Sea Turtle Conservancy
Sea Turtle Conservancy
Sea Turtle Conservancy
4.5
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
About
Since 1959, we have been in charge of protecting the sea turtles who nest in Tortuguero beach, through monitoring, research, environmental education and outreach activities. We are the oldest sea turtle protection organization in the world. In our Visitor Center you can learn more about sea turtles and the activities we carry on to protect them. And with your visit you help us to continue our conservation activities.
Duration: < 1 hour
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
492 reviews
Excellent
251
Very good
148
Average
76
Poor
12
Terrible
5
Andy F
35 contributions
Jan 2023
NOt overly impressed. Although we were there at the "wrong" time of year (so obviously not expecting to see any turtles on the beaches), the out-of-season experience wasn't great. The film they show you is old, poor quality and very hackneyed. You see better documentaries on TV to be honest. The displays/ exhibition/ museum is rather underwhelming. Think they need to put some effort in to liven up the place. The work they do is valuable, but the communication/ presentation of what they're doing is weak.
Written January 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark J
Edinburgh, UK57 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
What a disappointment. This place might be amazing if you are there during nesting season. We knew we weren’t but we still thought you might be able to see a few live turtles that were being prepared to be released back into wild. There’s nothing. One short video about turtles and then into a room to read about everything you’ve just watched. What’s worse is that it takes ages by boat to get there and we were unlucky and hardly saw any wildlife. Tortuguero itself is a row of tatty shacks selling turtle shaped tourist rubbish and coconuts. Advice would be to give it a miss unless you are actually going to see something living and breathing during nesting season. Do an alternative wildlife tour instead if outwith nesting and watch David Attenbourgh instead, you learn more from him and don’t have to sit on a boat for hours!
Written April 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Connie R
9 contributions
Jan 2020
I visited during the off season and still enjoyed learning about their work. The video is really interesting and you can adopt a turtle that & they will send info on an annual basis. This is the world's oldest turtle research and conservation group. I look forward to returning when the turtles are here.
Written January 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark H
Soddy Daisy, TN85 contributions
Aug 2021
Fabulous experience. Participated in a night walk, released leatherback turtles during the day….wonderful people with a wonderful mission. Who can’t love a turtle….fascinating to watch the process of education, research, and of course the nesting of the turtles.
Written August 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nenbryant
London, UK51 contributions
Sept 2020
We had a fantastic afternoon AND ended up adopting a green turtle! A great experience for learning and becoming aware. Well done learning but beautiful space. Lovely gardens and Diego was very helpful. Thank you!
Written September 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Costa Rica Vibes
San Jose, Costa Rica28 contributions
Jul 2018 • Friends
If you are visiting Tortuguero to see the sea turtles, definitely stop here. It is not very big, but the employees are very helpful in giving a lot of information. Plus, we found it really interesting to learn not just about turtles but also about the history of Tortuguero's relationship with the sea turtles.
Written November 16, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wiseoldowl
Reykjavik, Iceland1,478 contributions
Jul 2016 • Couples
Best $35 US I've ever spent. saw a 1.14 mtr green turtle lay over 100 eggs. Brilliant experience. Parakeets overhead during the day, snakes, parrots etc. a wonderful place
Written August 4, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pearson19
Blackpool, UK47 contributions
Jul 2016 • Couples
Conservation of the turtle is taken very seriously and the visit was strictly controlled for the needs of the turtles rather than the tourists. This is how it should be. The location of the turtles is scouted in advance by Rangers and we were escorted in small groups to see the turtle lay her eggs, camouflage the nest in the sand and then return to the sea. This is seen via red torch light. A process that took about 1 hour 30 minutes. No cameras, torches, white clothing are allowed as this distracts the turtles. The whole thing was dignified, a privilege to watch and overall a magical experience
Written July 26, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rick S
52 contributions
Sept 2015 • Couples
This is a nonprofit organization that supports and oversees turtle watches. The latter are simply amazing if you go on a good night. We saw Six green turtles leaving the water, returning to the water, or laying eggs. Bring insect repellent and wear boots.
Written September 15, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
282Juliette282
Toronto, Canada475 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
I was able to see a Green sea turtle lay about 120 eggs, this was an emotional experience seeing how hard this turtle work and knowing that this turtle may never see its baby, we were out in the dark beside the ocean. An experienced that i will never forget.
Written July 29, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I would love to do volunteer work for three weeks either on reptiles (turtles would be grand) or (marine) mammals. What are the conditions to do so. I really want to volunteer, will pay for my flights myself and will donate my holidays but I am not into paying huge sums in addition just for the privilege of doing work for no money .... any hints and tips, anyone?
Written March 21, 2017
The conservancy would be an excellent place to volunteer. A man from our tour group was asking about it and even I got interested after listening
Best wishes!
Written March 22, 2017
Hello, we will be visiting in November and will have our own vehicle. Can you drive to the conservancy and attend tours? From what I saw all of the tour packages involved travel from San Jose. Thanks!
Written April 27, 2016
You can only get there by boat .depending how n where you are coming from..be prepared for a few hours on a small fast boat,during the dry season water can be low so this could take longer.
Written April 30, 2016
Hello,
Can we see nesting turtles if we visit the last week of March??
Thanks,
Cathy
Written February 18, 2015
Cathy, we were there last year end of August and then the Lepidochelys were nesting. Not sure if it is only this time or if others doing in March? Huby
Written February 24, 2015
Hello,
Can we see nesting turtles if we visit the last week of March??
Thanks,
Cathy
Written February 18, 2015
I am not an expert on sea turtles. I was in Tortuguero in August and we were able to see a lot of turtles at night laying eggs. But I know that there other parts of Costa Rica where we can see turtles. The needing months depends of the turtle and also of the place where you are planning to go. Look for a webpage on maps in Costa Rica with the nesting turtles. It is very helpful.
Written February 19, 2015
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