Turtle spawning in Tortuguero
Recommended by 94% of travelers
Tortuguero, Costa Rica
+3
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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What's Included
- LockerPicks up at the meeting point
- Admission Fee - Payment of 7,000 Colons , must be paid directly to the Cash Guide in Dollars or its equivalent in Colons
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
What To Expect
1
Tortuguero National Park
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 34 reviews
What can only be described as a privilege to have observed one of life’s greatest events.
Our guides Antonio and his wife Carla were incredible, fully describing the process, what to expect (if you are lucky enough that nature allows) and most importantly the strict rules to comply with turtle conservation.
We were still early in the green turtle season on 12th July and had the pleasure of witnessing a turtle come ashore.
We then observed another turtle laying her eggs and saw the beginning of the nest covering and disguising process.
Finally, we were lucky enough to see a third turtle returning to the sea.
An experience we will never forget and made all the better by our guides Antonio and Carla.
Thank you both for an unforgettable start to our Costa Rican adventure.
Well arranged. The operator contacted us and made sure that the appointment and the meeting point were communicated clearly to ensure success. They took our personal wishes into account. We were picked up by the guide from our hotel and spotted the turtles close by our hotel.
Overall, we had a pleasant experience with the turtle spawning tour. We went earlier in the season (June) so knew going in that sightings are more inconsistent. Ahead of the tour, the operator messaged us and let us know they had seen turtles the previous few nights. We met our guide at the main dock in town, and she gave us an overview of the night. However, once we got to the beach and started looking for turtles, communication broke down. We ran back and forth across the beach for 3 hrs based on reports of turtles from other guides - but this information was not well communicated to us. Our guide then left our group alone on the beach to look for turtles, but didn't let us know that is what was going on. We did eventually find a turtle, but because there was only 1 turtle all other groups were also there so would spend 30 seconds - 1 minute at a time observing her, before moving on for the next group. Would have liked some of these expectations outlined at the start (especially the time with the turtle), but my partner and I are wildlife professionals so also understand that is the way of nature sometimes! At the end the tour operator helped us to arrange a late night boat taxi back to our hotel which was much appreciated!
Antonio contacted me via whatsapp several days before the tour and was very helpful. We also booked a canoe tour with him (great experience) in the morning and he told us it might be his wife who would ben our guide.
Carla, his wife, was right on time for the 8pm tour. She explained how the tour was organised and gave us useful information about the turtles. She really wanted us to see the turtles spawning of the green turtle. Carla was in contact with Antonio and other guides all night, to make sure that we get to live the full experience. Around 10 pm, a turtle was spotted and we got to see the spawning. There was a lot of people, so we had to go turn by turn, so everyone could see the turtle layed its eggs. At this point, we decided to go home because my youngest son was exhausted. Carla and Antonio made sure we got home safely. All in all, we had a very good experience, eventhough it took a lot of time before we got to see the turtle.
I was up sold to a boat with the expectation of being on the beach for a longer amount of time: mislead that we would be there 2 hour tour. Took less then an hour total including boat ride. I would do the experience again, but with a different company.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Something very important the tour is two hours to try to see the processes allowed by the national park, if before two hours we see, sprow and see the Turtles, we return earlier, so as not to impact the environment too much and not disturb the Turtles
Owen our guide was amazing. He was so knowledgeable, obviously cared about the turtles. We were a small group and he got us there early for a briefing and we were then straight out to see the amazing turtle spawning. It was an amazing experience.
One note, you’re allocated a sector on the beach, ours was miles away so there was an extra $8 fee for a boat ride.
Overall an incredible experience that we will remember forever and far better than the more expensive, large group tour the hotel was offering.
When I booked it said operator was tortutravel for which Antonio was quite helpful. But turned out the tour was conducted by Leonardo tours which was extremely well done. I just don’t like the fact that you book with one company and ended with another. Amazing experience watching green sea turtle laying her eggs then compacting her nest. We didn’t stay for her to return to sea. Leonardo extremely knowledgeable about turtles and the patrol practices. Awesome surprise to see this when we visited in the last few days of the season. Thank you so much!!
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Hello thank you very much for your nice review, yes I am the owner and also a local guide of Tortuguero, but we divide the work in group, you contracted with our company and a colleague of ours has done the tour.
Very beautiful experience and truly in contact with nature, we witnessed the egg laying and a team of volunteers performed a check-up on the turtle, ensuring its health.
A negative note: we were asked for an additional payment, which was not expected at the beginning, of 7 dollars per person (mandatory).
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Very exciting experience; we saw all the steps of the process from the egg-laying at 1m distance from the turtle.
After the meeting point, you go to another meeting point where all the groups converge. The park assigns the sector where some groups (of 10 people) will go and in that sector there is at least one turtle. We were lucky to see one coming out of the sea and another returning - but this is an extra from nature. You go through in groups to see the turtle and with a red light you see the laying, how they cover it and if you are lucky, how they return or how they arrive and make the nest.
You have to wear closed-toe shoes because there is mud and check the weather well so that the rain does not catch us off guard!
Thanks to Arelis and Antonio, the two guides, who were always attentive and answered our questions!
It was an unforgettable experience!
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From $30.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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