Every year between July and December, an extraordinary natural spectacle takes place on the Costa Rican Pacific coast: Thousands of olive ridley turtles gather near the shore a few days before the new moon and then land almost together within 5 days on the beach of Ostional. The locals call this natural phenomenon
“Arribada”
which means arrival.
The journey from the sea to the higher part of the beach is difficult for the animals, which can weigh up to 50 kg. Time and again, the turtles have to take a break. Once they have finally arrived at their preferred spawning site, each animal lays around 100 eggs in a pit it has dug itself and carefully seals it again so that no hunter recognizes that there are tasty eggs underneath. This turtle beach in Ostional is strictly protected and Tropica Verde has already supported various turtle sanctuaries on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. Today, this task is performed by the national parks and local groups.
Photo: © Stefan Rother – Faunity
