Turtle Nesting Tour
4.5

Turtle Nesting Tour

By Sol Eco Adventures
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Ages 4-80, max of 10 per group
Duration: 3–4 hours
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English, Spanish
More


  • Flash Light
  • Bottled water
  • 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


Start:Multiple meeting point options.
  • Option 1
    Pangas Beach Club, Main road to Tamarindo, 500m SW from Auto Mercado, in front of El Tesoro, Provincia de Guanacaste, Tamarindo, 50309, Costa Rica
    We will meet on the road across from the entrance to Pangas Beach Club
  • Option 2
    Provincia de Guanacaste, Huacas, Costa Rica
    We will meet at Supermercado La Oruga
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 215677P2

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Most travellers can participate
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 215677P2

    From
    £44.47
    per adult
    Select date and travellers
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    Similar experiences

    Itinerary
    • 1
      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.
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Sol Eco Adventures
      223
      Tamarindo, Costa Rica
      Joined in October 2014
    • sguiry28
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Tamarindo estuary kayak
      Took is into the national park and showed us more than we expected! Was very informative and professional. I could definitely tell that Luis cares about what he is doing and showing it in a responsible way.
      Written 11 February 2025
    • LydiaBarrow
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Sharing the sacred space of nesting turtles
      Luis was dedicated, conscientious, and careful that the group didn't intrude on sacred space. Be prepared to wait for turtles to come into shore--they're not on a tour schedule. Be prepared to walk LOTS to where the turtles are. Guides do their best to locate nesting turtles. It's all worth it to share the miracle of nesting turtles.
      Written 7 February 2025
    • Karen B
      0 contributions
      2.0 of 5 bubbles
      Poor experience for the money
      Our guide was crabby. My partner had no kayak experience, and the guide was impatient. Our tour was supposed to be 3 hours, but it only lasted 2 hours.
      Written 30 January 2025
    • 196howardm
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Professor Luis Knows his Stuff
      Luis was an extremely knowledgeable guide....very professional. The kayaking through the mangroves was both fun and beautiful. The walk was fascinating and Luis shared the identity of many of the most prominent flora. Unlike the other tour groups that we passed, Luis respected the Howler Monkeys instead of provoking then like other guides did. We really appreciated that.
      Written 26 January 2025
    • 304joannaw
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great tour with a great guide!!
      Tom was the BEST tour guide for our group of 18!!! He was incredibly kind and knowledgeable about the estuary and the history of the land. He was knowledgeable about the animals and trees and plants found naturally and imported. The hike was more of a nature walk, so it was easy for everyone in our group to do. It was one of the best tours we did and everyone in our group adored Tom!!! Thank you!
      Written 25 August 2024
    • colbyh714
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Awesome time seeing all the animals!
      Got to see lots of birds and monkeys while kayaking and hiking! Luis was very knowledgeable of the history of the area and uses of plants and fruits native there. Would highly suggest if you enjoy seeing different animals and hearing some history. Make sure to bring bug spray as the bugs are relentless
      Written 9 August 2024
    • briancB257KC
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      7 years later we still talk about Tom Sol
      About 7 years ago my wife and I met Tom on the beach and instantly decided to take his tour. He was energetic, kind, and knowledgeable. He was an interesting person and I felt like I knew him from a past life or something. Definitely recommend his tour! All he asked in return for his service was to leave a review, and I promised I would. It’s been on my to-do list for 7 years now and it feels really good to finally do it. Thanks Tom!
      Written 19 June 2024
    • elizabethhN8647BO
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A birthday to remember!
      Fun and easy, private kayaking tour with snorkeling. I surprised my husband on his birthday with this tour. It ended up that it was just us two and the guide on this particular morning. I had been researching snorkeling trips on the area and most reviews said snorkelers were kind of an after thought to drinking or scuba diving trips. We were in it solely for the nature aspect . We happened to take part in Sol Eco Tours turtle nesting tour a few nights prior (also highly recommended) and our guide Luis mention that they also provided this kayak tour to Capitan Island specifically focusing on the nature and history of the island. The price was right so I signed up. We met at a public beach area in Tamarindo @ 8am, Luis met us there with a double kayak and his own along with life jackets, paddles and snorkel gear. He provided clear safety instructions for launch and arrival on the island. He also provided walking sticks for our trek around the island. The easy paddle was about 20 minutes out to the island. Luis taught us about the origins and history of the island. We saw a shell grave yard and got a demonstration of the strength of this large shells. We got to see a large number of hermit crabs fighting over their breakfast. We walked the island and saw tide pools containing amazing creatures, brightly colored fish, tons of starfish, sea slugs and chitons (imposters of trilobites). We also encountered sea birds and larger sneaky crabs. Agave plants and other flora were observed. After exploring the island we were provided with our snorkel gear and instructed where to stay around. Brightly colored and striped fish swam all around. We learned that turning over loose rock encouraged them to come in closer looking for food. It was beautiful. After snorkeling snacks were provided before paddling back to shore. The trip was easy, safe and fun. Luis was easy to understand and very knowledgeable. I would highly recommend any of their tours. **Wear sturdy sandals or sneakers as the island can be pretty slippery in parts and my Teva’s weren’t feeling it for some reason. I also wasn’t a huge fan of flippers and ditched them part way through. I snarfed up my toes a couple times hitting rocks as I swam and the waves moved me around. I would purchase closed toed Keen sandals if I had to do it again just for the toe protection during snorkeling and white water rafting we had also done.
