Blue Life

Blue Life Costa Rica is the first ocean and volunteer centre in the province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica. It focuses on marine mammal monitoring and the protection of Santa Elena Bay and its underwater ecosystem. The project is run by the Czech organisation Justice for Nature.

Why Blue Life Costa Rica?

The core activity is monitoring humpback whales in the Important Marine Mammal Areas stretching from Salinas Bay to Papagayo Bay. Migrating humpbacks arrive here between July and March to mate, give birth and raise their calves before returning to Antarctica (southern population) and California (Central American population).

A key priority is saving Santa Elena Bay from the threat of a cargo port development, which would endanger the life and reproduction of humpback whales in the area and beyond.

Why ocean monitoring matters

Whales and dolphins are tracked together with marine biologist Frank Garita, who has studied marine mammals for over 20 years. The field team works at sea aboard the monitoring vessel Spartan and below the surface with divers. The data supports international marine research, conservation and education.

Ocean and education centre

The Blue Life centre educates children, youth and the general public and serves as a base for volunteer programmes and the marine mammal rescue team. It can also be visited through ecotourism programmes with accommodation and participation in the Eye of the Ocean monitoring programme.

Marine Mammal Rescue Team (MMRT-SEB)

The team was established to monitor, protect and, when needed, rescue marine mammals in the protection and breeding zone of IMMA San Juan del Sur. It operates in Salinas Bay, Santa Elena and Papagayo Bay in cooperation with the state veterinary authority SENASA, ACG Guanacaste National Park, the fisheries authority INCOPESCA and the coast guard. One monitoring or rescue trip with the vessel Spartan costs CZK 5,000, with up to 8 trips planned monthly (CZK 40,000).