Turtle Tours

[ OVERVIEW ]

La Flor Wildlife Refuge Turtle Night Tour

  • 4:00 PM – Meet, Grab Food & Depart: Our journey begins at the popul.ar Wrap 'N' Roll SJDS Show up a bit early to order some of their famous fresh wraps, noodle bowls, or quesadillas to pack along as a beachside dinner! We will load up and depart promptly at 4:00 PM for a scenic drive south through the coastal forest.

  • 5:30 PM – Evening Baby Turtle Release: We arrive at the reserve just in time to join on-site ecologists for a magical sunset release. You will watch hundreds of newly hatched baby turtles scramble down the sand and take their historic first swim into the Pacific Ocean.

  • Twilight – Beach Hangout & Picnic: As daylight fades, we will kick back on the beach. This is the perfect time to open up your dinner, listen to the crashing waves, and watch the sky change colours. If we are lucky, we might even catch a glimpse of natural bioluminescence glowing in the evening surf!

  • After Dark – The Arribada Phenomenon: Once absolute darkness falls, the beach transforms. Led by authorized park rangers, we will walk the shoreline to spot massive nesting sea turtles lumbering out of the surf, digging their nests, and laying their eggs right before your eyes.

Best time to visit

July through January, with peaks in September and October. We target 3 nights around the new moon. We will leave San Juan del Sur at 4 pm in time to arrive a la Flor Wildlife refuge for baby turtle release ( turtle dependent) at sunset. As darkness settles in the turtles begin. We can expect up to as many as 20,000 turtles arriving in a single night.

Experience Details

Pricing

$40 pp

September 9, 10 and 11th 2026

Next Dates

4 hours

Trip Duration

⤷ Book Now

Looking for magic?

Well, look no further,
Come join Sur Tours to see Mother Nature!


We’ll pack up some snacks and roll out at four,
To watch baby hatchlings sprint for the shore.

We’ll picnic beachside as afternoon fades,
Then wait for the dark where the wild ocean wades.


Under the stars, a grand miracle starts,
As massive nesting mamas steal all of our hearts!

An arribada wonder you simply must see.

[ FAQ ]

Common Questions

  • An arribada is a mass turtle nesting phenomenon where thousands of sea turtles arrive simultaneously on specific beaches over a few nights.

  • While wildlife is unpredictable, we time our tours with lunar cycles and local spotter reports to maximize your chances of seeing an arribada.

  • Arribadas generally occur during the wet season between July and January, peak activity varying by month and tidal conditions.

  • Guests must stay behind the turtles, avoid using white flashlights or flash photography, keep noise levels low, and refrain from touching the animals.

  • Yes, round-trip transportation from our pickup hub to the nesting beach is included in the turtle tour package.