L'acqua Viva Sea Turtles     The Surfer Report     Sport Fishing

The Sea Turtle Ocean Path. Pacific Turtle Expedition is how we have called our project to watch the every year mythical event known as Arribada. Bringing this beautiful project alive, means that you need a strategic place to stay very close to the beach. Year after year, since this nature’s ritual captivated us, our enthusiastic group stays at L’acqua Viva Hotel, because of its wonderful natural settings and its perfect location.

L’acqua Viva Resort is surrounded by an impressive tropical forest that belongs to the Nosara Civic Association, and it only takes a 15 minutes drive to Ostional National Wildlife Refuge, which is one of the few privileged areas in Costa Rica where sea turtles like Olive Ridley, Leatherback and Pacific Green lay their eggs. Actually, you should know that this Wildlife Refuge in Costa Rica is the second largest nesting site in the world. Turtles nest at Ostional all year round, but the arriving periods are more common from July through December where you will have one of the most outstanding opportunities to be in touch with Mother Nature.

What does Arribada exactly mean? Well, this characteristic Spanish word, recalls in itself the sea turtles massive arrival. A magnificent nature experience that lets you count thousands of sea turtles nesting and laying their eggs on the sand.

Some people have associated the nesting season in Costa Rica pacific coast with moon phases and tides, but the truth is that you can find turtles laying eggs at Ostional Beach all over the year. Close to last quarter moon cycle, Arribada begins with a few hundred turtles appearing on the shore; then, for a number of days you will see a non-stopping stream of these slow but determined animals, getting back on their ocean path to the beach where they eternally belong.

Arribadas size and duration fluctuate, depending on dry and wet seasons. During dry season, January to April, nesting turtles may be counted by tens of thousands, and the Arribada lasts four days. Whereas the wet season, June to December, brings up to our astonished eyes, the larger Arribadas you could ever imagine, with hundreds of thousands sea turtles building their nests to safely release new lives on the ground; during wet season, Arribada goes on for eight to ten days.

Now, back in L’acqua Viva Hotel, our expedition team embraces a new spirit, our tiredness disappears in the midst of a splendid breakfast and our satisfaction of having witnessed an unique enchanting Mother Nature ceremony; it’s not only fulfilling one species miraculous cycle, it’s an universal tribute to all species and a huge promise of life on this earth.

The Surfer Report     Sport Fishing