During an arribada or ‘arrival’, you need to go with a local guide onto the beach. The turtles arriving on Playa Ostional are Olive Ridley’s turtles (different from the larger leatherbacks that also lay eggs on other beaches in Costa Rica). Our first glimps of them was at 5:30pm on our first day. At sunset there were already quite a few around, and by the time we left in darkness it was hard to find footing. They are not shy though. I got bowled into at least twice. Those mamas are quick and powerful and won’t hesitate to knock right into your ankles if you are in their way.

Our guide said that the Olive Ridley’s turtles have quite a varied diet and are not picky eaters, whereas the leatherbacks are in greater danger because they have such a restricted diet. They leatherbacks only eat jellyfish.

The flipper action in amazing.

I realized that all of the turtles were coming to the beach to lay their eggs, but I didn’t realize we would get to see the process so up close and personal. Truly amazing. They can lay 80-120 eggs while on the beach. The whole process of emerging from the sea, laying eggs and returning to the ocean only takes about an hour. Incredible! The eggs hatch about 45-55 days later.

The red light is friendly for the turtles. Since they rely on light glinting on the ocean as a cue for where to return, bright lights on shore from houses or flashlights can be confusing and harmful.

So many turtles!