Ostional National Turtle Refuge

Hotel Luna Azul is located about 1 km from the Turtle Refuge of Playa Ostional, one of the most important nesting sites of the Olive Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) in the world.

You can observe turtles laying eggs on Ostional beach almost all year round, but the big mass arrivals (“arribada”) only occur during rainy season, from May to December. Thousands of females come ashore to lay their 100 to 120 eggs in the black sand. The biggest reported arribadas comprised 300.000 to 500.000 animals! Can you imagine the millions of baby turtles hatching 50 days after each arribada?

We organize guided tours for our guests all year round: go with a park ranger to experience this unforgettable spectacle of nature! On an ocean boat tour you will see many turtles swimming on the water surface to where they come to breathe. Go for a little swim yourself with these wonderful animals! The dolphins will watch you too…

Thanks to a new bridge the access to Ostional is now guaranteed also during the rainy (or arribada) season. This only works if you take the northern route, there are no bridges from the south (Nosara). From the Luna Azul Hotel you now have access all year round to Ostional beach, one of the best places worldwide to observe marine sea turtles!

Contact our Concierge team for more information or to organize any of the experiences we offer.