      Written 1 June 2024
    • stephrV7613WG
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastic turtle tour
      This was a great tour! We were fortunate to see baby turtles making it to the ocean and 2 moms making their way to the beach. It was also great to be on the beach in time to see a gorgeous sunset. Make sure you wear good shoes, dark clothes and bring your bug spray. Would do this tour with Tom again!
      Written 25 March 2024
    • emilycP7212PB
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Kayak estuary
      Fantastic communication from Tom from start to finish with the tour. We loved his sense of humour and how he did not patronise us with the kayaking! He trusted us. The short hike was a highlight and seeing how invested and interested and knowledge Tom is about his work is infectious! We saw Monkeys and many birds and learnt about trees! Tom also went above and beyond and helped us organise a transfer 😊
      Written 20 March 2024
    • Sherpa259587
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great kayaking tour!
      We had amazing time kayaking the Tamarindo estuary and the mangrove forest. We saw howler monkeys, sleeping bats, and hawks. Luis Ernesto was a great tour guide explaining the flora and fauna of the region. If you want to learn or see more than just the average boat trip will tell or show you, this is the right tour for you!!
      Written 20 February 2024
    • CaptainHook89
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Estuary tour and hike.
      We had a great boat trip up the estuary with a hike in the jungle. Too windy for the kayak trip, so Tom recommended a switch to the boat trip. So many birds, a young crocodile, monkeys and the iguana. Learned so much from Tom and the boat driver. They kept spotting wildlife where we could hardly see anything. Tom led the hike and has a vast knowledge about the plants and animals. Amazing and highly recommend.
      Written 31 January 2024
    • GoPlaces694058
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Captivating Capitan
      We had a wonderful time with Tom going to Capitan. The paddling was quite the adventure and the island is beautiful. We snorkeled and took a lovely walk and saw animal life and critters and really enjoyed ourselves. Tom was a pleasure. Thank you for starting our vacation in such a lovely way . Now, when we look out on the island from the beach, we know we’ve been there!
      Written 30 January 2024
    • R1602YBclairel
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great trip!
      It was a great time, saw great creatures! Had to paddle hard against the wind but we conquered it! Would go on another trip again!
      Written 21 January 2024
    • SusanS319
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great way to learn about the park and be in nature.
      Had a very fun day kayaking and learning about the history, flora and fawns with Luis. He was very knowledgeable and made the excursion interesting. We were very glad to have spent the morning with him.
      Written 23 December 2023
    See all 223 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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    4.5
    4.5 of 5 bubbles52 reviews
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    43
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    3
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    These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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    J.Gandier
    Gravenhurst, Canada11 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2025 • Couples
    Absolutely stunning!!!!! The sunset alone, is worth it (I don't think other agencies get you there before sunset as we were alone on the beach). As you can see from the pictures the sunset is spectacular.
    The turtle nesting experience is also pretty amazing, but I do worry they are being bothered. This agency is mindful of how many people they bring to not disturb the turtles, but others do not. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and very cautious about not disturbing anything. I would recommend this tour, and pretty much all of his tours to anyone! Sorry my pics are only of the sunset, I felt I just needed the memory of the turtles, not to take pictures of her laying her eggs. It was really awesome though!
    Written 13 January 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Sinah M
    Andernach, Germany12 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2024 • Couples
    For us, this was one of the best experiences in Costa Rica! We met up with Luis in Metapalo and drove to a beautiful beach. Everyone drove their own car, there were four cars in total. At first it was very quiet on the beach, but gradually more and more people arrived. Nevertheless, we had the opportunity to get very close to a turtle and marvel at it laying its eggs. While we waited (there were observation posts set up everywhere on a total of five beaches, which had radio contact), Luis happily explained everything about the turtles that nest on these beaches. We also marveled at the bioluminescence of the plankton.
    When the sighting of a turtle was reported, we drove a short distance by car and had to walk for about 20 minutes (sturdy shoes recommended, flashlights provided) to see the turtle move around on the beach and then see how it builds its nest. There were smaller children in our group, so people wanted to leave earlier. We told Luis that we wanted to stay and he organized a guide to look after us. The crowning glory was also seeing the egg laying! We thank Luis from the bottom of our hearts for the unforgettable night and can wholeheartedly recommend this tour. Thank you Luis
    Written 31 December 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Richard C
    Haywards Heath, UK7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Ask for Luis as your guide. Luis’s sole goal is to get you the chance to see magnificent turtles nesting. They’re unpredictable and very shy, which makes this hard. Luis approaches his task more as a military operation than a family day out. Stragglers are left behind, instructions are to the point and expected to be followed straight away and without question. And you’re going to have to share his patience - nesting turtles don’t follow a schedule, so if that means waiting in silence and darkness for an hour, that’s what you’ll do.

