One of the most special things about staying in Playa Junquillal is sharing the beach with sea turtles. This long, quiet beach is a nesting site, and the local VerdiAzul hatchery works to protect the eggs and help the hatchlings make it safely to the ocean. It’s about 1.5 miles from La Junglita, 5 minutes by car.
Meet Valerie, our host and VerdiAzul’s founder
Our manager and host at La Junglita, Valerie, is a Costa Rican biologist and the founder of VerdiAzul, which has been protecting turtles on Playa Junquillal for about 20 years. She greets every guest when they arrive, speaks English and Spanish, and is the best person to ask about nesting activity and releases during your stay.
Why turtles choose Junquillal
Playa Junquillal is wide, dark sand and much less developed than the busier beaches to the north. With fewer lights and less traffic, it’s a better place for mother turtles to come ashore and dig their nests. Several species nest along this part of the Guanacaste coast, including olive ridleys and the giant leatherback.
What VerdiAzul does
VerdiAzul is a community conservation project based right on Playa Junquillal. Volunteers patrol the beach, move vulnerable nests into the protected hatchery, and release the hatchlings when they emerge. They also run education programs for visitors and local kids. Stopping by is one of the best ways to learn about the turtles and support the work being done to protect them.
When is nesting season?
Nesting is busiest in the second half of the year and can run into the early months of the following year, depending on the species. Hatchlings usually emerge about two months after the eggs are laid. Activity changes from year to year, so we recommend checking with VerdiAzul about what’s happening during your dates.
How to see turtles responsibly
- Join a guided walk or release rather than searching the beach on your own at night.
- Never use a flashlight or phone light near a nesting turtle or hatchlings. Light confuses them and can send hatchlings away from the ocean.
- Keep your distance and never touch the turtles or their eggs.
- Fill in holes and flatten sandcastles before you leave the beach, so hatchlings don’t get trapped on their way to the water.
- Take your garbage with you, especially plastic.
A morning to remember
Guests tell us watching a hatchling release is a highlight of their trip, and kids especially love it. Pair it with a morning beach walk, a swim, and an afternoon back at the villa by the pool listening to the howler monkeys, and you’ve got one of the best days you can have in Junquillal.
Stay at La Junglita
La Junglita is our 3 bedroom private pool villa inside the gated Tierra Pacifica community, about 1.5 miles from Playa Junquillal. It sleeps 8, has A/C in every bedroom, and your stay includes the Club Arbol pools, gym and tennis court. Check availability and book your dates here.