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Since 1987, a legalized
commercial egg harvest has taken
p o in t p a c i f i c
place at Ostional. The olive ridley sea
turtle management and conservation
project is aimed at removing nests that
would be destroyed by subsequently
nesting turtles during arribadas.
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This community-based program
supports local families, their income
and infrastructure under legal and
administrative guidance to ensure
control of resource use in the area.
FOR MORE INFORMATION,
CONTACT US AT:
Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Ostional
+ (506) 2682 0400
+ (506) 2682 0937
Additional activities carried out
by members of the program include
beach cleanups, hatchling protection,
and nighttime security on the beach.
OFFICIAL GUIDES
Arribada visitation hours 6AM - 12AM
Asociacion de Desarollo Integral de Ostional (ADIO)
+ (506) 2682 1229
Asociacion de Guias Locales de Ostional (AGLO)
+ (506) 2682 0428
Follow these associations on Facebook
for News and Announcements about
Mass Nesting and Hatching Events
arribada
Playa Ostional Playa Pelada
Playa Nosara Playa Guiones
Photo of locals hauling unhatched eggs down the beach of
Ostional with the Legalized Commercial Egg Harvest Program
NO LITTERING
Ostional National
Wildlife Refuge (ONWR)
◆
Established in 1983
Protects sea turtles
and their reproductive
habitat, as well as a
wide diversity of other
flora and fauna
ONWR extends from
Playa Ostional (Punta
India) south to Playa
Guiones (Punta
Guiones)
200 meters inland from
the high tide line and 3
nautical miles out
◆
◆
Mass nesting events, or
arribadas, occur almost every
month on or around the last
quarter moon at Playa Ostional
Thousands of sea turtles
emerge from the ocean to
nest synchronously
As the incubation period is
roughly 45-50 days, hatching
typically occurs at or around
the full moon
◆
The schedule for viewing turtles
at Ostional during an arribada
is 6AM-12AM (midnight), the
best time is sunrise or sunset
◆
Surfing is not allowed at Playa
Ostional during mass nesting
events
Please dispose of trash and recycling
appropriately. Wildlife may mistake
trash as food and die when this blocks
their intestines.
NO EXTRACTION OF
FLORA OR FAUNA
an
ro
ra on of flora or fauna of
nd n ud n
a
r
d u o
a n
fro
our u a
a
a r or
NO MOTORIZED VEHICLES
o or
d
ar
ro
d on
a
n ud n
o or
and uad
an d ro
a
a on ru
a ur
a
n
and create obstacles for hatchlings to
crawl back to sea.
NO DOMESTIC ANIMALS
o
no a o
an a n ud n
or
ar
d
n
d f r fu
a ar na
d f and
their waste contaminates swimming
and drinking water.
“Take only memories,
leave only footprints!”
NO BONFIRES
on r
ar a r and af
a ard
an d or n
a ur
a
n
ra
no
r and d
NO WHITE LIGHTS
IMPORTANT:
You must be accompanied
by an official guide to enter
the beach at Ostional
during an arribada
Please ask your hotel
or travel agent for help
booking your tour with
a local guide
a u r d
or o r our
fla
r d
o an
a
photography is prohibited. White lights
an d
r and d or n
a ur
and
other wildlife.
DO NOT DISTURB OR
HANDLE SEA TURTLES
a ur
ar
ro
d
international and national a
a o
r
a a d an
ç
This is a state managed beach,
failure to follow these rules will result in a ticket or fine