    Why would you pay for this when there are much gentler tour guides out there? Because you will get to see them well before everyone else, with a better view, and a better explanation of what’s happening. And when it’s all done, he’ll refresh you with iced water and Oreos, then expertly guide you around the queue of tourist busses.

    You’ll need decent running shoes, a 4x4 fully CDW’d and ready to do what is what built for, no whinging children, obedience, and a bit of luck.

    But my God it’s worth it. It is SO worth it.
    Written 27 December 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    AK-travelr
    Wenatchee, WA10 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2023 • Family
    We toured with Luis two days: once to kayak into the estuary before sunset, and then to see the nesting sea turtles. Both were outstanding experiences. Off the beaten track to places we never would have ventured alone, with an experienced naturalist (and world traveler) Luis Ernesto.
    We arrived to the deserted beach just at brilliant sunset and immediately observed a turtle dragging herself up the beach to begin excavating her nest, and then the deeper smaller hole into which the eggs are deposited. Much later, several large groups showed up and we departed, feeling grateful to have witnessed this ancient ritual of survival.
    Written 19 December 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    VG119
    Boise, ID4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2023
    I didn’t book a private tour, but my family of four just happened to be the only ones to book the tour for that night. Tom took us to a secluded beach away from all the other turtle nesting tours. It’s a small hike in—nothing difficult, but I wouldn’t wear flip flops. We wore our hiking shoes and I was glad we did.

    We arrived at the beach just as the sun had set and the stars were starting to come out. It was so beautiful. There was only one set of footprints on that beach form the whole day. Far more turtle tracks than anything else.

    While we waited for turtles, Tom explained about the life cycle of sea turtles and the remarkable way in which they travel to Australia to grow and mate and return to the very beach they were born on in Central America to lay there eggs. It’s truly incredible.

