Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Arribada — La Flor Beach

About this spectacle

La Flor Beach in Rivas, Nicaragua is one of the world's most dramatic mass nesting events, where thousands of Olive Ridley sea turtles emerge from the Pacific Ocean under cover of darkness to lay their eggs on a single stretch of sand. During an arribada, the beach becomes a living carpet of turtles — shells overlapping, flippers churning sand, the air thick with the primordial rhythm of creatures following an ancient instinct. Visitors stand in hushed awe as females haul themselves above the tide line, dig nests with powerful rear flippers, deposit clutches of eggs, and return to the surf. The spectacle unfolds primarily at night, with the sounds of waves and the soft scraping of sand creating an unforgettable sensory experience. Rangers patrol the beach to protect nesting females, and access is typically managed to minimize disturbance to this remarkable natural phenomenon.

When to go

Jan — Dec, peak Aug — Nov

Getting there

Nearest airport: MGA. Nearest city: Rivas.

Booking options

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