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People on rocks beside breaking waves at sunset in Santa Teresa.

Costa Rica · Nosara & Santa Teresa

Turtles and wildlife

Arribadas, refuges, mangroves and dry forest with monkeys and birds.

7 places2 closed or restricted, flagged

  1. Olive ridley arribadas at Ostional1

    Photo: Panegyrics of Granovetter, CC BY-SA 2.0

    WildlifeRestricted access

    Olive ridley arribadas at Ostional

    Ostional village, north of Nosara39.1 km from the centre

    Entry
    $13.56
    Hours
    5:00–21:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    Mass nesting of olive ridley turtles: once or twice a month, all year, between 15,000 and 200,000 females come ashore along about 800 m of beach.

    During arribadas you may only enter with an accredited local guide (AGLO or ADIO), paid separately. Flash, bonfires, pets, vehicles and horses are banned on the beach. Dates cannot be predicted exactly: check with the guides a few days ahead.

    Source: SINAC – Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Ostional · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Entry: $13.56 for non-residents (SINAC, 2026); the guide is extra, about $25 per person according to a 2025 guide.
    Hours
    Monday to Sunday, 5:00–21:00 (SINAC).
    Booking
    Ostional Local Guides Association: 2682-0428 / 6252-7412; ADIO: 2682-1229 / 6108-1681 (SINAC).

    Tip: SINAC says arribadas happen all year; a 2025 guide places tours mainly from May to November. The river crossing between Nosara and Ostional can be impassable after heavy rain. Do not wear reflective clothing.

    Nearby: ATVs and horses on Ostional beach (1.5 km) · Playa Nosara (2.2 km) · Nosara biological reserve trails (4.1 km)

    Sources: SINAC – Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Ostional · Wikipedia – Ostional Wildlife Refuge · Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Nosara trip planning

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  2. 2

    WildlifeOpen

    Curú Wildlife Refuge

    Between Paquera and Tambor53.1 km from the centre

    Entry
    $17
    Hours
    7:00–16:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    A private refuge with short trails through forest and mangrove and a cove with gentle waves; you can see monkeys, deer, coatis and many birds.

    Source: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Curú National Wildlife Refuge · 2025

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Visitors: $17 adults and $9 children 3–11 (July 2025).
    Hours
    Daily 7:00–16:00.

    Tip: Kayak rental, horseback riding (about $20 per hour) and Isla Tortuga tours are available. The trail to Playa Quesera requires a reservation.

    Nearby: Bioluminescence night kayak (0.2 km) · Isla Tortuga day trip (3.8 km) · Playa Tambor (13 km)

    Sources: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Curú National Wildlife Refuge

  3. Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve3

    Photo: Hans Hillewaert, CC BY-SA 3.0

    NatureRestricted access

    Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve

    Past Cabuya, 15 min south of Montezuma and ~1 h from Santa Teresa41.8 km from the centre

    Entry
    $12
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    The country’s first protected area (1963), at the tip of the peninsula, with the Sueco trail to a beach reachable only on foot or by boat.

    Closed Monday and Tuesday to reduce the impact on wildlife; open Wednesday to Sunday, 8:00–16:00. On those days, visit the Montezuma waterfalls or Cabuya island instead.

    Source: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve · 2025 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    $12 adults and $5 children 6–12; free under 6 (July 2025).
    Time needed
    Sueco trail: 10 km round trip, about 2 hours each way. Danés trail: 2 km.

    Tip: Start the Sueco trail by about 11:00 to be out before closing.

    Nearby: Cabuya Island cemetery (4.6 km) · Mal País tide pools (7.6 km) · Playa Carmen (8.5 km)

    Sources: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve · Wikipedia – Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve · Costa Rica Vibes – Cabo Blanco Reserve

  4. 4

    NatureOpen

    Nosara biological reserve trails

    Between Playa Pelada and the Nosara river35.1 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A network of about 9 km (5.6 miles) of trails through protected forest by the Nosara river, for monkeys and birds near the beach.

    Source: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Nosara trip planning · 2025

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: Go early because of the heat and bring repellent.

    Nearby: Playa Pelada (1.2 km) · Horseback ride in Nosara (1.2 km) · Nosara river trip (1.8 km)

    Sources: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Nosara trip planning

  5. 5

    WildlifeOpen

    Nosara river trip

    Nosara river mouth34.6 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not stated
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Boat or kayak trips on the Nosara river estuary to see crocodiles, iguanas, basilisks and mangrove birds.

    Source: Wikivoyage – Nosara · 2025

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: Do not swim at the river mouth: there are crocodiles.

    Nearby: Nosara biological reserve trails (1.8 km) · Playa Pelada (2.6 km) · Horseback ride in Nosara (2.6 km)

    Sources: Wikivoyage – Nosara

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  6. 6

    WildlifeSeasonal

    Camaronal Wildlife Refuge

    Between Playa Carrillo and Islita, Nandayure8.2 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not stated
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A beach protected since 1994 where leatherback, olive ridley and hawksbill turtles nest; in November 2006 it recorded its first arribada in 15 years.

    Nesting depends on each species’ season and no hours are published in official sources: ask at the ranger station before going at night. For a surer turtle experience, go to Ostional.

    Source: Wikipedia – Camaronal Wildlife Refuge · 2026

    Practical details and sources

    Nearby: Islita (4.1 km) · Playa Carrillo (7.2 km) · Playa Sámara (8.7 km)

    Sources: Wikipedia – Camaronal Wildlife Refuge

  7. 7

    NatureOpen

    Samara Trails and viewpoint

    Hills behind Sámara16.7 km from the centre

    Entry
    $46
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A 5.5 km guided hike in the Werner Sauter Biological Reserve to a viewpoint 205 m above Sámara and Carrillo.

    Source: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Sámara Trails · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    $46 plus 13% per adult and $37 per child 5–12 (2026).
    Hours
    Departures at 6:30 and 14:30.
    Time needed
    About 3 hours (2 of hiking).

    Tip: There are steep stretches and strong heat: carry at least 1 litre of water.

    Nearby: Sámara farmers market (0 km) · Playa Sámara (2.1 km) · Dolphin watching and snorkel in Sámara (2.1 km)

    Sources: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Sámara Trails · Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Things to do in Sámara

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