Witnessing Costa Rica’s Extraordinary Turtle Nesting Phenomenon

Niccolo Duranti

Oct 8

3 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

Some nights in Costa Rica deserve to be left open.

You might be at LingaLonga Villas, watching the last light settle over Hacienda Pinilla, when word comes that turtles are arriving at Ostional. Dinner plans shift. Shoes are found. Everyone piles into the car with the particular excitement of knowing they are about to see something they could never arrange for themselves.

Ostional is famous for the arribada, one of the natural world’s greatest spectacles. During these mass nesting events, olive ridley sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs along the same stretch of Pacific coast. They nest here year-round, but the largest arrivals tend to occur during the rainy season, particularly in September and October. No one can promise you an arribada on a particular night. That unpredictability is part of what makes the call so thrilling.

Two sea turtles on a beach in Costa Rica.

Under the Stars at Ostional

Your accredited guide leads you onto the sand. At first you hear only the surf. Then, as your eyes adjust, you begin to see them: a turtle emerging from the water, another moving farther up the beach, the unmistakable trails their flippers leave behind.

An arribada can bring turtles ashore in astonishing numbers, but even watching one feels extraordinary. You see how much effort it takes her to cross the sand. You wait as she chooses a place to nest. Around you, a journey that began long before your evening plans continues quietly, at its own pace, guided by starlight.

Ostional National Wildlife Refuge requires visitors to enter with an accredited guide. Your guide helps you understand what you are seeing and, just as crucially, where to stand so the turtles have space to nest.

A Second Chance at Wonder

If your visit falls at the right moment, you might see hatchlings emerge from the sand and begin their journey to the ocean. Suddenly the beach feels enormous. The little turtles move toward the water instinctively while everyone watches from a respectful distance, willing them onward without stepping in. Artificial lights can disorient hatchlings, so your guide’s advice on lights and photography matters here.

The coast near LingaLonga has another famous turtle story. Playa Grande is historically known for leatherback nesting and is part of Las Baulas Marine National Park. The park is currently closed to turtle observation, but other guided tours are available at nearby beaches such as Playa Minas. Ask about permitted guided visits when planning a turtle experience.

The Story That Comes Home With You

Later, back at your private villa in Hacienda Pinilla, the night follows you in. Someone makes tea. Someone tries to explain just how many turtles they saw. Someone else is still thinking about the smallest hatchling making its way across the sand.

Morning brings coffee, a swim, and the luxury of taking the day slowly. But the best part of staying in a Costa Rica villa rental may be the freedom to follow an unexpected invitation. Keep an evening open. If the turtles arrive while you are here, you will want to answer it.

Ask the LingaLonga Villas team about current guided viewing opportunities before your stay. Nesting and hatching are natural events, and sightings cannot be guaranteed.