Turtle walk
A night walk on the beach with a community guide to watch turtles nesting. Lights, flash and touching the turtles are not allowed.
Nosara · Guanacaste · Costa Rica
Ostional Wildlife Refuge
A Pacific beach where thousands of olive ridley turtles come ashore together to nest in the arribada.
- National wildlife refuge
- Created in 1983
- Arribadas of olive ridley turtles
- Visits with local guides
About the area
Ostional Wildlife Refuge protects a beach on the Nicoya Peninsula that is one of the few places in the world where olive ridley turtles nest in an arribada, a mass nesting in which thousands of turtles come ashore over a few nights.
The arribadas happen throughout the year, but mostly in the rainy season between July and December, around the last quarter of the moon, and the dates are not exact. The village of Ostional manages the visits and the community guides lead the walks on the beach, so a tour supports the community. A visit outside an arribada still shows smaller numbers of turtles nesting at night and hatchlings.
- One of the world's few arribada beaches
- Community guides and turtle walks
- Beaches and tide pools
- Close to Nosara and Sámara
Wildlife
Olive ridley turtleLeatherback turtle, rarelyCoyotes and coatisShorebirds and vultures
What to do
Hatchlings
After nesting, hatchlings emerge from the sand in the early morning or at dusk and go down to the sea.
Beach and village
A small fishing village with a long beach, tide pools and simple restaurants.
Plan your visit
- Access
- The refuge is visited with local guides who are authorised by the community. We confirm the conditions when you book.
- Arribadas
- Mass nestings take place on a few nights each month in the rainy season, usually between July and December, and cannot be predicted exactly. Tell us your dates and we advise.
- Best time
- July to December for the arribadas. At other times smaller numbers of turtles nest.
- What to bring
- Dark clothes, a red-light torch if you have one, insect repellent, a rain jacket and shoes you do not mind getting sandy.
Rules
- No white lights or flash photography
- Do not touch the turtles or the eggs
- Keep a distance from the nesting turtles
Dates, areas and conditions are approximate and based on published information from SINAC and the local community; hours, fees and rules can change. We confirm the current conditions when you book.
Getting there
By road
About 5 hours from San José, 2 hours 30 minutes from Liberia and 30 minutes from Nosara. The last stretch is on a gravel road.
Transfer
We arrange private transfers and tours from Nosara, Sámara and the Guanacaste beaches. Ask us for a quote.
Tours to Ostional
Frequently asked questions
Can I be sure to see an arribada?
No. The mass nestings are not exact in time. We tell you the best dates and the chance.
Is it allowed to touch the turtles?
No. Keep a distance, use no light, and follow the guide.
Is the visit during the day?
The main nesting is at night or at dawn, but the beach can be visited in the daytime to see what remains and the hatchlings.