Go behind the scenes in Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica, to see how your support helps protect whales. From calm bays where humpbacks give birth to local communities safeguarding the waters, discover the impact of care and conservation.
I wanted to share an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how your care helps protect whales.
I recently visited Golfo Dulce in Costa Rica, a place where whale protection comes to life. Being there made me think about the people who make safe waters for whales possible. People like you.
Photo: Sasha Rink / World Animal Protection
A place whales trust
Golfo Dulce sits along Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coast, where rainforest flows into calm, sheltered waters. Everything here feels slower and more at ease.
It is the kind of place where whales return to because they feel safe.
Recognized as a Whale Heritage Area, Golfo Dulce puts animals first. It is an ethical alternative to exploitative tourism, where wildlife is not chased, crowded or used for entertainment. Here animals are given space to live freely.
What protection really looks like
I was out on the water with members of the local community when the wind picked up, and my hat flew into the ocean. I laughed it off. It was just a hat.
But no one else did.
The boat slowed and everyone insisted we find it. Not because my hat mattered but because nothing is left behind here. Not plastic. Not fabric. Not anything that could harm the water they protect every day.
That moment stayed with me. It showed me what real protection looks like. Quietly shared and taken seriously.
Photo: Sasha Rink / World Animal Protection
Why this matters and why you matter
For humpback whales, Golfo Dulce is a refuge you help protect. After travelling thousands of kilometres, they return here to give birth and nurse their calves. Whales from both hemispheres come back to the same calm bay.
Dolphins, sea turtles, coral communities and marine life all depend on that same care.
Being in Golfo Dulce made the Power of Animals feel very real. When whales are protected, the water stays in balance. A balanced ocean supports life and that shared wellbeing supports communities.
Places like this exist because people choose protection. Because people speak up for whales.
Because people like you care.
I wanted you to see what your care helps protect. Whales the waters they depend on and the communities connected to both.
Help protect more whales
If you would like to take the next step, here are two meaningful ways to help protect whales:
- Make a gift to support efforts that protect whales and their ocean homes
- Add your name to help push for stronger protections for whales
- Learn more about animal friendly travel tips
Photo: Sasha Rink / World Animal Protection