Tamarindo Tours
Night Turtle Nesting Tour from Tamarindo
4.5

Night Turtle Nesting Tour from Tamarindo

By Native's Way
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About
from
$46.16
per adult
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 5-99, max of 20 per group
Duration: 4h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English, Spanish
More


  • Local taxes
  • Bottled water
  • Driver/guide
  • Pickup and drop-off from Native's Way office
What's not included
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup


Start:Multiple meeting point options.
  • Option 1
    Native's Way Costa Rica - Tours and Transfers, 200 meteres south of Diria, Guanacaste Province, Tamarindo, Costa Rica
    5:30 PM @ Native's Way Tamarindo Office Please contact us if you would like to arrange pick up from a different location
  • Option 2
    Provincia de Guanacaste, Huacas, Costa Rica
    5:50 PM @ Huacas Food Truck Park - Intersection from Brasilito to Matapalo
  • Option 3
    Escuela De Matapalo, Escuela de Matapalo, Provincia de Guanacaste, Matapalo, Costa Rica
    6:00 PM @ Matapalo Public School
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 17279P11

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
    • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
    • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
    • Children under 5 years old are not permitted to attend this tour. We need to remain very quiet and often there are extended periods of simply waiting and observing
    • There is not a long hike, however there are times where we move from one beach or viewing point to another. Standing around patiently is normal for this tour.
    • Please reconsider booking if you have mobility issues, difficulty seeing in the night, recently undergone surgery, or have current physical injury
    • The turtle season generally extends from Mid-November to Mid-April, however since this is a natural phenomenon, the season can start, slow or end without specific reason.
    • A minimum of 6 people are required to operate. If we have not reached the minimum we will contact you 1 or 2 days before your tour to offer other options.
    • Not permitted for children under 5 years old
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 17279P11

