One of Costa Rica’s most celebrated natural attractions is witnessing baby turtles hatch on the beaches of Tortuguero National Park, located on the northern Caribbean coast about 50 miles northwest of San José by air. The park features an intricate network of rivers, canals, lagoons and rainforest, as well as long sandy beaches where several species of endangered sea turtles—such as green, leatherback and hawksbill—come to nest.
Nesting seasons vary by species. On the Caribbean coast, leatherback turtles typically nest from March through July. Leatherbacks are among the planet’s oldest turtle species, having existed for more than 150 million years, and they are the largest of the sea turtles and one of the biggest reptiles alive today. Adults can range from about 4 to 8 feet in length and weigh between 500 and 2,000 pounds. After eggs have incubated in the warm sand for seven to ten weeks, the hatchlings usually emerge after dark. Newly hatched leatherbacks measure only around four inches long; they scramble by the hundreds down the beach with frantic flipper strokes toward the surf, then paddle out to begin their ocean life.
Tortuguero village serves as a convenient base for visitors hoping to observe this remarkable event. The village offers a range of accommodations, local restaurants and tour operators experienced in arranging guided beach visits and turtle-watching outings, helping visitors enjoy the experience responsibly while minimizing disturbance to the animals.