{"id":507368,"date":"2026-03-06T14:09:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T14:09:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/507368\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T14:09:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T14:09:08","slug":"costa-rica-tourists-spot-majestic-whale-shark-cruising-shoreline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/507368\/","title":{"rendered":"Costa Rica tourists spot ‘majestic’ whale shark cruising shoreline"},"content":{"rendered":"

March 5, 2026Updated March 6, 2026, 7:54 a.m. ET<\/p>\n

A Costa Rica tour group this week experienced a mesmerizing encounter with a whale shark measuring 15-plus feet in the emerald shallows off Guanacaste.<\/p>\n

The accompanying footage was captured Monday by guide Jesus Rueda, whose translated video message reads, \u201cI am so lucky, seriously!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Whale<\/p>\n

Whale sharks, the world’s largest fish, are filter feeders commonly referred to as gentle giants, which can measure 60-plus feet.<\/p>\n

So the whale shark in Rueda\u2019s footage, likely a juvenile, is small by whale shark standards but still enormous compared to other types of sharks.<\/p>\n

ALSO: Yellowstone wolf tries to run down elk in ‘incredible chase’<\/a><\/p>\n

Whale shark sightings occur seasonally in Costa Rica, especially in the southwest beyond the Osa Peninsula. But sightings are uncommon.<\/p>\n

Guanacaste is in northwest Costa Rica. Most whale shark sightings in this region occur at islands popular among scuba divers.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Rueda\u2019s footage was shared by NTG Costa Rica, which boasted: \u201cA truly spectacular moment was experienced at Nacascolo Beach, where none other than a majestic whale shark, the largest fish in the world, was captured [on video].\u201d<\/p>\n

Teletica<\/a> reported that Rueda was returning from a tour with 18 passengers when the group encountered the whale shark and spent 10 minutes observing its behavior. Some of their reactions can be heard in the video.<\/p>\n