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    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Native's Way
      2,931
      Tamarindo, Costa Rica
      Joined in February 2013
    • 539margaretev
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      If you’re going to CR… this is a MUST DO!
      Totally recommend!! this excursion made our entire Costa Rica trip. The staff was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. The activities were so much fun!! We absolutely loved the tubing trip and the hot springs. The zip lining was also incredible. The buffet lunch was absolutely delicious. My family cannot say enough great things about how spectacular this place was
      Written September 4, 2024
    • nickoE5101BK
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Sloth Tour Rio Celeste
      Manny is a great guide with great insight on where and when to go for sloths and toucans we saw two sloths and much more! I Would 100% recommend Manny!
      Written September 4, 2024
    • nikolew669
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Wonderful experience!
      I had a fantastic day on this excursion! Everything was well-organized and clearly communicated. Tubing was my favorite part! It was so enjoyable to spend the day surrounded by beautiful nature, with the river and waterfalls. Make sure to bring dry clothes and a swimsuit. My only minor complaint is that it can be a bit inconvenient to switch between dry clothes and a swimsuit multiple times during the trip, although they do provide a nice changing room. All of the staff were incredibly kind and attentive. Overall, I had a wonderful time!
      Written September 2, 2024
    • Q2611GGkaylac
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Beautiful Excursion
      My friend and I truly enjoyed our day in Nicaragua!! They picked us up at 5:30 from our Airbnb and the tour went as scheduled. Keep in mind you are touring another country in less than 12hours. SOO MUCH TO SEE, so little time lol Everything was definitely speedy but nonetheless now I have to go back. This was truly a sneak peak of Nicaragua. - Food was DELICIOUS -Tour director and drivers were so nice -WiFi on the drive -Even let me charge my phone in the front of the van. -Small group (I like this)
      Written September 1, 2024
    • sarahbH4793EQ
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Magical Experience
      Alejandro was an incredible tour guide. He was very knowledgeable and made the entire experience fun and exciting. The coffee and chocolate making was unique and the results were very impressive! Alejandro was great at finding sloths that I don't think anyone in our party would have spotted without him and made sure we all got pictures if we wanted them. The hike to the waterfall is more than worth it! It's a stunning and magical experience. I can't say enough good things about this tour and our amazing guide Alejandro.
      Written August 31, 2024
    • 261bessl
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great experience
      Our guide Isaac was very organized and gave us a great taste of Costa Rica on our first visit as a family. Learned a bit of history on Costa Rica during the drive which made the travel time go by quickly . He was able to find sloths and white the special lens he had was able to take photos for us. The coffee and chocolate tour was as terrific as well. Learned about the process. The lunch was very tasty as well. Very authentic CR food which elevated our experience. Highly recommend as there is something for everyone.
      Written August 30, 2024
    • tbradva
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      friendly, funny, fantastically knowledgeable tour guide
      Five stars, totally recommend ! Alejandro was a friendly, funny, fantastically knowledgeable tour guide and we loved every minute of our hiking, wildlife viewing, and waterfall tour! What a great way to see some of CRs amazing natural beauty and learn about its wildlife and incredible biodiversity. Thanks Alejandro, you made our day so memorable!
      Written August 29, 2024
    • Corey J
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Awesome and Beautiful
      This was so amazingly fun!!! The staff was all kind and very helpful and knowledgeable. River tubbing and zip line were through beautiful amazing areas. This trip was accessible to 76 year old mother. Her favorite was zip line. Horse ride was ok. Lunch was a very good buffet. Are guide that picked us up was very friendly and kept all our safe on the van. Great trip!
      Written August 29, 2024
    • K3674GYmiriamh
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Mangroves, monkeys, crocodiles. and birds!
      We appreciated Ivan's informative tour of the estuary. He is a real conservationist and teacher-very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna and engaging with adults and kids alike. My kids are still talking about getting to see crocodiles and howler monkeys. It was a highlight of their trip.
      Written August 29, 2024
    • GoPlaces4928894302
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Go for the hot springs alone
