Turtle Watching in Costa Rica

Sea turtles are fascinating creatures. Scientific evidence supports the theory that marine turtles return to the beach where they were hatched, some species are known to travel thousands of miles at sea to reach their nesting sites to .. The exact mechanism of how these creatures move to their nesting sites is still unknown, although many biologists have speculated that the turtles, the stars and ocean currents used to guide them.

When I fell in Costa RicaSeveral years ago I traveled to Playa Grande beach, near the popular Pacific Coast resort of Tamarindo, to witness the breeding behavior of the giant leatherback turtle mountains. The breeding season for the giant leatherback turtle is from October to April at selected locations along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and from February to July on the Caribbean coast. Female turtles mate every 3-4 years, back to the same beach where they were hatched to lay their eggs.

About 40 tourists appeared at about12 Clock at the designated meeting place for the turtle-watching tour, splitting into smaller groups of 6-8 persons. We hung around for about 2 hours to about 2.00 clock before the start of our hike along the nesting beach. Apparently we had to wait for the right conditions to fall into place. A trained naturalist guide led each small group, only with a flashlight that emitted a red light beam.

What was a memorable night for it! Like all artificial lights off at nightduring the breeding season so as not to discourage the egg-women, the moon and the stars, provided the only illumination available. The sky was like a big amphitheater, as you would see many different constellations of stars and galaxies. It was absolutely amazing. The tour leader with a walkie - talkie, got a tip from an employee of a giant leatherback sighting. As we cautiously approached, we could hear the grunting and hissing of female leatherback turtles. FinallyWe have seen in the vicinity of the giant tortoise, she had a dug a big hole in the sand and winds its way into the work, as they laid their eggs. After the eggs were laid, she used her flippers to cover them carefully with sand to protect them from the elements and potential predators. Explore this ancient creature that wind their dinosaurs, and writhe in pain as she lay in labor is upstream, in a way that reminded me of a human mother at birth.

It was definitely a night to remember, notonly to perpetuate the image of this giant turtle their species, but also for the beautiful celestial show.