Private transportation
Pickup at your airport, hotel or agreed location. A vehicle selected around your route, group and luggage, with the return to your airport or next destination coordinated from the start.
GUANACASTE · MULTI-DAY WILDLIFE EXPERIENCEOstional Turtle Tour.
Ostional Turtle Tour.
Arrive for something extraordinary.
Private transportation, a stay near the coast and turtle viewing with accredited local guides. We connect the journey around nature’s timing.
Plan My Ostional TripCover photo source · Original publication
Multi-day · Tailor-madePrivate round-trip transportationAccommodation coordinationAccredited community guides
THE ARRIBADA
Thousands of journeys. One remarkable beach.
At Playa Ostional, olive ridley turtles come ashore together to nest in an event known as an arribada. The dark sand, Pacific surf and determined movement of the turtles create one of Costa Rica’s unforgettable wildlife encounters.
Ostional lies on the Nicoya Peninsula in Guanacaste, near Nosara. The national wildlife refuge also protects coastal areas around Nosara, Pelada and Guiones. It is a wildlife refuge, rather than a national park.
Plan a window. Confirm with the people on the beach.
Arribadas can occur through the year. The larger gatherings are generally associated with the rainy season, particularly July–November. Their start, duration and size vary. A lunar calendar cannot guarantee a turtle-viewing date.
We use recent refuge and accredited-guide updates to coordinate your travel window, then reconfirm local activity and access. Tell us whether your dates are flexible. If your flights are fixed, we will explain the available options before you commit.
Wildlife sightings and mass nesting are never guaranteed. Hatchling emergence is a separate stage, weeks after nesting.
Arribada season · WCA Nosara ↗ · Refuge updates ↗ · AGLO local guides ↗
We arrange the travel. Local specialists lead the encounter.
A place to stay
We look for accommodation near Ostional or Nosara around your comfort preferences and budget. Hotel selection, number of nights and room arrangements are confirmed in your personalized proposal.
Community-guided access
We coordinate with accredited local guides for responsible turtle viewing. Beach access follows refuge instructions, actual wildlife activity and permitted visiting conditions.
Three days, two nights — adapted to your trip.
This is an example, not a fixed departure or guaranteed viewing schedule. More nights can give your visit greater flexibility.
Day 1 · Travel to the coast
Private pickup and travel to your confirmed accommodation. Settle in and review the latest local reports with our team. A viewing session is arranged only if current conditions and authorized access allow it.
Day 2 · A flexible wildlife day
Keep your schedule open around the accredited guide’s confirmed viewing window. Between activities, enjoy time at your accommodation or explore nearby areas as agreed in your itinerary.
Day 3 · Your onward journey
Return transportation to your airport, hotel or next destination. We plan the departure around your onward arrangements and route conditions.
Transportation, lodging, guide services, admission, meals and optional activities are itemized in your quote. Nothing is assumed included until it is confirmed in writing.
Meet the olive ridley turtle.
| Species | Lepidochelys olivacea — olive ridley sea turtle |
|---|---|
| Adult size | About 60–75 cm in length; one of the smaller sea turtles. |
| Lifespan | They live for decades; their exact lifespan is not known. |
| Eggs per nest | Around 100, with natural variation. |
| Incubation | Approximately 45–65 days, depending on conditions. |
| Hatchling sex | Influenced by sand temperature during incubation. |
From the first tracks to the first swim.
VISIT WITH CARE
The turtles set the pace.
- Enter with a SINAC-accredited community guide and follow all refuge instructions.
- Keep your distance. Never block a turtle’s route, touch turtles, disturb nests or handle hatchlings.
- No flash photography. Use lighting only as directed by your guide.
- Stay with your group, keep noise low and take your rubbish with you.
- Ask about walking conditions and accessibility before booking; this is a natural beach environment.
Ostional turtle tour: frequently asked questions
When is the next Ostional arribada?
There is no guaranteed advance date. We check recent refuge and local-guide reports when planning your visit and reconfirm before beach access. Lunar phases are a planning reference, not a reservation calendar.
Is this a one-day tour?
No. We plan Ostional as a multi-day experience with an overnight stay near Ostional or Nosara. A three-day, two-night outline is shown below; the actual length is tailored to your starting point, dates and wildlife activity.
Do I need a guide to see the turtles?
Yes. We coordinate turtle-viewing access with a community guide accredited by SINAC. The guide and refuge determine permitted access, group arrangements and the viewing schedule.
Can I see nesting turtles and hatchlings on the same visit?
They are different stages of the nesting cycle. Hatchlings may emerge weeks after eggs are laid. Either may be present depending on current conditions, but neither is guaranteed and hatchlings are never handled for a visitor photograph.
What does Come See Costa Rica coordinate?
Private transportation to and from the area, lodging options and locally guided turtle viewing. Your written quotation identifies the accommodation, nights, guide services, admission, meals and any optional activities that are included or charged separately.
Can you pick us up at SJO, LIR or our hotel?
Tell us your pickup point and where you want to finish the trip. We coordinate an appropriate vehicle for your route, travelers and luggage, including the return to the airport or your next destination.
Tell us your dates. We’ll coordinate the rest.
Send your pickup location, preferred dates or flexible travel window, number of travelers, luggage and lodging preferences. We will prepare a multi-day proposal with private transportation and local coordination.
Request My Ostional Trip