Tortuguero Turtle Tour: Nesting season July–October

Sea turtles crawl ashore to lay eggs under the cover of darkness.

A guided turtle-watching tour in Tortuguero National Park during nesting season (July to October) where you watch sea turtles come ashore to lay eggs. The tour runs about an hour and includes a live guide in English or Spanish who narrates the nesting process and the park's ecology. Not suitable for travelers with spinal injuries or pregnant travelers. All other fitness levels are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Tortuguero National Park

• Experience life-changing tour
• Visit Tortuguero National Park

The experience

Tortuguero's nesting season runs from July through October, and this is when the tour operates: the window when sea turtles emerge from the Caribbean to dig into the sand and lay their eggs. You arrive at the park with a guide who knows the beach, the tides, and the patterns that bring the turtles ashore. The guide speaks English or Spanish and walks you through what you're seeing as it happens: how the turtle finds her spot, the effort of digging, the laying itself. This is not a sightseeing loop or a boat ride past distant shapes. You are standing on the beach in darkness, watching an animal complete a journey that began months or years before.

The hour you spend is shaped by the turtles' schedule, not a fixed itinerary. Timing matters: nesting happens mostly at night, and the guide knows when conditions are right. The park itself is Tortuguero National Park, a protected stretch of Caribbean coast where the nesting happens and where little else competes for the turtles' attention. The guide's role is to help you understand what the turtle is doing and why it matters, not to rush you through a checklist of stops.

You'll need to arrange your own way to Tortuguero and into the park itself. Those logistics fall outside this tour. What the guide provides is the knowledge and the access to stand where the nesting happens, and the explanation of what you're witnessing. Bring a flashlight with a red filter if you have one. The guide can advise on what helps and what disturbs the animals. This is a tour built around a single, specific event: the moment a sea turtle decides the beach is right and begins to nest.

What’s included

A live guide in English or Spanish who narrates the nesting process and explains the ecology of Tortuguero National Park.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (19 to 50 years) · Senior (51 and older) · Youth (11 to 18 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Tuanis Tour Office: Our office is located 50 meters south of Tortuguero main dock. A big sign with our name will can be seen from the distance.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for back problems

Operated by Tuanis Tour Tortuguero

Is this one for you?You've arrived in Tortuguero during nesting season and have a free evening. This tour puts you on the beach at the moment when sea turtles come ashore, with a guide who explains what you're watching instead of leaving you to guess.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 18 years); Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (under 3).

When is the best time to see nesting turtles in Tortuguero?

Nesting season runs from July to October, and this tour operates during those months when sea turtles come ashore to lay eggs. The guide will know which nights conditions are favorable for nesting activity.

How long does the turtle tour last?

The tour is about an hour long, though timing can shift depending on when and where the turtles emerge and begin nesting.

What does the guide do during the tour?

The guide, speaking English or Spanish, walks you through the nesting process as it unfolds: explaining the turtle's behavior, the ecology of the park, and what you're witnessing in real time.

Do I need to arrange transportation to Tortuguero myself?

Yes, transportation to Tortuguero and entrance to the national park are not included in this tour. You'll need to arrange those separately before the guide meets you.

Is this tour safe for pregnant travelers or people with back injuries?

The tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers or anyone with spinal injuries. All other fitness levels are suitable for the experience.

What should I bring to a nighttime turtle-watching tour?

A red-filter flashlight is helpful if you have one, as it lets you see without disturbing the nesting turtles. The guide can advise on other gear and what to wear for a night on the beach.