Sea Turtle Nesting Near Tamarindo: When, Where and How to See It

Every year, from October to March, sea turtles swim back to the beaches around Tamarindo to dig a nest in the sand and lay their eggs. Watching one under the stars is one of the most memorable things you can do in Guanacaste, and it fits easily into a surf trip: surf in the morning, look for turtles at night.

In short: go between October and March, at night, with an authorized guide, on the protected beaches just north of Tamarindo. Bring patience, dark clothes and insect repellent, and leave the flash at home.

When Is Turtle Nesting Season Near Tamarindo?

The main season runs from October to March. Turtles come ashore after dark, often around high tide, and a single female can return to nest several times in one season.

About two months after a nest is laid, the hatchlings dig their way out and head for the sea. That means the later months of the season, roughly from December onward, can also bring the chance to see hatchlings, although guides can never promise either.

If your trip falls between October and March, you are in season. Outside those months, the protected beaches are quiet at night and tours are not offered.

Where Can You See Sea Turtles Nesting?

On the protected beaches just north of Tamarindo, a short drive away:

• Playa Grande, Las Baulas National Marine Park. Right across the estuary from Tamarindo, this park was created to protect one of the most important leatherback nesting beaches on the Pacific coast. It is also a great surf beach by day: see surf lessons in Playa Grande.
• Playa Minas and nearby beaches, where guided night tours look for nesting turtles during the season.

Farther south, near Nosara, Ostional Wildlife Refuge is famous for its arribadas, when large numbers of olive ridley turtles nest on the same beach over a few nights. It is a longer day trip from Tamarindo and worth planning separately.

Which Sea Turtles Nest Near Tamarindo?

Species	Local name	What to know
Pacific green turtle	Tortuga negra (black turtle)	The turtle you are most likely to see on a night tour near Tamarindo
Leatherback	Baula	The largest sea turtle in the world, and the reason Las Baulas park exists. Numbers have fallen sharply, so sightings are rare
Olive ridley	Lora	Best known for the mass nesting events at Ostional, farther south

What Does a Turtle Tour Look Like?

1. Late-afternoon pickup from your hotel in Tamarindo.
2. Arrival at the beach after dark. The guide briefs the group on the rules and how the night works.
3. The wait. Guides walk the beach looking for fresh tracks while you wait on the sand. This can take a while, and it is part of the experience: a dark beach, the sound of the waves and a sky full of stars.
4. The sighting. When a turtle is nesting, the guide leads the group close enough to watch, by red or infrared light, without disturbing her.
5. Back to your hotel after the sighting.

The Rules for Watching Nesting Turtles

These rules exist because a disturbed turtle can turn back to the sea without laying her eggs.

• Go with an authorized guide. During nesting season, night access to the protected beaches is limited to guided groups.
• No flash and no white light. Not from phones, cameras or flashlights. Guides use red or infrared light.
• Keep your distance and stay behind the turtle. Never stand in front of her or between her and the sea.
• Do not touch the turtle, the eggs or the hatchlings. Not even to “help” a hatchling to the water.
• Keep quiet and follow the guide’s instructions at every moment.

What to Bring

• Dark clothes, ideally long sleeves and long pants
• Comfortable closed shoes for walking on sand at night
• Insect repellent
• Water
• A phone with the flash turned off, or no phone at all

How to Fit Turtles Into a Surf Trip

Turtle tours happen at night, so they never clash with surf lessons, which run in the morning when the wind is lightest. A typical rhythm for a week in Tamarindo is a surf session in the morning, rest or an easy afternoon, and one evening set aside for a turtle tour.

Planning the whole trip? Our Costa Rica surf trip guide covers when to go, which airport to fly into and a ready-made 7-day plan. For other afternoon and evening ideas, see the best things to do in Tamarindo.