The arribada in Playa Ostional, Costa Rica is a pure phenomenon that happens when tons of and generally 1000’s of Olive Ridley sea turtles come ashore to put their eggs.
It’s an unforgettable sight to witness as these light giants crawl up onto land and depart their future child turtles behind. Whether or not you’re from Costa Rica or are planning on visiting from overseas, this occasion gives a powerful – and academic – an unmissable expertise in Costa Rica!
Turtles arrival throughout “Arribada” on Ostional Seaside
What’s the Arribada?
Arribada means “arrival” in Spanish, and it refers back to the mass nesting behaviour of those turtles. This occasion happens in the course of the nesting season between August – December.
Each month in the course of the nesting interval, the shoreline of the Nationwide Wildlife Refuge in Ostional is remodeled as tons of of feminine sea turtles arrive on the seaside to put their eggs.
The egg-laying course of can take a number of hours for every turtle. As soon as the turtle eggs are laid, the feminine turtle covers the nest with sand earlier than returning to the ocean. A single feminine can lay as much as 100 eggs in a single nest. Additionally, a number of females can nest in the identical space throughout an arribada.
Arribada in Ostional Nationwide Wildlife Refuge
The arribada in Playa Ostional is without doubt one of the largest on the earth. It has been a protected space since 1984. Native residents work with conservationists to guard the nesting turtles and their eggs from poachers and predators, and to make sure that guests to the world don’t disturb the turtles or their nests.
Turtle laying eggs on Playa Ostional in the course of the Arribada
About Ostional Wildlife Refuge
Ostional Wildlife Refuge is a protected space situated on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, encompassing over 2,200 hectares (5,435 acres) of land and ocean. The refuge was established in 1984 to guard the nesting and breeding grounds of the Olive Ridley sea turtle, which is an endangered species.
The Ostional Wildlife Refuge is situated close to the city of Ostional and extends 15 km alongside the shoreline.
The first objective of the Ostional Wildlife Refuge is to guard the Olive Ridley sea turtle, which comes ashore in massive numbers throughout its arribada (mass nesting) season.
Guests to the Ostional Wildlife Refuge can witness the arribada of the Olive Ridley sea turtle throughout its nesting season, which generally runs from August to December. Guided excursions can be found, and guests can study concerning the ecology and conservation of the world from educated naturalist guides.
Playa Ostional, Guanacaste
Witnessing the Arribada in Playa Ostional
Taking a tour of Arribada at Playa Ostional in Costa Rica really is an expertise like no different. And we’ve now been fortunate sufficient to have skilled the phenomena twice!
Our first go to was again in 2016 earlier than the Ostional Nacional Wildlife Refuge had established organized Ostional Turtle Excursions. Again then, we roamed the seaside, watching just some turtles nest round us. A couple of hours later, the numbers rose, and we discovered ourselves witnessing tons of of Olive Ridley sea turtles crawling ashore was like nothing we’d ever seen.
We returned to Playa Ostional once more in 2021, however this time, as per the brand new rules, we employed an authorized information for our expertise.
Through the tour, our educated information supplied us with useful background data on the Arribada. We discovered why so many turtles lay eggs on Ostional Seaside, what occurs after the eggs are buried, and what challenges the ocean turtle eggs face throughout their incubation interval.
We additionally discovered concerning the conservation efforts undertaken by organizations throughout Costa Rica in an try to protect and shield the Olive Ridley turtles.
It was an unbelievable expertise and one we are going to return to witness many times.
On Playa Ostional throughout Arribada in 2016
Ideas for Planning a Journey to View the Arribada
In case you’re seeking to expertise the distinctive phenomenon of the Olive Ridley sea turtles’ arribada throughout your time in Costa Rica, it’s necessary to plan forward.
Listed here are some issues to know concerning the Arribada:
- This pure occasion happens primarily between the months of August – December. Nevertheless, lately, we’ve seen experiences of Arribadas happening within the dry season as nicely. The very best numbers of turtles are often recorded in the course of the wet season from September to November.
- Arribada usually happens on the darkest nights, usually a few days earlier than the brand new moon and at excessive tide, though the precise timing for every arrival varies month-to-month.
- One of the best place to get details about the timing of Arribada is on the Fb Web page of the Asociacion de Guias Locales de Ostional. Be aware of the final Arribada and know that the subsequent Arribada will probably occur round in a couple of month’s time. That is tough timing solely. Keep in mind: the Arribada is a pure and unpredictable phenomenon.
