Home Destinations Mexico and Central America Costa Rica Sights Ostional National Wildlife Refuge

Ostional National Wildlife Refuge Review

Read our Costa Rica sights reviews. Or post your own.

Ostional National Wildlife Refuge

Address: 7 km/4½ mi north of Nosara, Nosara
Phone: 682-0428

Refugio Nacional de Fauna Silvestre Ostional

Category: Nature Preserves
Location: Nicoya Coast

Write a review

Fodor's Review:

Ostional National Wildlife Refuge (Refugio Nacional de Fauna Silvestre Ostional) protects one of Costa Rica's major breeding grounds for olive ridley turtles. Locals have formed an association to run the reserve on a cooperative basis, and during the first 36 hours of the arribadas (mass nesting) they are allowed to harvest the eggs, on the premise that eggs laid during this time would likely be destroyed by subsequent waves of mother turtles or stolen by poachers. There are two nesting seasons. The largest arribadas, with thousands of turtles, occur from July to December during Costa Rica's so-called winter; smaller, less frequent arribadas occur from January to May. Guided tours of the nesting and hatching areas cost $7 per person, plus the $7 entrance fee. Stop at the kiosk at the entrance to the beach to arrange a tour. Before you go to the refuge, try to get a sense from the locals of when, if ever (some years they come in very small numbers), the turtles will arrive.

Cost: $7
Open: Oct.-Apr., by tour only

Find more sights in Costa Rica »