Sea Turtle Nesting
The first time you witness a sea turtle pull herself up to the perfect nesting spot and enter an egg-laying trance is an experience you’ll never forget. Watching the baby turtles hatch and walking alongside them as they find their way to the sea is also quite incredible.
Nature & Wildlife
Marine
Experience the Beauty of the Life of Sea Turtles
This tour, available in various parts of Costa Rica, is a tourist favorite. It’s uncommon in most other countries, so it’s a big draw when vacationing in Costa Rica. But, of course, some might argue a Costa Rica trip is not complete until you’ve seen sea turtles.
- Four species of turtles lay eggs in Costa Rica.
- The eggs hatch after 60 days.
- Turtle tours are best for older children and adults, as they require long wait times in silence.
- Cameras are not allowed while turtles are nesting because the flash affects them.
- Tortuguero is a town named after turtles.
- Sea turtles nest and hatch year-round in different months, depending on the country and turtle species.
- Families, groups, and anyone can observe this experience in Guanacaste, Nicoya, the Central Pacific, the Osa Peninsula, and the Caribbean.
- Ostional is one of the most well-known and popular places to spot turtles.
- Tourists have called this type of tour emotional and even transcendental.
Intensity
Light
Sea Turtle Nesting Is Featured in These Trips
Here are some of the combo trips we recommend you to check out if you want to experience Sea Turtle Nesting:
What to Expect from A Sea Turtle Tour
Turtle spotters let the guides know when a turtle comes up to the nest. At that moment, the focus will remind you that camera flashes are forbidden because they affect females' nesting and the developing hatchlings. Then, they’ll take your group, in complete silence, to the area where she was spotted. You stand there, unsure of what to expect, but then it happens—the moment you see how giant the turtle is.
Imagine watching a giant sea turtle pull herself up from the ocean shore, not used to carrying her 400-pound body outside of the water. She slowly makes her way up the beach, oblivious to your presence, focused entirely on her goal. She starts digging a large hole. She digs deeper and deeper. There’s soon a massive hole near your feet, and the majestic creature begins to lay between 65 and 100 eggs in it. Finally, she covers the precious eggs and heads back to the sea.
When hundreds of turtles synchronize, mass nestings coincide with the third quarter or waning moon. Turtle nesting tours are done between dusk and midnight. On the other hand, Turtle hatching tours happen in the early morning, usually from 2:30 am to sunrise. Most babies hatch after moonless nights, bettering their chances of getting past predators. It’s a nice feeling to walk alongside them as they scurry to the ocean, keeping them safe from birds.
Where Do I See the Turtles in Costa Rica?
There are many places to see sea turtles in Costa Rica.
Guanacaste is the go-to destination for leatherbacks, the giant sea turtle, up to six feet long and 1,500 pounds. These beauties will nest from October through March.
There are two nesting grounds on the Nicoya Peninsula. You can spot four species from June through December, black sea turtles and leatherbacks, year-round, and hawksbill and Olive Ridleys. Every two to four weeks during those months, hundreds of Olive Ridley's storm the beach in a single night.
The Osa Peninsula has a small population of nesting black sea turtles all year.
The South Caribbean is a haven for leatherback and hawksbill sea turtles. They can be seen year-round, but April through October's peak nesting season.
The North Caribbean is the most iconic sea turtle nesting site in Costa Rica. Leatherbacks start the nesting season in March, followed by loggerheads and green sea turtles. This is one of the world’s most important nesting sites for green sea turtles, which can lay up to 700 eggs per season.
As you can see, there are places to go on sea turtle tours up and down both coasts of Costa Rica, from Nicaragua to Panama.
FAQ about Sea Turtle Nesting in Costa Rica
Does Costa Rica have sea turtles?
YES!
Where can you see sea turtles in Costa Rica?
Some popular places to see sea turtles nesting and hatching include Tamarindo, Tortuguero, and Ostional.
When do sea turtles hatch in Costa Rica?
Sixty days after the eggs are laid.
Can you see sea turtles in Costa Rica in December?
Yes, and what a great holiday gift that is!
When can you see sea turtles in Costa Rica?
Year-round
Can you swim with sea turtles in Costa Rica?
There is a chance you’ll see a sea turtle while swimming or snorkeling, but this is not a specific tour offering as it’s not predictable.
Are sea turtles endangered in Costa Rica?
In Costa Rica, as in most of the world, sea turtles are endangered because of poaching. However, there are laws and conservation efforts in Costa Rica to protect them.
Why do thousands of sea turtles arrive in Costa Rica every year?
The location, temperature, and ecosystem play a role in why turtles come from so far away, swimming up to 1,500 miles, to lay their eggs in Costa Rica. Turtles may travel far away to forage and mature, but they return to the same place they were born to deposit their eggs.
What determines the sex of the baby turtles?
Fun sea turtle fact: If the nest's temperature is high, all the baby turtles will be female, and if it’s low, they will all be males.