    As it got dark, we had the privilege of seeing three adult turtles come up on the beach. None of them chose to lay eggs, but we were able to see these remarkable creatures up close.

    Then we found a nest of baby turtles hatching. The eggs are buried underground. When they hatch they dig themselves out of the nest and work their way towards the ocean. I believe each nest usually has 100-200 eggs. It was amazing to see them all trying to climb their way out and then watching them struggle on down to the ocean. They are adorable!

    This is such a rare and magical experience and one I know my teens will remember their entire lives.

    Tom knew right where to go and wasn’t afraid to take us to the place where he knew we could find turtles even if it was a little harder to get to than the place the other guides started out. He was friendly and knowledgeable.

    You are never guaranteed to see turtles, but your chances are much higher with Tom. And even if we had seen no turtles at all, being on a secluded beach at sunset was pretty amazing by itself.
    Written 31 March 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Yesaswi D
    1 contribution
    2.0 of 5 bubbles
    It was really neat to see the turtle go through its entire nesting process. Luis met us in matalpo and asked us to follow him along with 4 other cars. The experience itself was great to see the title but Luis was not very patient or informative about the ongoing nesting process.

    We also weren’t well prepared for a 4+ hour trip with a child. Us and couple of other families did not eat dinner so we just had to leave around 9pm and missed the actually eggs being laid by 10 mins. Luis told us it would take another 4-5 hours.

    Overall it was great as an experience but not as much with Luis.
    Written 31 December 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Vanessa S
    4 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2024 • Family
    Our tour guide Luis contacted us immediately after booking and wrote us important details about the tour. He organized a meeting point near our accommodation and picked us up there. There were only two of us and so Luis was able to tell us a lot during the trip.
    He only answered questions briefly, but his experience with the turtles was clearly noticeable.
    When we arrived at the beach after about a 40-minute drive, he gave us time to take photos of the sunset.
    When it got dark, Luis walked up and down the beach either with us or alone to look for a nest.
    As we were not the only ones on the beach and the tour guides are all connected by radio, a nest was quickly located. We were able to watch the turtles hatch with the other large group, which was a bit annoying. A unique experience.

    Then it was all about finding a mother turtle looking for a nest. At first there was no chance of that. But Luis was super persistent and didn't give up until we found one.

    All in all, a successful tour. Luis is a bit strange, but very nice and experienced. He knows the animals and respects nature, which was very important to us. That wasn't the case with the other tour group, for example.
    We were satisfied and the price of the tour was definitely worth it.
    Google
    Written 14 April 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Brittney
    Houston, TX18 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2023 • Family
    Although my daughter and I didn’t see any turtles, our guide was very helpful and informative. He was also good about letting us know in advance that the turtles were out of season and may not be visible at our location and offered to take us to other spots further away for a better chance at seeing them, just in case. Great experience and we caught an a e some sunset on an isolated beach. Gorgeous!
    Written 11 August 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Penny B
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2023 • Family
    We took this tour in late February with our 2 sons (9 and 11). These tours are clearly done for the masses and the coordination between all the different tour operators to get in as many tourists as possible makes you feel like you are being herded a bit. But it was still one of the highlights of our trips because our guide was efficient, knew his turtles and how to get us the best sighting available on our night. We were lucky to see mama turtles digging nests and babies making their way to the sea in their natural environment. Our two kids coped well with the trekking, waiting and following of turtles in the night.
    Written 7 March 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Chad S
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2023
    It was a great experience! Our guide / Luis was a ton of fun with great knowledge to share. He got us to the beach at dusk, which gave us a beautiful view - and sure enough, almost like he had someone plant it, a sea turtle was emerging from the water. We were the first group there, so got more of a private experience than the others. The hike is a bit steep, dark and rocky etc, so if you're uneasy with moderately challenging hikes you may want to reconsider. Otherwise, it was wonderful and Luis was a treat.
    Written 23 January 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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    Turtle Nesting Tour provided by Sol Eco Adventures

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