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Mariordo Mario Roberto Duran Ortiz CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

Las Baulas National Marine Park

National Park

Coastal park on Costa Rica's Guanacaste coast protecting Playa Grande, a major leatherback turtle nesting beach; visitors come for turtle‑watching tours, beaches and estuary boat trips.

Las Baulas National Marine Park San JoséLa FortunaMonteverde Cloud Forest ReserveManuel Antonio National ParkTamarindoTortuguero National ParkLas Baulas National Marine Park
In this guide

Las Baulas National Marine Park essentials

Website: sinac.go.cr
Admission: Park entry usually free; guided nighttime turtle tours have fees (varies by operator, typically $25-$60).
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About Las Baulas National Marine Park

Las Baulas National Marine Park is a protected coastal and marine area in Guanacaste Province on Costa Rica’s north Pacific coast that safeguards important sea turtle nesting habitat, notably for the leatherback turtle.

The park contains long sandy beaches such as Playa Grande, coastal mangroves, estuaries and nearshore reef areas. It is best known for sea turtle nesting and for beach-based activities including surfing and birdwatching in the estuaries.

The protected area was created to conserve leatherback nesting habitat and adjacent coastal ecosystems; ongoing management emphasizes nest monitoring, patrols and regulated visitor access to reduce disturbance.

The park lies on the northern Pacific shoreline of Guanacaste, adjacent to Playa Grande and northwest of the resort town of Tamarindo.

  • Nesting season: October to February is the main leatherback turtle nesting season, and guided, permit-regulated night patrols are used to protect nesting females and nests.
  • Access: Day trips and short drives from nearby towns such as Tamarindo provide the most common visitor access; parking and visitor facilities are limited at beach trailheads.

What to See#

  • Playa Grande: The park’s principal sandy nesting beach, frequently monitored for leatherback turtle nests and also used by surfers and beachgoers.
  • Mangrove estuaries and nearshore waters: Coastal mangrove estuaries and nearshore waters that support birdlife, juvenile fish and boat-based wildlife tours.
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Las Baulas National Marine Park

Best visited between October and March for leatherback nesting; dry season offers sunnier days but larger crowds.

Turtle nesting season
October-March · 24-32°C (75-90°F)
Main season for leatherback turtle nesting-nighttime patrols and guided tours run regularly.
Dry season
December-April · 25-33°C (77-92°F)
Sunny days and pleasant evenings; beaches are busiest with tourists.
Green season (rainy)
May-November · 22-30°C (72-86°F)
Fewer visitors, lush inland scenery; nesting overlaps the start and end of this period.

Weather & Climate near Las Baulas National Marine Park

Climate

Las Baulas National Marine Park's climate is classified as Tropical Savanna - Tropical Savanna climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 21°C to 35°C. Abundant rainfall (1727 mm/year), wettest in September with a pronounced dry season.

Air Quality: AQI 48 Good
Best Time to Visit
FebruaryMarchJanuary
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
39°
Warmest Month
20°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Excellent 21° - 32° 27° 1 mm mostly sunny 69% 5.0 m/s 2.0 very high 11.5h
February Ideal 22° - 33° 29° 2 mm clear 63% 5.2 m/s 2.4 extreme 11.7h
March Ideal 23° - 34° 30° 5 mm mostly sunny 59% 4.8 m/s 2.6 extreme 12.0h
April Excellent 23° - 35° 31° 32 mm some cloud 60% 4.4 m/s 2.5 extreme 12.3h
May Acceptable 23° - 33° 32° 212 mm overcast 73% 3.3 m/s 2.1 extreme 12.5h
June Acceptable 23° - 32° 31° 322 mm overcast 83% 2.9 m/s 2.0 extreme 12.6h
July Good 23° - 32° 30° 123 mm overcast 82% 3.3 m/s 2.0 extreme 12.6h
August Acceptable 22° - 32° 30° 216 mm overcast 81% 3.1 m/s 2.1 extreme 12.3h
September Acceptable 22° - 31° 27° 377 mm overcast 84% 2.6 m/s 2.0 extreme 12.1h
October Acceptable 22° - 31° 26° 324 mm overcast 87% 2.6 m/s 1.8 very high 11.8h
November Very Good 22° - 31° 26° 90 mm partly cloudy 85% 3.1 m/s 1.8 very high 11.5h
December Excellent 21° - 32° 27° 23 mm some cloud 79% 4.3 m/s 1.8 very high 11.4h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Las Baulas National Marine Park

Las Baulas spans beach areas near Tamarindo and the town of Playa Grande in Guanacaste Province. From Tamarindo, Playa Grande is a 25-40 minute drive (about 20 km) north across the estuary-most vehicles use the bridge on the Liberia-Tamarindo road (Route 152/21). Regular taxis and private shuttles operate from Liberia (Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport ~60-90 minutes away). For nesting tours, meetups are typically in Playa Grande or Tamarindo; operators provide specific pickup instructions.

Tips for Visiting Las Baulas National Marine Park

  • If the goal is to see nesting leatherback turtles, join an authorized nighttime ranger-led tour-unlicensed tours are illegal and disturb the animals.
  • Stay in Playa Grande or Tamarindo and book tours in advance for peak season (Oct-Mar).
  • Bring a red-light headlamp (white light is prohibited during nesting watches) and dress quietly-white clothing reflects and disturbs turtles.