Sea turtles in Guanacaste
Arribadas, leatherbacks and the rules for visitors, from SINAC.
Turtle nights, in short
This page covers the two protected areas on this site that SINAC describes for sea turtles. At Ostional Wildlife Refuge, SINAC describes olive ridley arribadas, mass nestings once or twice a month all year, and requires a local guide during them. At Las Baulas Marine National Park, created for the leatherback, SINAC's page says there is no turtle watching.
Ostional's listed rules cover light and disturbance: no reflective clothing at night, no flash for night photography, no campfires, no motor vehicles and no horseback tours on the sand. The guide's cost is not part of Ostional's entry fee, and the local guides' association numbers are on the Ostional page.
Our explanation of the quoted facts on this page; it adds no facts of its own.
In SINAC's words
El RNVS Ostional protege el principal sitio en el mundo de anidación y reproducción de la tortuga lora (Lepidochelys olivacea).Our translation Ostional protects the world's main nesting and breeding site of the olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea).
Las arribadas, fenómeno de anidación masiva, ocurre en aproximadamente 800 metros de la playa, se producen durante todo el año, una o dos veces al mes y llegan entre quince mil y doscientos mil hembras.Our translation Arribadas, mass nesting events, happen on about 800 meters of the beach, all year round, once or twice a month, with between fifteen thousand and two hundred thousand females.
Durante las arribadas de tortugas marinas, el ingreso deberá realizarse obligatoriamente con el acompañamiento de una persona guía de turismo local. El costo de este servicio no está incluido en la tarifa de ingresoOur translation During sea turtle arribadas, entry must be with a local tour guide. The guide's cost is not included in the entry fee.
Si va de noche, no vaya con ropa reflectiva.Our translation If you go at night, don't wear reflective clothing.
Es importante tener presente que en RNVS Ostional no se permite: El ingreso de vehículos motorizados (incluyendo motos y cuatrimotos), que dañan la arena y afectan gravemente los ecosistemas y las especies protegidas. Tours a caballo en la arena, ya que ponen en riesgo los nidos de tortugas y afectan su hábitat. Generación de basura, que contamina las playas y pone en riesgo a la fauna silvestre. Actividades como fogatas, uso de flash para fotografías nocturnas y presencia de animales domésticos en áreas protegidas.Our translation Keep in mind that the following are not allowed at Ostional: motor vehicles (including motorcycles and ATVs), which damage the sand and seriously harm ecosystems and protected species; horseback tours on the sand, which put turtle nests at risk; littering; and activities such as campfires, flash for night photography and domestic animals in protected areas.
Esta área silvestre se creó con el fin de brindar protección a las poblaciones de tortugas baulas que llegan a anidar a las playa Grande, Ventanas y Langosta.Our translation This area was created to protect the leatherback turtles that nest on Playa Grande, Ventanas and Langosta.
La tortuga baula es una especie en estado crítico de extinción a nivel mundialOur translation The leatherback is critically endangered worldwide.
El Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas es visitada por tres especies de tortugas: tortuga baula (Dermochelys coriacea), tortuga lora (Lepidochelys olivacea), tortuga negra (Chelonia agassizii).Our translation Three turtle species visit the park: leatherback, olive ridley and black (green) turtle.
No hay observación de tortugas y la visita al estero es a través de guías locales. No es necesario reservarOur translation There is no turtle watching, and estuary visits are with local guides. No reservation needed.
Exceptuando la época de desove de tortugas (octubre-febrero) que se permite la estadía en la playa hasta las 5:00 PM.Our translation Except in the turtle nesting season (October to February), when staying on the beach is allowed until 5:00 PM.