Where can I see sea turtles nesting in Costa Rica?

Three main sites: Ostional on the Pacific (Olive Ridley mass arribadas, July–December peak), Playa Grande on the Pacific (Leatherback nesting, October–March), and Tortuguero on the Caribbean (Green turtle nesting, July–October). Each species requires different timing and a different coast.

An arribada (arrival) is a synchronized mass nesting event where thousands of Olive Ridley sea turtles come ashore on the same beach on the same nights to lay eggs. Ostional Wildlife Refuge on Costa Rica's Pacific coast hosts one of the largest arribadas in the world — up to 500,000 turtles in a single event.

Can I watch sea turtles nesting as a tourist?

Yes, with regulations. All nesting observation must be done at night with a certified guide, no white flashlights, no flash photography. At Tortuguero, group sizes are limited. At Ostional, community guides lead tours. Kevin can book the right guide for the species and site you want to see.

Sea turtle nesting on Costa Rica beach at night

Olive Ridley arribadas · Leatherback giants · Green turtle hatchlings · Timing is everything

Sea turtles have been coming here for 100 million years.

Costa Rica is home to four sea turtle species and some of the largest nesting events on Earth. I know the timing, the sites, and the right guides — so you witness it correctly.

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The three experiences

Olive Ridley Arribada — Ostional, Pacific

The largest sea turtle mass nesting event in the world. Thousands — sometimes hundreds of thousands — of Olive Ridley turtles arrive on the same moonlit nights during new moon periods, July through December. The sound, the scale, and the pure biological force of it is unlike anything else. The local community of Ostional manages the sanctuary and leads certified tours.

Timing: Peak: August–November. New moon nights bring the biggest arrivals.

Getting there: 2.5h from San José by car. Overnight stay in Nosara recommended.

Note: Ostional is one of the few places in the world where a limited egg harvest is legally permitted by the local community — the science behind it is fascinating.

Leatherback Nesting — Playa Grande, Pacific

The Leatherback is the largest sea turtle alive — up to 2 metres long and 900kg. Watching one haul herself up the beach, dig a nest, and lay 100 eggs under a starlit sky is one of the most moving wildlife experiences Costa Rica offers. Las Baulas National Park protects the most important Leatherback nesting site on the Pacific coast of the Americas.

Timing: October through March. Peak: November–January.

Getting there: Near Tamarindo, Guanacaste. Night tours depart from the ranger station.

Note: Numbers have declined dramatically due to bycatch. Each sighting is a privilege — behave accordingly.

Green Turtle Nesting & Hatching — Tortuguero, Caribbean

Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast is the most important Green turtle nesting site in the Atlantic. Thousands of females arrive July through October to nest; hatchlings emerge September through December. The park is only accessible by boat or small plane — no roads — which keeps crowds manageable and the experience extraordinary.

Timing: Nesting: July–October. Hatchlings: September–December.

Getting there: Boat from Caño Blanco dock (3h from San José) or domestic flight to Tortuguero airstrip.

Note: Group sizes on night tours are limited to 8 people with one guide. Book well ahead.

Timing is everything

Miss the new moon by two nights and you might see three turtles instead of three thousand. Sea turtles time their nesting to the tide and the darkness of the moon, so a date that looks close enough on a calendar can mean an empty beach instead of an arribada.

I track the lunar calendar and the nesting season for all three sites, Ostional, Playa Grande, and Tortuguero, and match it against your actual travel dates before anything else gets booked. It's a small detail, but it's the one that decides whether this becomes the highlight of your trip or a quiet walk on an empty beach.

Sea turtle nesting on a Costa Rica beach

Ready to plan your turtle trip?

Tell me your dates and which species interests you. I'll match the timing, book the guides, and build the rest of your Costa Rica trip around it.

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