Turtles Hatching on the Beach

Cute little baby turtles haatching on the beach directly in front of Casa Oceano! Guests and staff are nearby to chase away any preditors so the “little guys” can make it to the ocean!

Casa Oceano, located within the Tango Mar Reserve on the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica, offers a unique opportunity to witness sea turtles laying eggs and hathing on its private beach.

The turtles are primarily Olive Ridley and very occasionally Leatherback turtles. Olive Ridley turtles nest mainly from July to December, with mass arrivals often tied to the new moon. While turtle nesting typically happens at night, Casa Oceano has noted rare daytime nesting events, which are extraordinary to witness. These are less common, as turtles prefer the cover of darkness to avoid predators and human disturbance.

Nesting ProcessBehavior: Female turtles emerge from the ocean, crawl to a high point on the beach, dig a hole with their flippers, lay 60–100 eggs, cover the nest, and return to the sea.

Hatching: Eggs incubate for about 45–60 days, depending on sand temperature. Hatchlings typically emerge at night or early morning to avoid predators like Black Vultures (zopilotes) and crabs.