Tortuguero Turtle Viewing

Turtle Viewing

Green Sea Turtle Season

Nesting: June until October (frequency greatest in September)
Hatching: End of August until December

Leatherback Turtle Season

Nesting: March until June

The Tortuguero beach is closed off to the public at 6 pm during the turtle nesting season, and regulations on how and when you can view the turtles are very strict. Visitors are only permitted to enter the beach with a certified guide. The number of people on the 35 km beach at one time is limited to 200, and there are only two allotted time slots with two hour windows each night during which viewing can take place. Its nature, nothing is guaranteed and unfortunately if you do not see a turtle nesting within your allocated time slot, you are out of luck that night. The two time slots are 8pm to 10pm or 10pm to 12am, and guides are given a sector of beach they are allowed to take groups.

First the group remains off the beach while a scout locates a turtle, then only after it has made its nest and is in the egg-laying process is access permitted to view it. A green turtle will not come ashore or will turn back to the water if any sound or movement on the beach is detected. For this reason the regulations are strict. No flashlights or cameras are allowed on the beach, which means groups have to follow the guide, equipped with a red-light, in an almost Congo-line fashion to avoid the driftwood debris. The reward is to witness the large animal laying over 100 eggs, then covering the nest over and returning to the ocean. Take rain gear to protect yourself against the very high possibility of rain at night.

Nine months after nesting, during August until December, the hatchlings begin there journey to the sea and beyond. Witnessing this event is possible though chances are not high. It is said that 1 out of a 1000 hatchlings survive, and the female survivors will return to the exact same beach to nest in her maturity. The females nest every two to three years, coming to shore two to six times to nest in a season. The males once they hatch and make it to the water remain there for the rest of their lives, never again returning to shore.