From mid October to mid February, the large leatherback sea turtles come ashore at Playa Grande in small groups to lay their eggs. It is truly an amazing sight, one few are ever lucky enough to see. These turtles, which can grow larger than 2 meters in length and weigh up to 700 kilos, crawl up on the beach beyond the high-tide mark to make the nests which will hold their eggs. The leatherbacks, called “baulas” in Spanish, got their name from the fact that they are the only turtles which do not have a true shell, but instead are protected by a very thick, leather-like, skin covering.

Because you may have to walk on the beach for up to a mile, please consider this tour only if you are in good physical condition. Also, please keep in mind that there is no guarantee that we will see turtles on a particular night and that the duration of the tour will vary depending on the turtles and the ocean tide!

Leatherback Turtle Nesting

Tour includes:
Fully insured, comfortable, air conditioned transportation, a tri-lingual (English, French, and Spanish), native tour guide, turtle watch on Playa Grande. Cost is $70 per person.

Bring along:
Comfortable walking shoes/beach sandals, insect repellant.
**Please be aware that due to park rules (and for the benefit of the turtles), no flashlights, cameras with flash, or video recorders with flash, are permitted on the tour.