The 5 Best Places To See Sea Turtles In Costa Rica

A hatchling leatherback turtle

You would think the best place to see a sea turtle would be in the sea, right?

After all, sea turtle. 

But that’s not always the case. 

The best place to see a sea turtle is actually on the beach. Firstly, when a female is laying her eggs. Secondly, when baby sea turtles emerge from their nest. 

But sea turtles don’t visit any old beach. They return to the same beach they were born, up to 80 years previous. 

For me, the best places to see sea turtles in Costa Rica are Ostional, Cabuyal, Tortuguero, Isla Damas, and Golfo Dulce. In this article, we’ll be exploring these areas in more detail and showcasing just why they are so special. 

Sea Turtles in Costa Rica

An olive-ridley sea turtle coming ashore at Ostional

Costa Rica is one of the best destinations in the world for seeing sea turtles in the wild. 

Out of the 7 extant sea turtle species, 5 can be found nesting on the coasts of Costa Rica. 

In our previous articles, we do a deep dive into the types of sea turtles in Costa Rica, as well as threats facing them.

From the world-famous olive-ridley arribadas of Ostional to the vast green turtle nesting beaches of Tortuguero, each location offers a unique opportunity to experience these ancient reptiles whilst supporting vital conservation efforts.

Having spent several years working in sea turtle conservation in Costa Rica, I've had the privilege of monitoring nesting females, relocating vulnerable nests, collecting scientific data, and releasing hatchlings back into the ocean. 

From years of experience, these are my best places to see sea turtles in Costa Rica.

1. Ostional

An arribada of olive-ridley turtles at Ostional. Picture credit AFP.

Few wildlife spectacles rival an arribada.

Picture tens of thousands of olive-ridley sea turtles emerging from the ocean over a period of just a few days.

Yup, that’s an arribada. 

In Spanish, the term means “mass arrival” which seems fitting. 

There are 5 major arribada locations - hosting over 100,000 nests annually - and Ostional, in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste province, is one such site. 

But Ostional is even more special.

In the rainy season, specifically between the months September and November, up to 500,000 Olive Ridley sea turtles can emerge. That’s almost incomprehensible. 

The reason why these turtles nest together in such large numbers is relatively unknown. However, the most likely reason is “predator swamping”.

Laying such sheer numbers of eggs in a very short period of time means, whilst many eggs will get predated on, many more will hatch and make it to the ocean.

But the very best thing about Ostional?

You can witness this spectacle for yourself - even during daylight hours.
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With a specialised guide, they will take you onto the beach where thousands of turtles are laying their eggs.

2. Cabuyal

Working along Costa Rican marine biologist, Vero, in Cabuyal

​Playa Cabuyal holds a very special place in my heart.

It was here that I worked alongside the Leatherback Trust monitoring nesting sea turtles. 

Where some beaches only see one or two turtle species, Cabuyal has four nesting species of sea turtles - green, olive-ridley, leatherback, and occasionally hawksbills. 

My work involved patrolling the mile-long beach in search of sea turtles. 

Throughout the nesting season, we encountered leatherback turtles, the largest turtles on Earth, alongside olive-ridley and East Pacific green turtles (locally known as negras). 

Sounds like a dream, right? And for the most part, it absolutely is. 

But sometimes, doing a nightly patrol at 2am, your mind starts to play tricks on you. One of my favourites games to play was “is it a rock or is it a turtle?”. In most cases, it was a rock…

Then there would be times when my heart would skip a beat from excitement. 

Every so often, we'd spot the unmistakable tracks of a leatherback. Unlike the neat, narrow trails left by olive ridleys, a leatherback's track is enormous - well over a metre wide in places - and impossible to mistake. 

Sometimes, we’d catch her in her egg-laying trance, where we’d take measurements and check for tags (or fit a new one if required). The data collected from the measurements and tags allow scientists and conservationists to monitor population sizes and trends. 

Occasionally, we’d have to relocate a clutch of eggs to prevent poachers - one of the biggest threats still facing turtles today.

3. Tortuguero

Tortuguero Beach is a hotspot for green sea turtles

There is perhaps no destination more synonymous with sea turtles than Tortuguero. 

This remote Caribbean village, accessible only by boat or plane, has become one of the world's most important nesting sites for green sea turtles.

Home to the Sea Turtle Conservancy - the world's oldest sea turtle conservation organisation - continuous sea turtle research has been undertaken here since 1959.

Their work helped transform Tortuguero into a protected National Park and laid the foundations for modern sea turtle conservation globally.

Between July and October, thousands of green turtles arrive to nest on Tortuguero's black sand beaches, while smaller numbers of leatherback and hawksbill turtles also use the coastline. 

Visitors can join strictly regulated night walks with licensed guides, ensuring turtles are observed responsibly without disrupting their nesting behaviour.
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Tortuguero is also home to the Tortuguero National Park. Spreading over 190,000 acres, this pristine ecosystem, along with the many many turtles here, offers a stronghold in jaguar populations. 

4. Isla Damas

Lots of olive-ridley turtles about to be released

On the outskirts of Quepos, in Costa Rica's Puntarenas Province, Tortugas de Isla Damas is a small community-led project that focuses on protecting the vulnerable olive-ridley sea turtle. 

Owing to the remote and rugged terrain, actually seeing nesting females is quite hard. 

