What an arribada is
An arribada is a mass nesting event: for several nights in a row, thousands of olive ridley turtles come to the same beach to lay their eggs. The biggest ones bring hundreds of thousands of turtles over three or four days.
The beach is part of the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge, one of the most important arribada beaches in the world.
When to go
There are arribadas almost every month, but the big ones happen in the rainy season, from July to December, with September and October usually the strongest months.
They tend to start around the last-quarter moon and last three to seven nights, but there's no fixed date: the sea, the moon and the weather decide. Check updates from the local guides a few days ahead. If one happens during your stay, we'll let you know.
Turtles come ashore mostly at night. During big arribadas you can see them in daylight too.
How to visit the beach
During an arribada the beach is visited with certified local guides from Ostional. The rules are there to protect the nests:
- You can't go in on your own: visits are guided.
- The guides set the fee and it changes; bring cash.
- No flash and no white flashlights. Follow your guide on lighting.
- Don't touch the turtles, don't block their path and keep your distance.
- Stay in the area your guide shows you and watch your step: the sand is full of nests.
The sea at Ostional
Ostional is a beach for watching, not swimming: the surf is rough. For a swim, San Juanillo has calm coves and is also 25 minutes from the house.
From Pura Noche
We're a 25-minute drive from the refuge, so you can go and come back the same night, or go more than once while the arribada lasts. In the rainy season, ask us about the road before you head out.
