Visit the Ostional Wildlife Refuge where the world-famous “arribadas of olive ridley turtles” occur, and learn from the importance of this great wildlife spectacle for the human communities around it. This Protected Area is located in Guanacaste, at the northwest of the country, where the Tropical Dry Forest meets the Pacific Ocean, encompassing the coastal towns of Guiones, Nosara, and Ostional.

This Experience runs on Special Designated Dates for open group tours with 3 Days and 2 Nights Tour. But you can also request a Private Tour from either a Two Day or Three Day Multiday Tour.

We will stay at Ostional Town, in small cabins owned by locals, that are a 5-minute walk from the beach with the biggest record of turtle nests by far in Costa Rica. Here we will make dusk or dawn night patrols in search of turtles nesting or baby turtles hatching. We will learn of the whole process that the sea turtles have to endure to try to grant the hatching of the almost 100 eggs that they lay. All of the above by the hand of local guides who are part of the Local Association of Guides (in charge of safeguarding the beach, nests, and turtles). 

In case we visit the area in the Rainy Season and around the waning moon of the month, we will have good chances to witness the massive nesting of olive ridley turtles, the famous Arribada.  This massive nesting of sea turtles only happens in a handful of places around the world and Ostional is one of the top locations.
But If not, the rest of the year the beach still experiences nesting or hatching of baby turtles (except for February to May), and visiting these communities and its protected areas is always a great way to learn and connect with the coastal nature of Costa Rica´s Pacific Coast.

Along the “turtle watching tour”, we enjoy Ostional Area with other activities like:

• Lectures on the Conservation of Sea Turtles by a Local Leader
• Nature Walk or Kayak at Mangrove Forest the Lagarta Lodge Reserve
• Bird Walk the Nosara Civic Association  and Nosara Biological Trails
• Visit the Artisanal Fishermen Town of San Juanillo
• Take a Surfing Lesson at Guiones Beach.

Physical demand: Intermediate difficulty, where participants have to be able to manage walks of 2.5 hours up to 5 kms, with uneven paths and temperatures up to 35°C

Duration: 3 days, 2 nights