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11 November 2028 – 7 days for US$6,942* per person (*Prices based on 2027 departure, 2028 prices to be confirmed shortly.)

Alternative dates are available for 2028 please contact Natural Habitat Adventures for more information.

Register your interest for 2029 and we will contact you when confirmed details including finalised dates and prices are available.

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Join an extraordinary conservation expedition along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, working alongside marine scientists to help protect endangered leatherback sea turtles. Patrol nesting beaches after dark, monitor these remarkable ocean travellers and contribute to research helping safeguard one of the world’s most threatened sea turtle populations.

During the expedition, you will have the opportunity to join marine scientists on guided night-time beach patrols in search of nesting leatherback turtles. Depending on wildlife activity and the needs of the research team, the hands-on scientific activities may include identifying individual turtles, recording measurements, observing nesting behaviour and monitoring nests.

Begin in Guanacaste, exploring the waters of Bahía Matapalito while assisting researchers studying juvenile sea turtles. Discover the volcanic landscapes and wildlife of Rincón de la Vieja National Park before continuing to Playa Grande, a vital leatherback nesting site. Spend three days participating in nighttime turtle surveys, recording nesting activity and collecting scientific data. Along the way, look out for rays, tropical fish, howler monkeys, capuchins and colourful birdlife.

Throughout this expedition, you will be accompanied by Dr Chelsea Clyde-Brockway, alongside marine scientists from The Leatherback Trust. Through expert-led talks, informal discussions and insights from ongoing research, discover the fascinating biology of leatherback turtles, their extraordinary migrations and the challenges they face throughout their life cycle. Gain a deeper understanding of how scientific discoveries inform conservation strategies and help safeguard the future of these endangered marine animals.

Ideal for wildlife enthusiasts, ocean lovers and science-curious travellers, this expedition combines meaningful conservation research with Costa Rica’s extraordinary biodiversity, offering a rare opportunity to experience science in action.

In partnership with Natural Habitat Adventures and Earthwatch Expeditions.

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Itinerary

This is an active scientific research expedition, requiring flexibility as activities depend on sea turtle nesting activity, research priorities, weather and coastal conditions. The research team and expedition leaders may adapt the itinerary to maximise opportunities for turtle monitoring and scientific data collection, while ensuring safety and minimising disturbance to wildlife.

Day 1: Arrive in Guanacaste and meet the group

Your adventure begins in Guanacaste, a region of tropical dry forests, volcanic landscapes and Pacific beaches that provide vital nesting habitat for endangered sea turtles.

On arrival at Liberia International Airport, meet your local guide and transfer towards Playa Bahía Salinas, travelling through tropical dry forest and coastal scenery.

Settle into your accommodation before joining your fellow travellers for a welcome dinner and introduction to the research ahead. Discover why this coastline is so important for Eastern Pacific leatherback turtles and how scientific monitoring is helping protect their future.

Day 2: Participate in juvenile sea turtle research in Bahía Matapalito

Today, take a boat trip of approximately 1 hour into the sheltered waters of Bahía Matapalito in Santa Rosa National Park, where shallow coastal habitats provide important feeding grounds for juvenile sea turtles. The journey time may vary depending on your departure point and sea conditions.

Working alongside marine researchers, help locate turtles and collect scientific information, including body measurements, identification details and tag records. These observations contribute to studies of turtle growth, movements and habitat use.

There will also be opportunities to swim or snorkel in the bay, where you may encounter sea turtles, rays and schools of tropical fish. Enjoy a traditional Costa Rican lunch aboard the boat or on the beach before returning to your accommodation.

Day 3: Explore volcanic landscapes and travel to Playa Grande

This morning, visit Rincón de la Vieja National Park, where volcanic activity has created a fascinating landscape of steaming vents, bubbling mud pools and mineral-rich springs.

Explore trails through tropical dry forest, looking out for howler monkeys, white-faced capuchins, coatis and colourful birdlife. Discover how geothermal activity shapes the landscape and supports diverse ecosystems.

Continue to Oropéndola Waterfall, where the Río Blanco plunges into a turquoise pool surrounded by volcanic rock and lush vegetation. There will be time to enjoy the scenery and, conditions permitting, swim.

Later, you will travel to your next hotel located approximately 80–100 kilometres (around 1½–2 hours by road) to Playa Grande, part of the protected coastal environment surrounding Las Baulas National Marine Park and one of the Eastern Pacific’s most important remaining leatherback nesting areas.

Days 4-6: Join leatherback turtle conservation research at Playa Grande

Spend three days working alongside scientists from The Leatherback Trust, contributing to ongoing research into the nesting behaviour and reproductive success of endangered leatherback turtles.

