la flor beach natural reserve

You feel the power of nature and persistence of life watching both the mothers journey up on the beach to lay eggs and releasing the young to the sea. Fascinating and once in a lifetime for any traveler. The reserve is easy in and out, doesn't feel crowded at night, actually kind of your own world taking it all in... respect the turtles.

Camping in La Flor Natural Reserve was a great experience. All tour made by O'Shop beach & travel between the transportation, the tent, the tour of turtles and a diner.

Very cool beach to check out. We didn't go at the right time to see egg laying but we were just taking an ATV to the beaches south.

Even if you only see one or two big turtles when you go, you will most likely always be able to see baby turtles released at sunset daily. It is a thrill beyond imagining to see these just born turtles all race headlong to the sea!!!

We had been to la flor beach to see turtles but returned during the day to use the beach. It is a very pretty beach, nice white sand and almost no people. If you walk to the right after entering the beach area and head to the rocks at the end of the beach there are some nice tide pools in the rocks with some interesting little ecosystems. There were lots of pelicans diving for fish and I talked to a park ranger who said that one thing to watch out for are sting rays which are in the deeper water. The waves were not large so it is not a good surfing beach and there are no facilities but there are some nice shady spots to get out od the sun and the platforms are there where the t.v. show Survivor was shot, all in all a nice place to spend a couple of quiet hours away from it all.

We took a night time tour to watch the Turtle hatching at the beach in the La Flor Reserve. It was a moonless night and there were only a few million stars in the skies above. We had a great guide, who was able to spot several baby turtles, just recently hatched trying to make their way back into the ocean. It was an amazing feeling to be a part of this (although I did feel a little guilty for invading their privacy). We also spotted 3 giant mommy turtles coming out of the ocean and making their way to the sand, dig a pit and lay a whole bunch of eggs. We learnt from our guide that this preserve helps save several turtles from poachers and keeps a larger % of them alive (this reduced my guilt). The whole trip was done in complete darkness except for the small red feeble lights we were given which were just enough to ensure we might spot a movement. Thanks to the folks at La Flor Beach Reserve to maintaining the area and rescuing these turtles from poachers, folks like us get to witness this amazing phenomenon and be a part of this beautiful nature.

Our fourth visit to this beautiful beach. We camp for 5 days here with others 20 peoples receiving the 2015 New year and we just have enough fun.

Great experience, kids got to watch the hatching of baby sea turtles. One of those moments in life when you get to see your kids not worried about cell phones.

We had an amazing experience viewing the turtles as hatchlings escaping to the ocean and watching adults arriving and laying eggs. You can easily do this trip by yourself by car and/or taxi. There are guides at the reserve that you can hire on the spot. We stupidly booked a trip from town with Rana Tours. The guys driving chain smoked the entire ride and left us on the beach with no information as they huddled together, smoking some more, and ignoring us. All the other tour groups were given red filters for their flashlights and phones (so as not to disturb the turtles) while we received nothing and were wandering in the dark. We finally just joined another group from another company and followed them around. Don't miss this opportunity! Just avoid Rana Tours when you go.

If you are there during the turtles season this is pretty unique. Theres only 7 turtles reserve for Paslama (Olive Ridley) in the world. When turtles go to lay the eggs this place is insane! Ive been nights were there was more than 20.000 sea turles. Shocking! But u must be there the right day! I suggest doing the tour with Casa Oro

If it is egg laying season this trip has to be done although having too many people there is detrimental to the turtles. catch 22! It is amazing to see the process so closely and understand why so many fail to make it to adulthood. Good to see that steps are being take to enhance survival.

I'm so happy that I didn't let the pricey tour operators deter us from going to see the sea turtles- they were unbelievable!!!!! Truly an unforgettable experience with memories to last a lifetime. We made our own tour and rented a dirtbike to get there (if you do, make sure the headlight is adequate as the road is a bit of a mission!! Or get a quad!). Do it yourself. No tour necessary!!

We stopped and had dinner here on our way to see the turtles. We had wine... what a shock and a delicious dinner. The setting is perfect, right on the beach which was great for a pre dinner dip.

Also known as La Reserva Vida Silvestre La Flor, this is one of the main places to go at night, during the right time of year, to see the "Arribada" or arrival of the sea turtles. We were a week and a half early, but still got to see two laying mamas and release a basket of babies to the sea. You arrive to the concrete, porch edifice at night and there are a number of people lounging in hammocks around the building. As you approach one of the lounging folks will get up to become your guide. It makes sense, they don't know how many tourists will show up, and it's a long quiet night. There are a number of baby sea turtles in baskets waiting for the tourists to release them. Bring your own red light - they don't have any. Also, the guides do not speak English, so be prepared to communicate on your own. The Arribada seems to occur during the first 1/4 moon after the last new moon in October, but check if you want to see 3,000+ turtles laying their eggs on the beach. I genuinely enjoyed our uncrowded experience. We took a cab there (from Playa Maderas it was US $120 for the cab, 4 of us split the cost) and hired the guide ($10 per person) to walk with us on the beach. There was one other group that night, a tour with Casa de Oro (they have English speaking guides) and we were all able to see the turtles. We got back to our hotel at about 2 AM, sometimes it takes longer to see the turtles.

La Flor Beach Natural Reserve is not a hotel but you can make arrangements to camp on the property for a fee. There are no restaurants on the property, this is simply a wildlife refuge for the Paslama and Tora Turtles. These 45Kg animals arrive by the thousands on this beach to lay their eggs after having been born on that very beach themselves 15 or so years prior…It is an incredible event, to witness these slow moving beasts up the beach, looking for a nice spot to lay their eggs. About 100 golf-sized, white eggs are deposited by mom after digging a nest by using their rear flippers (stand back, they throw fast and hard…). After laying the eggs - sometimes they are said to "cry"- they cover them and using their shells in an upward and downward motion they "stomp" the sand on top making a loud thumping sound. When done, they make their trek back to the water, slowly - perhaps sadly- and they swim away, no looking back. It is Nature in its infinite wisdom at work. Beautiful experience for young children just be sure they are at an age where they know the meaning of "inside voices" as this event should be witnessed in silence, no flash photography. Bring a towel to sit on and some water, spray insect repeller lightly or wear pants. A small flashlight would be useful.There are people who work for the park agency essentially patrolling the beach all night and keeping track of the evening's numbers, as well as some armed guards to try and keep poachers from stealing the eggs and selling them on the black market. There is a small fee of about $9.00 for adults and $4.50 for children, nationals pay less (only cash accepted, local currency is fine). Sometimes you may get lucky and happen to find one of the friendly employees who will gladly answer any questions (in spanish only).If you are in San Juan del Sur this is a must go. About 22Km of mostly unpaved rough road south of San Juan. Four wheel drive strongly suggested especially during rainy season.