      Not going to lie, I booked this on a whim. No clue what I was signing up for but I’m so glad I did it. The water fall and hot springs were my favorite parts. I would go back on my own to both. I could spend all day in the hot spring. The hike was also a lot of fun. It was very easy and we saw a lot of cool plants and trees. I highly highly recommend it, not too long of a day either!
      Written August 28, 2024
    • dchung06
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing day for the family!
      The day started off with a prompt, on time private pick up from the W playa conchal, where we were taken to a meeting point with a larger bus in Tamarindo. Once on the bus, Kevin, the tour guide gave an overview of the day, and things to expect or look out for. Upon arriving, we were immediately given time to use the restroom and change to go straight to ziplining! They offered a photography package that would provide all photos for the family for $80 - note that if you say yes, they won't hold you to it, but you will have the photographer coming along and taking pictures and you can decide later! The family loved the ziplining! They were extremely cautious and safe, and my 6 year old was taken care of and allowed to go down almost all the lines with me. The rappelling part of the day is during zip lining and completely optional so don't worry about that. After ziplining, we were shuttled to horseback riding! It's a very leisurely ride taken through the forest. Nothing extreme about it. Easy peasy. From ziplining, you have the chance to change and head to river tubing! You're taken on another bus to the tubing start. My 6 year old and 9 year old were OK on it - was probably III-IV level at best, and there are areas where you have to swim/paddle or wait for a guide to give you a push. 2 guides stayed with my 6 year old and helped her through it, they were wonderful. After ziplining, you're taken back to the main building for a buffet lunch. Food wasn't bad, and hit the spot after so many activities. You can go look at your pictures and purchase them after lunch. Finally, the hot springs! These were great - very rustic feeling, some (optional) suspension bridges to cross, and very hot water. Being able to use volcanic mud was a nice bonus. There are pools that cascade hot water down to lower temperatures, and you can also take a dip and relax in the river as it is right beside the springs. All in all, we had an amazing trip. Kevin was an amazing point man, and the guides and workers at the park were friendly and helpful.
      Written August 28, 2024
    • wendypS6853ZO
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      FRANK THE TANK- excursion
      While staying at the beautiful resort, Rio Palace in Costa Rica we did an excursion with the most amazing group, Frank the Tank Tours. Diago was our driver who always ensured everyone’s belongings remained safe and secure while Manuel was our very own tour guide and photographer. He was extremely knowledgeable about the plants, insects and all things nature related during our adventure. He went above and beyond buying the group of us native fresh fruit to try and ensuring we had a sample of the sweetest and most organic pineapple Costa Rica had to offer. After my daughter took a tumble during one of the hikes he ensured she was A OK with her very own coconut water! This excursion was to hike to the Rio Celeste waterfalls and to view sloths up close and personal and WOW… he sure made this happen. To add to the amazing day we clued up with a coffee/cocoa plantation tour and sampling experience. If you are visiting Costa Rica and looking to book an excursion I would highly 10/10 recommend Frank the Tank… hopefully you are all lucky enough as well to get Manuel and Diago.
      Written August 27, 2024
    • BayleeStrayed
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Definitely Recommend!
      The staff was great and the experience was fantastic. Swimming in a cove and a lunch that was perfect for a day on the water. We even stopped to watch some whales!
      Written August 27, 2024
    • mckenzies997
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great excursion right in Tamarindo!
      We did a morning kayaking and snorkeling excursion with Native's Way, and it was amazing! We got to see cool sea creatures, including starfish, tropical fish, and more! The guides were very knowledgeable and made us feel very safe and welcomed!
      Written August 24, 2024
    • yesfreilyr
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Good trip
      The animals we got to see were really cool. We got to see poisonous snakes and frogs, cool flowers and plants. Swimming in the river was our favorite. You can’t swim in rio Celeste which was disappointing. Our tour guide was funny and entertaining. Also, in the sloth sanctuary you only see sloths from afar which was a little disappointing because we wanted to hold them but it was cool and I would recommend this trip. The hike was very tiring though.
      Written August 24, 2024
    See all 2,931 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    4.5
    4.5 of 5 bubbles99 reviews
    Excellent
    62
    Very good
    15
    Average
    11
    Poor
    7
    Terrible
    4