- As soon as the Arribada is introduced on the Fb Web page, it’s possible you’ll contact the Guides Affiliation to e book a tour. Excursions often happen within the early morning, round 5am and at sundown, round 5pm. To e book, contact the guides on WhatsApp at +506 6252 7412 or +506 8447 0703.
- As of November 2021, the costs for the excursions had been as follows
- Costa Rica Nationals – Adults: 4,000 CRC
- Costa Rica Nationals – Youngsters: 2,000 CRC
- Foreigners – Adults: $20/particular person
- Foreigners – Youngsters: $10/particular person
- Arrive 30 minutes forward of your tour to provide your self time to park your automotive and discover your information.
- Through the tour, remain quiet and comply with all park pointers for security and conservation. Keep in mind, it takes only some rogue vacationers for these excursions to be shut down fully. Please be thoughtful of the turtles and their setting. Take nothing however photos and depart nothing however footprints!
- Carry a digital camera however know that you won’t be able to make use of your flash. You’ll method the turtles fairly intently, so it’s fairly straightforward to take images even with a smartphone.
- Lastly, deliver some binoculars – in case you are fortunate, you’ll be capable to see tons of of turtles on shore and 1000’s extra within the waters of the Pacific Ocean.
- Watch out together with your belongings! Imagine it or not, we now have misplaced our automotive keys within the sand whereas watching the Arribada. By the point we realized they had been gone, it was darkish and the keys had been gone perpetually!
A whole lot of turtles approaching the shore throughout turtle egg-laying season
To Sum it Up: Ceaselessly Requested Questions
When are you able to see turtles in Ostional?
One of the best time to see sea turtles at Ostional is in the course of the arribada between the months of September and December. The precise timing of the turtles coming ashore differs each month. It’s best to verify with the Ostional Guides Affiliation for probably the most up-to-date data.
Are you able to see turtles in Ostional Costa Rica?
Sure, Playa Ostional is a well-liked vacation spot for viewing sea turtles in the course of the Arribada. Throughout this time, 1000’s of Olive Ridley sea turtles come ashore to put their eggs. This creates a spectacular pure phenomenon. It’s not attainable to see turtles by yourself. So, be sure you set up an authorized information to accompany you.
What month are turtles greatest in Costa Rica?
One of the best month to see sea turtles in Costa Rica is dependent upon the species and placement. For instance, whereas the arribada of Olive Ridley sea turtles at Playa Ostional usually happens from August to December, the Leatherback sea turtles nest at Playa Grande from March to July. It’s best to analysis the particular species and placement to find out the very best time to plan your go to.
What month do sea turtles hatch in Costa Rica?
The timing of child turtles’ hatchings in Costa Rica is dependent upon the species and placement. For Olive Ridley sea turtles at Ostional, the eggs hatch round 45-50 days after they’re laid, usually between October and February.
Leatherback sea turtle hatchings in Playa Grande and on the Caribbean Coast in Tortuguero Nationwide Park usually happen from Might to August.
Child turtles making their method to the ocean
Defending and Preserving the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Inhabitants
Turtle nesting in Costa Rica is an unbelievable phenomenon. Nevertheless, overharvesting, poaching and different human actions threaten the sustainability of Olive Ridley and different turtles in Costa Rica.
There are a number of main threats to the Olive Ridley sea turtle inhabitants in Costa Rica, together with:
- Poaching: Regardless of being unlawful, poaching of sea turtles and their eggs nonetheless happens in some areas. The eggs are sometimes harvested for his or her perceived medicinal properties (the locals take them as a substitute of Viagra).
- Habitat loss: Coastal growth, air pollution, and local weather change can all contribute to the loss or degradation of sea turtle nesting habitats, which might negatively influence their skill to nest and reproduce.
- Bycatch: Olive Ridley sea turtles can turn into entangled in fishing nets or caught on hooks, resulting in damage or dying.
- Mild air pollution: Synthetic lighting on seashores can disorient sea turtle hatchlings. This causes them to move away from the ocean and turn into susceptible to predators or different hazards.
As accountable vacationers, we encourage you to do your half to assist shield Olive Ridley turtles by following accountable tourism practices. This contains not touching or disturbing the turtles or their nests, supporting conservation efforts by means of donations or volunteering, lowering waste and air pollution, supporting sustainable fishing practices, and minimizing mild air pollution. By taking these steps, you’ll assist guarantee that you’re doing all of your half to contribute to the conservation of this species in order that future generations of sea turtles can grace the sandy shorelines with their presence for years to return.