However, it is one of the best places to see baby sea turtles. 

Between the months of June - October, local conservationists protect developing eggs until they hatch. Then, with the help of volunteers, these hatchlings get released back into the ocean. 

The experience is very authentic. Despite being close to the popular tourist hotspot of Manuel Antonio, it feels very raw to be part of this activity. 

And, like some of the other projects mentioned, you can get involved. You can read all about our time working with Tortugas Isla Damas as we released baby sea turtles back into the ocean.

5. Golfo Dulce

Measuring a recently caught hawksbill turtle in Golfo Dulce

Ok, not a beach per se, more an entire area.

The Golfo Dulce is one of the only tropical fjords in the world. And this makes it a highly sought-after destination for a variety of species. 

One of which is the hawksbill turtle. 

Critically endangered, Hawksbills are the rarest sea turtle species in Costa Rica and found in very few locations. 

Fortunately, the calm waters of the Golfo Dulce have attracted a year-round breeding population. 

The Golfo Dulce is also full of sponges, which are the main food source for hawksbill turtles. Couple this, with a ban on the use of fishing nets, the area seems very inviting indeed for hawksbills. 

Sea turtle conservation groups, such as L.A.S.T (Latin American Sea Turtle) Association, routinely monitor populations of hawksbill turtles - both in-water and on beach patrols. 

I have the privilege of joining the team in February 2026 to see the work carried out firsthand. 

It was incredible to see local guides and conservationists diving in the water, at night, to bring turtles onto a boat to record data. 

Sea Turtles at Playa Grande ​

A leatherback sea turtle. Picture credit The Leatherback Trust

Playa Grande, as the name suggests (check out our Tico Spanish Guide), is a large beach spanning over 5km on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. 

Close to the highly-developed town of Tamagringo, sorry, I mean Tamarindo, Playa Grande has become exceptionally popular in recent years. 

If you have already had a quick look online, you might have noticed that Playa Grande regularly comes up as one of the best places to see sea turtles in Costa Rica. 

And yes, it was. Was. 

Historically, Playa Grande was a leatherback hotspot in Costa Rica, with many hundreds of females coming ashore to lay their eggs. 

In the 2023/24 nesting season, just 3 leatherbacks nested on the shores of Playa Grande. That’s a plummet of 99% over the past three decades. 

This more than significant crash has made the Eastern Pacific leatherback one of the most critically endangered sea turtle subpopulations in the world. 

This is seriously alarming, and continues to showcase the threats facing sea turtles in Costa Rica. And perhaps the biggest cause for their decline is a combination of bycatch and climate change.

I have mixed feelings about Playa Grande. 

Yes, it is a gorgeous beach and surrounded by an incredible wildlife reserve. 

And it was the first beach I ever saw a leatherback turtle - a sight I’ll never forget. 

The beach, and sighting, later inspired me to work alongside The Leatherback Trust at both Playa Grande and Playa Cabuyal. 

However, is it the best place to see nesting leatherback turtles now?

No. Unfortunately. 

So why am I writing about it? Well, a number of travel guides still recommend Playa Grande as a must-see destination for leatherback nesting. But it's worth understanding how dramatically nesting numbers have changed. 

Where To See Leatherback Turtles in Costa Rica?

So if not Playa Grande, where do you go instead to see leatherbacks?

Moin Beach, on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast near Limon, is a highly significant nesting site for leatherback turtles

This 15km stretch of beach is a major sanctuary where hundreds of leatherbacks come to lay their eggs. 

However, the area, and turtles themselves, remain heavily threatened by human activities. Ongoing conservation efforts are in place to tackle these issues. 

On the Caribbean coast, the optimal months to witness leatherback nesting is between March - May. 

On the Pacific Coast, however, October - December are considered peak months. I was  fortunate to work with wild leatherbacks in Guanacaste in December. 

Responsible Turtle Watching ​

At Cecropia Travel, we take responsible tourism very seriously. We want to showcase the beauty of Costa Rica’s natural world without harming our planet further.

As wildlife tourists, we have a responsibility to ensure our presence does not interfere with the natural behaviours of wildlife.

Below, we’ve listed a few pointers to follow not just on a turtle tour, but any wildlife watching tour:
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• Always join a tour led by a certified local guide.
• Never use flash photography, as it can disorient nesting females and hatchlings.
• Wear dark clothing during night tours to minimise disturbance.
• Keep noise to a minimum and follow your guide's instructions at all times.
• Stay behind the turtle and never block her path back to the ocean.
• Never touch nesting females, eggs, or hatchlings unless instructed by authorised conservation staff as part of a recognised conservation programme.
• Avoid leaving litter on beaches, and take all rubbish with you.
• Support community-led conservation initiatives, as your visit can directly contribute to protecting nesting beaches and funding ongoing research. Cecropia Travel can assist you with choosing a particular project. 

Final Thoughts ​

Every year, hundreds of thousands of turtles return to Costa Rica’s Pacific and Caribbean beaches to lay their eggs.

And beaches are some of the best places to see sea turtles in the wild. 

For me, I have a strong affiliation with some beaches - such as Cabuyal and Isla Damas. 

Others, such as Ostional and Tortuguero, are world-renowned hotspots for turtle activities.

If you would like to get involved with turtle conservation, explore our conservation itinerary and contact our team today.