Costa Rica Leatherbacks

The leatherback is one of nature’s truly unique creatures. Their immense size boggles the mind; these turtles can average more than 6 feet long and 800 lbs. But that’s not the only thing that makes them unique. Their softer shell allows them to dive deeper than any other sea turtle and their size and dark color allows them to inhabit cold waters.

Spend 4 nights working with our local partner Save The Turtles Of Parismina to study and protect leatherbacks along Costa Rica’s northern Caribbean coast. The work includes walking the nesting beach at night, helping to measure the turtles, collect the eggs and move them to hatcheries, and working with hatchlings (later in the season). During the day, you will participate in activities with the community including handicraft and cooking classes, a beach cleanup, and a boat tour of the canals.

2026 Date: May 17 - 23

2026 Price: $1,995 per person. $300 deposit is required to register, the balance can be paid off over tme.

Private trips available for groups of 2 or more are available March to June. Pricing depends on group size. Contact us for a price for your group.

Includes: In-country transport, meals, lodging, activities, guides, and a donation to turtle conservation.

Excludes: Airfare to Costa Rica, personal items, and tips for the guide and driver (tipping recommendation is $100 - $130 per person).

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Spend 4 nights walking a leatherback turtle nesting beach with local researchers and help participate in their research

• Explore the rainforest by boat and foot, looking for wildlife including sloths, monkeys, frogs, and many species of birds

• Participate in a handicraft workshop and paint your own gourd

• Visit a unique butterfly farm to see many colorful species

• Join a beach cleanup and dancing class with the local community

Contact us to:   

• Be alerted for future trips

• Get private group pricing

• Ask a question

• All profits support conservation efforts

• Work directly with local researchers

• Unique experiences

• Personalized service

ITINERARY

DAY 1 - ARRIVE TO COSTA RICA

Start your leatherback adventure by arriving to San Jose International Airport (SJO) anytime on the first scheduled day. Our shuttle picks you up from the airport and take you to La Rosa del America, a comfortable hotel outside the city a short drive from the hotel. Get a good night’s sleep tonight, as the adventure starts early the next day. (Dinner the first night is not included)

DAY 2 - LEATHERBACK RESEARCH

Today you will head out to the Caribbean coast to the coastal town of Parismina. First, wake up with a delicious Costa Rica breakfast buffet of eggs, gallo pinto (their famous breakfast rice and beans), fresh tropical fruit, delicious coffee, and more. After breakfast, board the private bus for a 4 hour ride to the Caribbean coast. You’ll pass through the country’s largest national park and then descend to the Caribbean lowlands.

The bus will drop your group at a small dock along the Tortuguero canals, where a boat will meet you to take you to Parismina. The boat ride passes through rainforest, so keep your eyes out for monkeys, sloths, toucans, and more along the way.

Once you arrive, settle into your cabin and take a walk around town to get to know this unique coastal community. After dinner, the local researchers at Save the Turtles of Parismina will give a presentation on sea turtles and the more than a decade of work that has gone into protecting this nesting beach.

After dinner, you will head out for your first night of patrolling, accompanied by researchers who will guide you along the beach, spot the turtles, and help with the data collection. Overnight in a local hotel (4 nights). (B, L, D)

DAY 3: TURTLE RESEARCH & BOAT TOUR

Today, after breakfast at your hotel, we will take a boat ride on the rainforest canals to look for wildlife including birds, sloths, monkeys, & caiman. Following lunch and a siesta, we will organize a beach cleanup activity to make sure the beach is clear for nesting turtles and hatchlings. For the next three nights, you will spend four hours each night walking the nesting beach in search of the giant leatherbacks (generally 8 pm to midnight).

Tasks involved in the research include measuring the turtles’ length and width (no small task with a giant turtle!), moving the eggs to a hatchery (where they are protected until hatching), and observing the condition of the turtles, looking for scars or injuries. You may have a chance to work with hatchlings which usually start to arrive in mid-May, helping to do some basic research (measuring and weighing) and releasing them to the water. (BLD)

DAY 4 - LOCAL ACTIVITIES & TURTLE PATROL

Today we will get to know the town and people of Parismina. First, after breakfast, we will have a cooking class to learn traditional dishes of the Caribbean of Costa Rica from local community members including empanadas, plantains, and other dishes. You can eat your final product! After lunch, we will organize a handicraft market where you can see and purchase souvenirs from local artisans and paint a gourd to take home with you. This evening will be another night of turtle patrols from 8 pm to midnight. (BLD)

DAY 5 - LOCAL ACTIVITIES & TURTLE PATROL

Today will be more fun local activities. After breakfast, we will participate in a beach cleanup to help clear the beach of plastic debris, making it safer for hatchlings, momma turtles, and other wildlife. In the afternoon, We will have an optional class to learn how to dance salsa, merengue, and calypso from local community members (BLD)

DAY 6 - CENTRAL VALLEY

This morning after breakfast, you will catch the boat back to meet your bus. Along the way back to San Jose, you will visit Jardin Pierella, a unique butterfly farm, to learn about these fascinating insects and other wildlife. You will see hundreds of butterflies, poison dart frogs, giant walking sticks, and likely sloths and other wildlife. The wonderful family who runs this farm will prepare a delicious traditional lunch. After a final group dinner on the town, head to bed early to be awake in time to go to the airport for your flight the next day. Overnight at La Rosa del America. (BLD)

DAY 7 - DEPARTURE

Return home with a new appreciation for the hard work of conservation and to share your experiences or extend your stay and explore other parts of this beautiful country. You will be taken to the airport in time to catch your flight. (B)

Animal List:

• Probably Will SEE: Leatherback sea turtles (nesting females - peak is mid-April to mid-June), leatherback hatchlings (mid-May and on), sloths, poison dart and red-eyed tree frogs, several species of butterflies, & many species of birds (shorebirds & tropical birds)

• May SEE: Howler monkeys, caiman, basilisk lizard (aka Jesus Christ lizard)

• Chance to SEE: Green turtles (nesting females), crocodiles

Similar Trips:

• Costa Rica Green Turtles

• Panama Leatherbacks

Testimonial

“This trip is full of everything you could ask for. Not only is it educational in all the best ways it also is filled with forever memorable moments. I am so incredibly happy that I chose to go through this trip because it has created a passion in me to continue protecting our natural world.”