Turtle Tour Near Samara Beach
Overview
Available languages
3 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
This tour is for all nature lovers. In this tour, you will have the exciting and wonderful opportunity to watch turtle nesting. Accompanied by a bilingual guide, you will walk along the beach in search of the turtles and witness the turtle nesting process at either Camaronal, Corozalito or Ostional Beach.
It starts with the hole that the turtles dig, then lay eggs, cover them then go back to the sea. If you are lucky, you will see eggs crack open and see how baby turtles are born. This is a one-time experience you cannot miss.
Please refrain from using bright lights, bright clothing and loud sounds, since we are in their natural ecosystem, we need to be repecful and aware.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Dress code: casual but avoid bright colors
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Samara Beach
September and October are the strongest months for turtle nesting. The pick up starts at hotels within the Samara-Carrillo Beach area.
Playa Corozalito
You will ride with a driver/guide to either Corozalito Beach or Camaronal Beach towards the South from Samara or if there is an arribada in Ostional Beach, the tour will be changed for no additional cost. Arribadas are when thousands of turtles come to shore to lay eggs. This happens once a month from 3 to 4 days after the last quarter phase of the moon. Your guide will explain all the safety procedures and will give the corresponding instructions of the tour. The experienced guide will walk you through the beach in search for the turtles. During the tour, the guide will provide information and you can ask for drinks such as water and juices while you look at the surroundings. Enjoy some fruit as a snack on the way back to your hotel.
What‘s Included
Professional guide
Bottled water
Snacks
Beverages
Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only)
Gratuities
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Turtle Tour Near Samara Beach
Pickup included
Reviews
58 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
So many turtles!
Molly A,,Dec 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Although we had to be in the van by 3am, this was well worth it! We lucked into a prime day for viewing both nesting sea turtles and the hatching of previous nestings. It was amazing! Another guest had studied the turtles and said that they come on shore to nest just in the last days of a waning moon. We just lucked out!
Amazing experience
bikerbarb,,Dec 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Drive to the beach was in a rough road. Minimal instruction to start the tour. People were shining red lights everywhere and turtles got confused. I’m surprised we should be that close. We saw a lot of hatchlings. Cool experience.
Delivering on the hope of seeing turtles
H3223MPelsar,,Dec 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Despite being the end of the season (mid December) we could see babies turtles and one nesting turtle so that was a great! They changed the time ahead of the meeting to improve our chances. The guide seemed a bit tired of repeating stuff but when you asked him he always knew the answer and got more into details which was really interesting.
A great experience
Happiness34879157046,,Dec 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We have seen many baby turtles - a great experience. Our tour guide has instructed us well so that we do not disturb the animals too much. He also explained a lot and answered all questions patiently.
Super Tour
U4722RDtims,,Dec 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tour is highly recommended. We saw baby turtles hatching and accompanied them towards the sea. We were also lucky enough to observe an adult turtle nesting. The tour takes place on a beach about 40 minutes drive (shuttle service is included).
Mixed feelings
G1858FGdanielas,,Nov 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00Think twice wether you really need to experience this event. I felt really disturbing on this amazing beach. Although we all had red torches and the guide instructed us never to use the flash while taking photos or videos, the baby tortugas gathered like moths in our torch light as they were misleaded by our light. Usually they head to the sea, which should be the brightest point at the beach. I can’t tell wether the nesting mother was disturbed by our group, but as she headed to the sea our group was standing in her way with the red torch light in her face for some seconds. Although, our guide was nice and very informative, he told us a lot about the tortugas and their life. We saw a snake and an anteater on our way back.
Truly Unforgettable.
Ryan S,,Nov 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An absolutely magical experience...highlight of our lifetimes. Logistics were as easy as can be and our guide Christopher was magnificent. We were fortunate to see Olive Ridley turtles both nesting AND hatching. Christopher was always quick to make sure respect for the turtles came first. Please Samara Adventures, give this man a raise.
Amazing experience
Holly B,,Nov 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The turtle tour was so amazing, we saw so many baby turtles and even got to see a turtle laying eggs. Would absolutely recommend to anyone traveling to Costa Rica! (Small caveat- the road to get there is very bumpy so if you get car sick maybe not the best option for you, someone on the tour with us did get ill)
Nesting and Hatching of Olive Ridley sea turtles
ErinPA 10,,Nov 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a smooth and wonderful experience with our guide Chris. He was so friendly and knowledgeable. He talked to us the whole way to Corozalita beach. Took 1 hour. Picked us up from hotel in Samara . Ride was very bumpy but interesting and my husband and I and two small kids (5 and 3) all felt safe . We stayed on the beach 2 hours with all the turtle activity . So round trip with driving 6-10 pm. Chris pointed out the bio luminescence which was incredible to see . The ground was also covered in hermit crabs… cool to watch. We saw multiple nest sites with emerging baby sea turtles . And we saw 1 large sea turtle (Olive Ridley) laying her eggs and later returning to the ocean . We left and were given water and cookies. It was such a beautiful night !! Highly recommend if you come this time of year . We went on November 9th, 2025
Turtle hatching tour
Robb P,,Oct 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent tour with very knowledgeable guides. Well ran, professional and very safe. Hundreds & hundreds of baby turtles hatching. So many you need to watch where you step. So many mommy turtles coming up on the beach laying eggs as well. Such a amazing experience.
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Operated by Samara Adventures