Your main activities will take place after dark, when female turtles emerge from the Pacific to lay their eggs. Working in small groups, join guided beach patrols during shifts between sunset and sunrise, searching for nesting activity.

When turtles are encountered, you may assist researchers with several scientific tasks:

• Turtle identification: Check tags and record measurements to monitor individual nesting females.
• Nesting observations: Document egg laying, nesting behaviour and reproductive activity.
• Nest monitoring: Help assess nesting activity and learn about hatchling development.
• Conservation research: Discover how long-term monitoring helps scientists track population trends and improve protection strategies.

All activities are supervised to minimise disturbance to the turtles. As this is an active research expedition, wildlife encounters cannot be guaranteed, and some nights may involve extended periods without sightings.

During the late afternoons, join scientific talks or research activities exploring leatherback biology, migration and conservation. Mornings and early afternoons are generally free to relax or explore the surrounding coastline independently.

On your final evening, gather with the research team and fellow travellers for a farewell dinner, reflecting on your contribution to this important conservation programme.

Day 7: Final turtle monitoring and transfer to airport for departure

Depending on the research schedule, join a final morning survey along Playa Grande, looking for turtle tracks, signs of overnight nesting activity and existing nests.

These observations contribute to ongoing studies of nesting patterns and reproductive success, helping researchers understand the challenges facing Eastern Pacific leatherbacks.

Later, transfer to Liberia International Airport for your onward flight home, leaving with firsthand experience of marine conservation research and a deeper understanding of the scientific efforts to protect these remarkable sea turtles.

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Booking administration

This tour is operated by our trusted partner Natural Habitat Adventures on behalf of New Scientist Discovery Tours. Their dedicated specialist team will be your main point of contact from booking until you return home, handling your reservation, payments, travel documents, pre-departure information and any questions about your tour or travel arrangements.

Highlights

• Join marine scientists protecting endangered leatherback turtles on Costa Rica’s spectacular Pacific coast
• Patrol Playa Grande after dark, searching for giant leatherback turtles emerging from the ocean to nest
• Contribute to vital conservation research, recording turtle measurements, nesting activity and egg laying
• Help researchers study juvenile sea turtles in the sheltered waters of Bahía Matapalito.
• Snorkel in tropical Pacific waters, with opportunities to encounter sea turtles, rays and colourful marine life
• Explore Rincón de la Vieja National Park, discovering volcanic landscapes, bubbling mud pools and tropical wildlife
• Work alongside The Leatherback Trust to discover how scientific research is helping protect these endangered turtles
• Maximum of 12 guests

Meet the expert

Dr Chelsea Clyde-Brockway

Chelsea is a marine scientist and Executive Director of The Leatherback Trust, dedicated to understanding and protecting endangered sea turtles. She is also a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Purdue University, where her research explores how changing ocean conditions affect sea turtle behaviour, physiology and survival.

Her work combines satellite tracking, hormone analysis and other scientific techniques to investigate turtle movements, feeding patterns and responses to environmental stress. By studying turtles throughout their lives, from nesting beaches to offshore feeding grounds, she helps identify threats and develop effective conservation strategies. Her research has also contributed to the establishment of protected fishing areas along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.

On this research expedition, Chelsea will share her expertise in sea turtle biology and conservation, offering fascinating insights into the challenges facing Eastern Pacific leatherbacks. Through field research, scientific discussions and firsthand observations, you will discover how long-term monitoring and innovative research are helping protect these extraordinary marine reptiles.

What’s included

• Six nights accommodations
• Services of Earthwatch Expeditions’ professional Field Guides, local guides and lodge staff
• All meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on final day
• Private transfers throughout the itinerary
• Some gratuities
• Airport transfers on Day 1 and final day
• All activities and entrance fees
• All taxes, permits and service fees

What’s not included

• Travel to and from the start and end point of your trip
• Alcoholic beverages
• Some gratuities
• Passport and visa fees (if any)
• Optional activities
• Items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry, etc.)
• Airline baggage fees
• Airport and departure taxes (if any)
• Required medical evacuation insurance
• Optional travel protection insurance.

Accommodations

Nandel Beach Resort, Playa Bahía Salinas

Overlooking the sweeping shores of Bahía Salinas, this beachfront retreat offers a relaxing base for your marine conservation adventure. Spacious, air-conditioned rooms, a swimming pool with swim-up bar and oceanfront dining provide welcome comforts, while the surrounding coastline offers opportunities for snorkelling and kayaking.

El Manglar y Cantarana Beach Hotel, Playa Grande

A short walk from Playa Grande and the protected turtle nesting beaches of Las Baulas National Marine Park, this charming hotel offers a peaceful base for your conservation research. Set among tropical gardens visited by monkeys, iguanas and colourful birds, it features comfortable air-conditioned rooms, a swimming pool and nearby dining.