Pacific Green Turtle Nesting Night Tour
On this tour you will go for a nighttime walk on the beaches of Marino Las Baulas National Park to look for green turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs. Instead of the park’s heavily trafficked Playa Grande, you will head for the lesser-known Minas or Jesus Nombre beaches.
- Duration:
- 4 hrs
- Available Days:
- Sun Wed Fri
- Schedule:
- 5:00 PM
- Hotel Transport Included
- Mobile Ticket Included
- Offered in English, Spanish
Before entering the park the tour group will stop by the park station to register. This is a protected area, and it’s important to abide by the park rules while you’re here. A visit to the Marino las Baulas National Park helps finance the local efforts to protect the area from development that could damage this fragile ecosystem.
Hotels near the beaches keep their windows shaded to prevent light pollution. Visitors are not allowed to take pictures or do anything else that might disturb the turtles.
Green turtles are most likely to come ashore to nest from May until August. Unfortunately, the number of turtles you can expect to see has diminished over the past decade. They no longer reliably appear on the beach during nesting season. But even if you don’t see turtles, rest assured that seeing the moonlit shore will be well worth your while.
If you’re lucky, you will see a green turtle emerge from the waves and head for a spot on the beach near the shoreline. Then the female turtle will dig a shallow hole with her fins, and deposit 65 to 90 eggs. Afterwards the female with cover her eggs with sand and return to the sea. 60 days later tiny hatchlings will emerge, and follow in their mother’s footsteps to the water.
What to Bring
Light jacket and comfortable sandshoes
What's included
Transport, guide and snacks.
Transportation
Many of our tours and activities offer transportation pick up & drop off options from several locations and destinations. Options vary by tour, see “BOOKING REQUEST” for full details.
Traveler Comments
This was second best thing to do on our trip to Costa Rica. With so much going on in the world, and to still see the turtles come to shore and lay her eggs. This is such a peaceful way to spend an evening. Geraldo was a great guide, he made clear of our expectations to protect and respect the turtles, but then there are some people who do not hear well. Either way, I am glad I got to see this.
