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It was almost 10 pm as we walked down the beach at La Flor Wildlife Reserve, 22 km south of SJdS. Our bilingual guide (from Casa Oro Hostel in SJdS), had the only light, a dim red beam from her flashlight. The stars lit the sky and under our feet, bioluminesence sparkled like a mirror of above.

Ahead, we see our target, an adult female Olive Ridley turtle, laying her eggs deep into the sand. We watched as she used her hind flippers to dig the hole in the sand that will provide protection for the eggs 45 days of incubation. She spent ten minutes laying almost 100 eggs that she will never see, and maybe only one of them may make it to adulthood.

She finished with a thump, thump, thump circular dance, as she re-packed the sand using her whole body. We watched, keeping well out of her way. We didn’t use white lights or flash for fear of the turtle from being disoriented.

It was time for her to go, she listened for the waves, turned and splits the beach, surprisingly fast. As she reached the water our cameras flash away. The wave washed over the turtle (who is safe from us now) and then over our feet as well.

But, even if you have seen the turtles do this, it doesn’t mean you have seen it all. Three nights later I returned to La Flor with Casa Oro. This night it was cloudy, dark and next to impossible to see where you are walking. Then, directly in front of the group, a small head popped out of the sand, followed by a couple of hundred more. Babies from two different nests were hatching and making their first journey to the sea.

Casa Oro has over 4 years of experience with these expeditions and works closely with the reserve to help with the protection
of the sea turtles.

Casa Oro offers these trips nightly when the turtles are hatching, between July and January. The $30 covers your ride, entrance
fee ($12), guide and driver. It also includes an excellent 30 minute presentation about turtles and conservation which can be given in English, French, or Spanish.

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