Leatherback Turtle Nesting

Junquillal Beach is one of the most important nesting site in Guanacaste's and Costa Rica for the Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). There is a leatherback turtle conservation project between the local community and WWF (World Wide Fund For Nature). The project has been in place since 2005, lead by Dr. Gabriel Francia the project has focused on turning the people who used to poach turtle eggs for local consumption into turtle conservationist.

The project besides making this change of mind on the local comnity, also aims to give the beach with the best conditions for turtle nesting, night watches on nesting season, improves the conservation efforts for turtles and nature in general and promote the conservation of turtles as an income oportunity for the local comunity. Since 2005 more than 20,000 turtles of tree different species have born in Junquillal.

On the nesting season that goes from September to March you can take night walk on the beach and you might have the opportunity of watch turtle nesting. We recommend you to have patience, respect the turtles, don't use big flashlight, don't drive vehicle on the beach and if you see a turtle nesting let her do her job, tray to avoid the pictures with flash ... just enjoy the moment.