From July into October, green sea turtles return to Tortuguero's black sand. Here is how lodge guests join a respectful night walk.
Tortuguero means "place of turtles" for a reason. Each year thousands of female green sea turtles haul onto the same Caribbean beach where they were born. From a canal-side lodge, that season is not a distant attraction — it is the night soundtrack of the village.
When nesting peaks
- •Green turtles: roughly July–October, with the densest nights in August and September.
- •Leatherbacks (baula): often April–June — enormous, rare, and worth asking about if you travel early.
- •Hawksbills: occasional nesters across the broader season.
How a night tour feels from El Deseo
Turtle watching is tightly regulated. Groups are small, guides are certified, and the rules are simple: no flash, no phones on the sand, no rushing the nest. Spotters radio when a turtle settles into laying trance; only then does the group approach quietly.
What guests remember
Watching a heavy green turtle dig, lay, and cover her nest is the moment many travelers say outshines every other stop in Costa Rica. Hatchling mornings can appear late in the season — ask the lodge desk what the rangers are seeing that week.
Staying for turtle season
Plan nights between July 1 and early October if turtles are your priority. We can fold a guided turtle walk into your stay or point you to the package that already includes it. Message +506 7220-0614 and we will match dates to the nesting calendar.
Planning your Tortuguero trip?
Book direct and we'll arrange tours, meals and transport for you.
