surroundings, Bungalows Ballena has earned accolades for its immaculate and roomy accommodations, complete with fully stocked kitchens. Guests have called out the refreshing pool and the hotel's serene atmosphere, adding to the charm of this beach-proximate retreat.
Many find the service to be exceptionally welcoming and attentive, enhancing the overall value of a stay here. With its prime location near beaches, parks, and dining options, visitors often cite Bungalows Ballena as an excellent choice for a tranquil yet convenient getaway.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Inviting
Rooms
Spacious
Value
Excellent
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Helpful
Amenities
Well-appointed
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This cabin-style small hotel is conveniently located in Uvita. It is a 5-7 minute walk to Maria Bellena National Park featuring Uvita Beach and the famous Whale’s Tail beach. Our cabin was very clean, large, and came with a good-sized kitchen and 2 bathrooms; it was comfortable for 4 adults. There is AC in every room. The beds are comfortable although pillows and furniture are a bit old. Despite a language barrier, the front desk staff were incredibly helpful. We were able to easily book a tour with them, and they were very flexible with the booking as we had to reschedule due to heavy rains. They even offered same-day laundry services in exchange for an unbiased review. During our 4-day stay, rooms were cleaned and towels refreshed once; I’m sure this could have been done more often if we had wanted. In addition to bath towels, beach and pool towels were also provided. The hotel pool was clean with plenty of available chairs. The property was quiet, safe and within walking distance of a few restaurants. Ubers were hard to find, but when available, were able to drive us 5-10 minutes away to even more restaurant options. Overall, this is a safe, clean, low-frills hotel but an excellent value with great service.
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Date of stay: November 2024
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Location
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Roads around the hotel are in poor condition and not always with sidewalks. Be careful when...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andres Vargas, General Manager at Bungalows Ballena
Responded 5 Dec 2024
Thank you for your comments, we will find new pilllows and thank you for choosing us for your vacation in Uvita.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed for 2 nights in cabin 3. The place is very nice and is kept very clean. There were 3 of us in the 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom/ we didn’t use the kitchen this time but it’s fully stocked and there’s a minimart nearby we could have used, but we ate most meals at the couple restaurants that are right down the road. The pool is available at all hours but the water slide get shut off early. There is a nice safety system for the gates; there are about 5 parking spaces (maybe a spot per bungalow?) but you get the keys and remote to the gate so you can come and go even when the front desk is closed. Water has high pressure but is drinkable and there are ACs in each room and the living room. It was an excellent stay with everything we needed and I will definitely stay here again if I come back to the Whale Tail.
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Business done through WhatsApp. Close curtains according to the sun to keep the heat from...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andres Vargas, General Manager at Bungalows Ballena
Responded 17 Sept 2024
Thank you for choosing us for your vacation in Uvita, we are very to heard that you had a good time with us. Thank you.
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In Uvita, the accommodation is a 100-meter walk from the entrance to Uvita beach. This is a national park where you pay an entrance fee. You can then visit the park all day. For example, we went for a walk on the beach in the morning and then came back in the afternoon at low tide.
The bungalow is spacious and contains everything you need. It's nice that there is already coffee, filters, pepper, salt and oil, so you can use the kitchen straight away.
The bedrooms are good and you even have access to two bathrooms.
You can park your car on site and you will have access to a remote control with which you can open and close the gate.
There are only 4 bungalows in total on the site, which makes it wonderfully quiet and you often have a private swimming pool. The swimming pool is not very large, but perfect for a swim, to cool off and to rest.
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Date of stay: June 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Maak een wandeling door het dorpje, er is een ruime keuze uit bars restaurants en veel...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This small boutique property has 6 bungalows and a small but lovely pool. Each bungalow has a full kitchen with all you need -- full-size fridge and range, blender, toaster, rice cooker, glasses (plastic for pool & glass for indoors), plates, cookware, etc.
Their bed linens and towels are very nice and it's fantastic that they also provide large pool towels, as well as beach towels. Their toiletries are minimal but adequate. The a/c is great. And the blackout drapes are fantastic. The fully secure property has space for 1 car per bungalow, which is great. And the staff are super friendly and helpful.
