As darkness settles over a quiet Guanacaste beach, you wait in silence for a sea turtle to make her way up the sand.
Some encounters cannot be scheduled, only waited for. This Sámara turtle nesting tour takes you, as evening falls, to Camaronal Refuge, a protected site devoted to safeguarding sea turtles and the beach where they come to lay their eggs. It is a short outing, a single evening, yet it leaves room for something rare: watching nature follow its own rhythm.
Depending on the season and conditions on the night, you join a guided outing led by the refuge's guides, within the framework of local conservation programs. Strict protection rules apply, regarding light, distance and silence, so that every turtle can come ashore undisturbed. Sightings are never guaranteed: they depend entirely on whether the turtles are present.
This camaronal turtle tour is offered mainly from July to January, and sightings sometimes continue into early February. If you are staying in the Sámara area, it fits easily into your evening, with a departure around 6:30 pm.
Around 6:30 pm, you set off from your hotel in the Sámara area toward Camaronal Refuge, a site committed to protecting sea turtles and preserving their natural habitat. Depending on the season and conditions, you take part in a night outing dedicated to observing turtle nesting, as part of local conservation programs. Once darkness falls, the beach grows calm and takes on a hushed, particular atmosphere: the sound of the surf, the smell of salt, the faint outline of the shore. Accompanied by the refuge's guides, and following the protection rules on light, distance and silence to the letter, you may see a turtle slip quietly onto the sand to lay her eggs. This encounter always depends on nature and on the turtles themselves. It asks for patience and discretion, and offers a closer understanding of the efforts made locally to protect these species. You then return to your hotel.
Minimum 2 participants. No payment now: we confirm availability within 48 hours, then send you a secure Banco de Costa Rica payment link.
The outing to Camaronal Refuge is offered mainly from July to January, and sightings can sometimes continue into early February, depending on conditions and the presence of turtles.
No. Sea turtle nesting in Costa Rica is a natural event, and sightings always depend on whether turtles come ashore that night. The experience calls for patience, and the protection rules are followed whether or not a turtle appears.
Departure is around 6:30 pm from your hotel in the Sámara area. Transport from your accommodation is not part of the base package; hotel pickup and return can be added as an option.
The guided visit described in the program, entrance to the refuge, and the 13% tax on tourist activities are included, along with the agency's assistance. Meals and drinks, tips, personal expenses and travel insurance are not included.
Yes. The refuge's guides ask visitors to respect strict protection guidelines regarding light, distance and silence, so that the turtles are not disturbed while they come ashore and lay their eggs.
A Sámara turtle nesting tour is less about ticking off a sighting than about spending an evening in step with a protected beach and the people who look after it. If you would like to add this night outing to Camaronal Refuge to your stay in Guanacaste, our team in San Francisco de Heredia will gladly check dates and season with you and send you a tailored quote, with replies in English.
