Turtle Nesting Tour Daily Tours - Tortuguero Costa Rica

Tortuguero, translated as "land of turtles" is the most important site in the Occidental half of the Caribbean for the nesting of the Green Sea Turtles. Having the opportunity to admire, on a tropical night sky, one of these impressive animals drag herself to the beach, dig a nest and lay the eggs, is definitely a unique experience that will be hardly forgotten.

Still, the turtles are endangered animals, both by natural and human predators.

Tour starts at the beach in front of Mawamba Lodge and is lead by a local guide.

Female Green turtles (Chelonia Mydas) have an average approximate weight of 300 lb (137 kg). They count with several adaptations that permit them to immerse to great depths and stay underwater for long periods of time. They nest mainly at night, to avoid predators and the over heating of the sand at beach during the day.

Sensibility to light: Studies demonstrate that nesting turtles are disturbed by light. Thus, females nest on the darker areas of the beach.
Guides use a red light flashlight, to which turtles are not sensitive. Due to this reason, the use of cameras, video cameras or similar of any kind, are prohibited during the tour.

Smell: Turtles have a developed sense of smell. Females stick their pick in the sand as they make their way to the beach, which suggests they verify that the beach is the right place to nest and also it plays an important role in their orientation. It is possible that if you smoke, drink alcohol or wear perfume during a turtle night tour, you will disturb the nesting. When wearing insect repellant please try to use, if possible, one in cream and not in spray.

Turtle nesting season: July to September.