However, . . . the bungalows are very close together so you have to keep your drapes closed, which makes the bungalow very dark. And the wall between the 2 bedrooms has significant gaps in it so that you can see and hear what's happening in the adjoining room. And no way to close it off; we finally hung a beach towel over it.
But this place is THE BEST option to be within very easy walking distance of the Whale Tale National Park, the Dolphin Tours office, several bars and restaurants, a mini-grocery store, souvenir shops, etc.
The place may not be perfect, but we were perfectly delighted. And we would return here when we come back to Uvita.
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Date of stay: September 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andres Vargas, General Manager at Bungalows Ballena
Responded 11 Sept 2024
Thank you for your review, we will check the walls. we just did a remodeling and maybe one of the walls are not finished yet. Thank you for your advise, we are always looking for get better. Thanks a lot. Pura Vida.
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We stayed in the family bungalow humpback whale and loved it. The staff was very early. We were handed the room keys on the go although we arrived 30 min before the agreed time. The rooms are large and very clean ☺️ we very much appreciated that they put on the air conditioning a little before we arrived to have a nice temperature when arriving in the bungalow. It is very well located. It has many restaurants and shops around and is a couple of meters from the entrance of the whale marine national park. Overall highly recommended ☺️
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Date of stay: January 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
All rooms were air conditioned, plus there are few bungalows so it feels very private. The bungalow feels like a house, it is very comfortable. It has cable and good internet to distract you in the night. It is 5 min walk from the beach and there is a supermarket 3 min walk which makes it very practical, we do not need to take out the cart during our stay.
The beds are matrimonial that I could prove a little small for couples, to take into account.
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Date of stay: October 2024
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Dolphin Tours agency is almost in front of the place so consider it so you do not have to move much.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The bungalow was so cute we got the studio which was very spacious love the high ceilings and they have good a/c especially for this hot dry weather. The personnel is very attentive and nice they made us feel really comfortable and safe. The bungalow has a whole kitchen set up with a fridge and microwave which is very helpful to keep waters cold and food. The actual beach is 3-4 minutes away which was our main focus , the restaurants near by are good and have delicious food. I’m definitely going to try and come back here !
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Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andres Vargas, General Manager at Bungalows Ballena
Responded 19 Aug 2024
Thank you for stay with us, we are very happy to heard that you had a great time. Thanks a lot.
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We stayed at one of the 2-bedroom villas here with a family of 5 and couldn’t fault a thing. The location is great for everything- 5 minutes walk from the beach and with plenty of nice restaurants within a very short walking distance. There’s a small supermarket nearby, extremely expensive but easy if you just need something small. The villa itself is well equipped, with a full kitchen m, 2 bathrooms, a big living room plus outdoor terrace. AC works well. The pool is nice and the kids love the water slide. Would stay again!
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Date of stay: April 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Parking is secure and just in front of the villas
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andres Vargas, General Manager at Bungalows Ballena
Responded 7 Apr 2024
Hello. Thank you for your staying. We are very glad to heard that you and your family had a good time here with us.
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We loved this place! We saw red macaws, toucans and an iguana in just 2 days. It was spacious, clean and tidy and the kids loved the pool area. The friendly staff were very helpful with booking tours, sharing advice and replenishing the towel and pool towel supply. There are only 4 cabins so most of the time We felt We had the pool to ourselves. And loved the hammock! Our only regret is not staying longer.
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Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andres Vargas, General Manager at Bungalows Ballena
Responded 14 Jul 2024
Thank you for staying with us, we are very happy to heard that you had a good time with us. Thanks a lot
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We had a great stay at Bungalow Bellena in Costa Rica! The staff is incredibly friendly and always ready to help with anything. The cottages are super clean, spacious and located right by the pool. A big plus is that the cottages have two bathrooms, which is very convenient.
The location is perfect: walking distance to the main street, where you can book all kinds of tours, find a supermarket, ATM and several restaurants. Moreover, you are within 5 minutes walk of Playa Uvita, a beautiful beach where you can enjoy sun, sea and the famous whale tail at low tide.
An absolute must for anyone who wants to stay in this beautiful area!
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Date of stay: February 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
There are more places to choose from in the Uvita area.
PRICE RANGE
$160 - $282 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of PuntarenasUvita
NUMBER OF ROOMS
5
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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