    Amy M
    Idaho67 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2020
    I actually did this tour 2 nights while in Tamarindo since I'm a biologist in the States and wanted as much as possible. The first night we saw a black (Green Pacific subspecies) turtle come onto the beach but left due to hermit crabs on the place she chose, and then a successful black turtle nesting. It takes a while for her to prepare the nest site and the guides did a great job explaining the process while we waited. As she got ready to lay the eggs, we were allowed to sneak up close, and I mean 5 feet away to a live sea turtle. Very Cool! We stayed long enough to get our fill of pictures and the experience, then headed back. Be prepared for a half hour of bumpy roads coming and going. The second night was an almost but not quite successful black turtle nest. Even with the guides adding water, the sand was too dry for the nest.
    Written February 10, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Claire H
    8 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2020
    An amazing way to spend an evening. Once out of Tamarindo, the sky was alive with stars. We saw baby turtles making there way to the ocean and then observed the mother, while she turned her body to face the water and then slowly made her way across the sand. It was a once in a lifetime experience!
    Written February 8, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Tricia S
    Rawmarsh, UK2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2022 • Couples
    We were driven to a dark deserted beach where we had to sit quietly under the light of the moon. After about half a hour large dark shapes( Green turtles) could be seen appearing from the ocean and moving up the beach, we all held our breath. We closely observed one, by the guide’s infra red light, who started to prepare a nest clearing sand with her back flippers. She was struggling as the sand was too dry so two of us gently helped her to dig deeper to a wetter level by moving the sand away with our hands. We were rewarded with a once in a lifetime experience as she started to lay her eggs. We watched her lay about fifty and then we respectfully retreated to leave her to finish her task and return to the ocean. We also saw new hatchlings making their first perilous journeys from the beach to the sea. One was momentarily grabbed by a Ghost crab and nearly did not make it but a guy in our party saved the day as he startled the crab and the hatchling managed to escape and took its first ever plunge into the Pacific waves. A totally awesome experience led by an excellent, knowledgeable guide that truly cared for the turtles and their habitat. This experience we will never forget.
    Written February 14, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Len W
    Bedford, UK44 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2022
    This was my second tour of the and my guide was Ivan both times, he looked after the group very well and ensured that everyone had a good view with time to take photos. After a few minutes exploring alone Ivan announced that more than one turtle could be seen digging a nest for her eggs. while we waited for egg laying to start Ivan found a nest of turtle hatchlings just as the reach the surface, we were able to follow their progress down to the water. We then went back to the adult Green Turtle and watch her eggs being laid. It was a once in a lifetime experience and I recommend it.
    Written March 5, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Ann J
    Minneapolis132 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2020
    We were on a tour with another couple and a driver. There are several other groups that we joined. Each driver goes in search of turtles on adjoining beaches and communicate with each other with a radio. Once a turtle is discovered, everyone gathers. There were many people crowding around this turtle. They cleared out the back of the turtle nest so that people could watch it lay it’s eggs and take pictures. I didn’t feel assured that this activity was not going to harm the chance of those eggs surviving. And of course there are going to be people that break the rules and use flash cameras and the wrong type of flashlight. Some turtles may come into the beach to nest but are disturbed by something and go back to the sea. Roads are VERY bumpy along the way. While walking up a sandy hill, one of our group fell and could have been badly injured because the driver was in such a hurry and did not provide enough of the correct lights for everyone to follow safely. The guides do it every night. We really didn’t know what to expect and were literally in the dark. Conditions are not well described. Once the member of our group fell, the driver just tried smooth things over by asking him how much he liked Costa Rica etc. It seemed more about the hunt for the turtles than the safety of the people on the tour or care for the species. I am sure that it’s a nice money making venture I’m sure but at what expense for the turtles? As we were traveling back to Tamarindo, the driver picked up his neighbor and the neighbor drove the rest of the way back. That was weird. Huh?
    Written January 22, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    TeacherJudy2015
    Caledon, Canada20 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2021
    The tour guide worked diligently managing the safety and experience of the guests and the turtles. We saw two Pacific Greens heading back to the water after laying their eggs and we were all very happy. The guide encouraged us to stay for another half an hour and our patience was rewarded. A Pacific Green came out of the water and laid her eggs right in front of us!
    Written March 23, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Linda K
    Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada159 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    These people work hard to find you turtles. We saw Black Sea turtles nesting and baby turtles heading to sea. Of all the guides there Christon was the one verbally assertive keeping the camera flashes off, keeping the people organized “first row crouch down so second row can see” “stop,step back” He was very informative about politics and conservation,amazing.
    Written January 19, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Christopher M
    London, UK14 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2022 • Couples
    This was an absolutely amazing experience and it was thanks to the expertise and organisation of the guide that it was so good. He clearly knew his stuff and was able to provide information and answer any questions on turtles. This included where to find the turtles (both hatchlings and mothers laying eggs) and was skilfully able to direct our group around a dark beach so as minimise and give respect to the turtles and their habitat without disturbing them. Would highly recommend.
    Written January 7, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Nancy M
    United States7 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2022 • Solo
    The guide was amazing. He found 3 huge turtles nesting and laying eggs and baby turtles. Only 3 stars and no tip because there was no enforcement of mask wearing on the small bus. We are 75 years old and were afraid to be quarantined if we tested positive the day before our return home. It would have cost us $1,000’s. Also, the meeting location was very out of the way and difficult to find. To make matters worse, the person in charge made the bus turn around after driving 10 minutes to pick up a guy who showed up late!
    Written January 29, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Steve R
    Toronto, Canada53 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2020
    the team were extremely careful to minimize the impact on the habitat. The turtles are not interfered with as they migrate from the beach to the ocean. We were so lucky to be able to see a female laying her eggs on a secluded beach. The groups are quite large and the team does try their best to wrangle the crowds, but you do end up standing around waiting fro your turn (nothing much can be done about that)
    They picked us up and dropped us off at our hotel in Tamarindo, and even helped our elderly parents on the hike. Great guys! FYI, dont forget to tip the team!
    Written February 18, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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