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Turtle Nesting Tour: An Unforgettable Experience on Hidden Beaches
4.5
107 Ratings
Tamarindo
Spend a truly unforgettable evening observing turtles nesting!
- Venture off the beaten track to beautiful, hidden beaches
- Look for turtle tracks in the sand that will lead you to their nesting sites
- Observe sea turtles making their nests on the beach above the high tide mark and laying their eggs, before returning to the ocean
Spend a truly unforgettable evening observing turtles nesting!
- Venture off the beaten track to beautiful, hidden beaches
- Look for turtle tracks in the sand that will lead you to their nesting sites
- Observe sea turtles making their nests on the beach above the high tide mark and laying their eggs, before returning to the ocean
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Playa Mina - We’ll pick you up from your location in Tamarindo before driving approximately 17 miles / 25km or 40 minutes through scenic tracks to a hidden beach, close to the beautiful Playa Minas. Once parked, the turtle nesting beach is only accessible via a 10-15 minute walk. As the beach is inaccessible by car it remains dark and undisturbed…
- Playa Mina - We’ll pick you up from your location in Tamarindo before driving approximately 17 miles / 25km or 40 minutes through scenic tracks to a hidden beach, close to the beautiful Playa Minas. Once parked, the turtle nesting beach is only accessible via a 10-15 minute walk. As the beach is inaccessible by car it remains dark and undisturbed for nesting sea turtles. This is why they choose to nest on this beach.
On reaching the beach we’ll walk looking for turtle tracks, which will lead us to where the turtles are making their nests. We’ll then sit facing the back of the turtle. observe them deposit their eggs and return to the water; a truly unforgettable experience!
It is possible to see more than one kind of turtle; including the green, black, olive ridley and if we’re lucky the leatherbacks too.
We respect the turtles at all times by closely following rules laid out by the government conservation authorities so as not to be noticed by the turtles while observing them very closely.
We’ll spend approximately an hour on the beach before returning to drop you off at your location in Tamarindo.
Minimum 2 bookings are needed for the tour to operate.
What's Included
- Bottled water
- Flash Light
- Snacks
- Bottled water
- Flash Light
- Snacks
What's Not Included
- Gratuity
- Long sleeve top and trousers, must be dark clothing as not to distract the turtles
- Comfortable shoes for walking
- Mosquito Repellent
- Gratuity
- Long sleeve top and trousers, must be dark clothing as not to distract the turtles
- Comfortable shoes for walking
- Mosquito Repellent
Location
Pangas Beach Club
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.5
(107 Ratings)
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44collina
Sep 12, 2025
10/10 Great - Louis was a really great guide after we didn't find a turtle at the first beach we went to a second beach and found a turtle building her nest. Louis told us many informations about the turtles. All in all it was a great experience. It was in September.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katie_l
Sep 2, 2025
Once in-a-lifetime turtle experience!!! - We booked this tour at the last minute and in the off-season, fully expecting we might not see anything and that would be perfectly fine. Well, it turned into one of the most unforgettable nights of my life. Luis took us to a beautiful, secluded beach where the sunset alone was worth the trip — the sky was bursting with oranges and pinks. I even got to see & hold sea urchins and a had a little starfish that wrap around my finger.
Luis shared fascinating facts about turtles and explained how so many conditions have to align for nesting to occur, and it is not always likely! Nature is unpredictable and the stars must truly align. Just as he said that it was unlikely and he finished telling us about these magnificent creatures…a turtle ACTUALLY emerged from the ocean right in front of us! It was like a movie! We quietly watched as she slowly crawled up the beach and laid more than 50 eggs; something I never imagined I’d witness. Not to be graphic, but we saw the amniotic fluid start to flow out and then the eggs!
Again, the sunset alone is worth the trip! Even without turtles, this tour would have been amazing, but with Luis’s passion and knowledge plus the miracle we saw, it was absolutely a memorable & unexpected moment.
Review provided by Viator
F5320dserinc
Sep 2, 2025
Once in a lifetime experience - This tour was amazing and once in a lifetime! We were very lucky and saw a turtle come up on the beach right when it got dark, even though it’s not peak season. We were able to see her make her nest and deposit her eggs. The whole experience from pickup to drop off was about 5 hours and we learned so much from our tour guide Luis. The only thing that could have made the experience better was seeing the turtles hatch, but that’s on us for not booking in the correct season. Would highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rickwz7117mm
Aug 25, 2025
Once in a lifetime experience - We were so lucky. The turtle came very shortly after dark. We stayed the entire 3+ hours until she had safely covered and protected her eggs. Incredible wonder of life experience. Thank you.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kristen_c
Jul 30, 2025
Luis all the way! - We feel so fortunate to have had Luis as our guide. He shared so much sea turtle knowledge with us as well as other useful and interesting information about Costa Rica. If you can nab him for a private tour, I highly recommended! If you can’t, you won’t be disappointed in his group outings either! Our 8-yr-old son ranked Luis as his favorite thing about Costa Rica and man, was he up against some stiff competition: beaches, pool, horses, monkeys, lizards. Thank you, Luis! We will be back!
Review provided by Viator
Escape41347188886
Jul 17, 2025
Stunning Sunset - Wonderful guide. Very knowledgeable and good sense of humor. Beautiful drive and gorgeous beach! Absolutely stunning sunset. Would like to go again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bevwu6789xk
Aug 20, 2025
A Must See- Turtle Nesting - This tour was absolutely amazing. Luis our tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable regarding the turtles and their nesting. We were so fortunate that shortly after it got dark we saw a turtle coming up from the ocean to start the nesting process. We watched the whole process and were able to take photos and video. Looking forward to going again in 60 days to see if we can experience the hatching of the eggs. A highly recommended tour as it was an amazing experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hailey_c
Oct 18, 2025
Although we saw no... - Although we saw no turtles, it does not affect the 3-star rating of this review. Luis was very informative, nice, and helpful during our experience; however, I have never been more terrified in my life.
This experience required getting in the car with a stranger and nobody else, driving through the worst roads we’ve ever experienced in the middle of nowhere, without service, and walking along a dark beach on high alert for both turtles and aggressors. I have never experienced more signs of a possible kidnapping. It was terrifying, but it ended up completely fine.
We were given guidance to do this during peak season (January-April). Regardless, you should expect the bumpiest car ride of your life, but you will be perfectly safe and Luis is a good guide.
Review provided by Viator
Tammy_m
Jul 6, 2025
MIssed the turtles... - We really liked our guide Luis. He had a lot information to share about turtles. Unfortunately, we did not see any turtles but we understand that nature is not guaranteed to happen.
Review provided by Viator
Carlbeitz
Oct 21, 2025
Avoid for your own safety - Viator does not regard your safety. We were sent to a meeting point as it got dark, apparently at a restaurant which was not open. It was in a small town with no lights. When we expressed feeling unsafe, we were told to move a block away to a grocery store with only street parking and people all over. I had a rental car and this spot was no better. I had drove an hour to this location and was told the turtle excursion was another 20 min drive away. ? Why couldn’t we meet where the excursion started. I left because my wife was having a panic attack. I asked for a refund but both tour operator and viator would have none of it. Go with someone more reputable. The quite says “ it’s safe” but we are in the dark in the middle of nowhere in a foreign country.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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