The trip of the turtles

My last trip was to Costa Rica, a small country in Central America with great biodiversity. I chose it because of the good weather, nice beaches and rich nature, but what I found was much more than I could imagine or that I’d been told. In this country known as the “Swiss America” there are many natural parks to preserve wild life, from Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast to Corcovado on the Pacific. What’s more, the people themselves are very concerned about the environment. This, added to the warm weather, the abundant rains and other features, makes the country an Eden for animals and therefore the dream of any animal lover.

Protected area in Camaronal Beach

There are thousands of kilometers of sand on both sides along the Caribbean Sea on the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west. These shelter one of the most incredible phenomena of nature: the egg laying of the marine turtles. It’s definitely one of the symbols of the country and one of the reasons visitors come in masses to observe. And, of course, it’s worth it. If you are lucky to watch it, you’ll never be able to forget it as it is undoubtedly one of the most natural experiences you can have.

Volunteers working at Camaronal beach

Baby turtles

Each turtle digs one or more holes in the beach, usually during the night, and then lays about eighty eggs. After this, it covers them completely to make sure that they are safe from predators. Finally, it returns slowly to the sea. In about forty-five days, the eggs hatch and the baby turtles have to get to the sea. Some won’t ever hatch, some others will be preyed on before arriving, and others will die in their first years of life. Only a small percentage will come back after about fifteen years, when they reach their sexual maturity, to the same beach where they were born and will repeat the ritual exactly like their mothers did. They usually choose night to performance it, and they choose dark beaches, even black sand ones, because they don’t like light. In fact, when watching them you can only use red light. They prefer high tides. Such is their instinct for protection that they may dig more than one hole in order to trick predators like racoons, or birds or even humans. Turtle meat is very appreciated among the habitants because they believe that it is richer and more nutritious than other meats.

A sea turtle laying eggs at Camaronal beach

One of the best known places to watch the turtles is Tortuguero National Park, where the local guides wait for the calls of the observers who walk at night along the beach. When they receive a call, they walk to the beach with the tourists who take turns to watch the turtles. When you are there you have more the perception of a business built around the turtles than a real intention of protecting them.

On Nicoya Peninsula, on the Pacific coast, there are beaches like Camaronal or Corozalito where you can have a more natural experience. At the first there is a group of volunteers who record the number of turtles each night as well as the number of eggs. They also protect some of the eggs to study what percentage of them live, their weight and other characteristics. At the second you can watch the turtles by yourself, but if you are inexperienced it will be very difficult to see anything.

Getting to these two is more difficult than to Tortuguero, and it is also less known, and so there are fewer tourists here. In any case, I truly believe it is worth the extra effort.

Sunset at Camaronal beach

Sunset at Corozalito beach

Wildcat