Tour Gilbert Tortuga Lora
Tours & Adventure in Nosara, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Gilbert and María are local guides in Ostional, the beach where thousands of olive ridley turtles come ashore to nest during an arribada. They take small groups to see the turtles the right way, and they also help with camping information, parking and free showers.
Entering Ostional beach during an arribada requires a certified local guide, and spots are limited: message them on WhatsApp at least a day ahead. Tours usually go out around 5:00 am and 7:00 pm, the dark hours before sunrise and after sunset. Bring a red light if your tour is at night; white light, flash and phone flashlights are not allowed.
Booking directly with local guides keeps the income in the community that protects the beach.
Honest heads-up: mass arribadas last only a few days. Gilbert shares live updates on his WhatsApp status during the first strong days, so save his number to know when it starts. On other nights you may see a few turtles or hatchlings, not thousands: ask him what to expect before you go.