GENERAL INFORMATION

The beach of this refuge measures approximately 12 km.; within the refuge is the town of Ostional. The spawning of marine turtles in large numbers motivated the establishment of this wildlife refuge; the massive spawning or arribada as it’s known, takes place between the sites known as La Roca, Las Cocineras and the Ostional Estuary.

LOCATION

The refuge is located on the coastal area which limits the counties of Santa Cruz and Nicoya, in the province of Guanacaste. It includes the 200 meter strip of the maritime terrestrial zone, making a total extension of 514 ha. It forms part of the Tempisque Conservation Area.

*** Photo Juan Amighetti

MAIN ATTRACTIONS

On the Ostional Refuge the legal extraction of eggs of the Pacific olive ridley turtle has been allowed by law during the first 36 hours of the arribada. This event means approximately 200 turtles per night, for three to seven nights, for an average of 100,000 turtles spawning. This phenomenon happens usually once a month, with a greater frequency between September and November.

The turtles that nest on this wildlife refuge are the: olive ridley turtle, which nest all year long, the leatherback turtle, the largest sized in the world, the green turtle, which nests from September to February and the hawksbill turtle which only nests occasionally in this refuge.

SERVICES OFFERED

The Ostional Development Association offers local guides’ service, and it’s also possible to find food and lodging services in the town.