Nearby banana plantation
Tortuguero is one of the most lush and biodiverse places in Costa Rica. Although it is the largest nesting site in the country for green sea turtles, it is also home to three other species of turtle, along with countless birds, insects and reptiles. The area is also surrounded by lush banana plantations, which can make for an interesting day trip.
The Arribada
New mother
“If we don’t see some turtles this time, I’m gonna be ticked,” Kris said as we approached Playa Ostional.
It was 5:10 a.m., and for a half hour we’d been on the Gilded Iguana’s ATVs, and crossing the same precarious bridges and rivers as yesterday – although today they somehow seemed less perilous. After leaving at 3:00pm the day before, we found out the hard way that turtles don’t like to nest in bright sunlight – the best time to come is at night or first thing in the morning. I sent a mental hug of gratitude to Dave, the owner of Villa Tortuga, for stocking our room with so much coffee, without which none of us would have been able to drag ourselves out of bed so early.
If At First You Don’t Succeed…Try,Try Again!
Olive ridley sea turtle in Ostional
You really have not experienced Nosara until you experience it on a semi-automatic all-terrain vehicle. Staring, open-mouthed, at the narrow, rickety bridges and roaring rivers on the way to the Ostional Wildlife Refuge, your brain will tell you, “FORGET ABOUT IT. THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE.” Conversely, locals passing by will smile at your hesitation with reassuring messages like, “take my lead and don’t be a wimp.” My advice is: follow the locals. You’ll feel great for overcoming your fears, and get to see some turtles.