Scientists recognize seven living species of sea turtles, all of which are endangered. The largest sea turtle is the Leatherback which typically ranges in size from 650 to 1,300 pounds! The smallest turtle is the Olive Ridley which usually weighs less than one hundred pounds. Both of these, plus the Hawksbill, the Loggerhead, and the Green Turtle, nest on the shores of Costa Rica, where a tremendous conservation effort is in place to protect the turtles, the nesting areas, and their eggs. These conservation centers, complete with research centers, hatcheries, and a tourism industry centered around volunteers that protect the nesting areas, eggs, and hatchlings returning to the sea, can be found on both coasts of Costa Rica. A key part of this effort is the making of preservation of the turtles profitable to the local communities, as opposed to the traditional profitting from poaching and selling off of the endangered animals' eggs and flesh.

The great Leatherback turtle is the only of its particular species in the entire world, and is the most critically endangered of all the sea turtles. Although the meat is not considered tasty, nor does it have a prized shell like the Hawksbill, the eggs of the Leatherback are the most highly desired of all sea turtles due to the myth of their aphrodesiac powers. They are "gigantotherms," like the Great White Shark, and certain dinosaurs. Unlike most other sea turtles, the Leatherback may not return to their natal beach (the beach where they were hatched) but may vary their nesting grounds by a one hundred mile range, making preservation and conservation of the giants an effort of tremendous scope.

Green turtles are valued for their eggs, meat and fat, and Hawksbills are valued for their shells, once widely used for hair combs and eyeglass frames. The nesting grounds of the Green Turtles in Costa Rica, between Parismina and Tortuguero, are believed to be their most important nesting grounds in the world. Olive Ridleys are famous for the mass arrival for nesting that takes place on beaches, called "Arribada" (arrival) in Costa Rica. Thousands may arrive all at once, conducting a mass exodus from the swarms of them lingering in the surf and offshore, to deposit their eggs in the sand. Loggerheads are the most common sea turtle to nest in North America, but grace the shores of Costa Rica also.

Visitors coming to witness the miracle of nesting turtles in Costa Rica, the Arribada of the Olive Ridleys, the treasured encounter with the giant Leatherback, return to their home countries with the memory of one of the most unique opportunities of a lifetime. Be a part of the worldwide movement to save the sea turtles of the world, and have the vacation of a lifetime.

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