Leatherback turtles and the nesting season near Tamarindo

Across the estuary from Tamarindo lies Playa Grande, part of a marine national park created to protect one of the most important nesting beaches of the leatherback turtle on the Pacific coast. Seeing a turtle come out of the sea to nest is one of the most moving experiences in Costa Rica.

The leatherback, a giant in danger

The leatherback is the largest sea turtle in the world. Instead of a hard shell it has a flexible, leathery back. The Eastern Pacific population has fallen sharply in recent decades and is considered critically endangered, so every nest counts. That is why the beaches are protected and visits at night are controlled.

When is the season?

Leatherbacks nest near Tamarindo roughly from October to March. Other species, such as the olive ridley and the Pacific green turtle, also use the beaches of the area at different times of the year. Because nesting depends on nature, write to us with your dates and we tell you honestly what to expect before you book.

How a turtle tour works

1. The tour starts at night (or at dawn) with a briefing from your guide.
2. The group waits quietly until there is a signal that a turtle is nesting.
3. You walk to the turtle with the guide, using only red light, and watch from behind her while she lays her eggs.
4. No flash, no white light, no touching and no blocking her way back to the sea.

Groups are small. Some nights there is a long wait; some nights there are no turtles. It is nature, not a show.

How you can help

• Never use white lights or flash on nesting beaches at night.
• Do not walk on the beach at night without a guide during the season.
• Choose local guides who follow the park rules.

Ready to go? See our turtle nesting tour.