Ostional | Established Campground

very nice camp spot purely because of the beach it backs onto but owner made me feel like he was doing me a favor by letting me camp there , without buying the tour. not allowed to go on the beach via his gate after 7pm (so you buy the tour).

Report Check-In

We arrived cycling around 5pm, Gilbert is a very friendly man. He offers camping + turtle tour for $30 pp. We asked if it was also possible to just camp, which is ok for $10 pp. Bathroom is good. There is a sort of outside communal space where you can put up your gas burner and easily prepare food. A nice place with gorgeous sunset and a good night sleep guaranteed!

Report Check-In

We planned on staying here but everything was closed down and people there also couldn’t really help us. We then biked about 500m further south and took the last road down to the beach where we found this family home which welcomes people to camp in the yard for $10 per Person. We could use the kitchen and restroom/shower and the sunset on the beach was beautiful!

Report Check-In

Very friendly owner, very passionate about turtles. You can only go on the beach in the dark if you take a tour with him. We saw no turtles this time, but saw tracks. Therefore we had 2 hours in the evening as well a tour in the morning, for one price. Basic facilities, but if you love turtles and to hear about the conservation, the place to go.

Report Check-In

Very basic place.
We only stayed because it is convenient for turtle watching 'tour'.
Gilbert now charges 30$/pp for the walk to a or some turtles.

Mediocre cellular reception. 80 meters up the road at restaurant Las Brisas you can use WiFi and sit down for a drink or meal.

Report Check-In

Extraodinaire endroit pour voire des tortues par centaines quand c est le jour des arrivées. Gilbert le guide patron du campement sait quand elles arrivent et vous guidera le matin a 5 h. Attention en cas d arrivee la plage peutvetre fermer plusieurs jours. Le camping est basic mais c est l endroit ou il faut etre pour voire les tortues. A cote un bar restau sympa. 10 $ pour le camping et 20 $ pour le guide par personne A faire !

Report Check-In

Campsite on the beach. Unfortunately due to new rules the beach is closed from 9pm to 5am. Obviously this is the best time to see turtles. They still sell tours but the chances are all you will see are turtle tracks as they will have returned to the ocean. 😏

Report Check-In

Basic to say the least. But what it lacks in clean facilities is made up for by stunning views. Great beach for surfing and early morning turtle spotting. I recommend doing Gilbert's 5 am tour. Some outside people attending the tours are gathering on the property, but that really wasn't an issue for us.

Report Check-In

Awful campsite. Dark, dirty, crowded and dangerous falling coconuts. Better stay somewhere else in the area and just pop by for the turtle excursion only.

Report Check-In

Gilbert is a passionate and a nice guy BUT. We paid 20$ for camping. And the campsite is really not nice. Dirty. Worst shower we have seen. No wifi, no good lights, toilets dirty ...etc....
The tour was ok. We have seen one turtle on the beach but it was very intrusiv. Lots of people arround the turtle, too close from the turtle, to much lights....etc. it was very strange. No explaination in english and not much in spanish.
Pass your way....

Report Check-In

Agree with former comments: just regarding camping this is clearly not a recommended place. The toilets and showers are dirty, the whole place is worn down and would need a complete make-over. Not at all worth the $10 pP! Unfortunately Gilbert takes advantage from the fact that you need to camp somewhere close when you want to do the evening or early morning turtle tour and there‘s not really a alternative close by. That‘s why we stayed 1 night.
Gilbert himself is very friendly and passionate about the turtles and works already a long time for their conservation. Nevertheless another $10 for the tour is also a lot of money for what you get. We were a little bit unfortunate, I guess, as there were only Spanish speaking people in our group and Gilberts English is not very good so we barely received any information about the turtles. But seeing them laying eggs was amazing!
All in all no recommendation from our side, although it‘s safe and you can at least use water and bathrooms.

Report Check-In

The tours of gilbert and the other local guides are great. In the evening we saw thousands of turtles. In the morning we still saw a lot of them. The tours are money well spend. The 10 dollar pp for standing at the campsite is ridiculous. Very small campsite, without a good place to hang out. The toilets and showers are bad even for Costa Rican standards. He knows he attracts people with the tour, so he just can ask what he wants. Wouldn't stay there another night.

Report Check-In

We had an excellent time at this camping place and took the overnight tour with Gilbert the owner, who transmitted us his passion for turtles. Even if it wasn’t the season to spot turtles on the beach we had the chance to observe one at night.
The camping facilities could have been a bit cleaner but the hospitality and kindness of Gilbert made us forget that, we camped under the coconut trees in front of the beach.

Report Check-In

We had a mixed experience with this place. If it was just for the camping we wouldn't recommend it. We tent camped for one night in a sandy/dusty area behind the house, untidy with broken glass lying around and no lights. The kitchen area is poorly lit. Has a big sink for laundry etc. The bathroom is basic but OK. No Wifi. And still 10 $ pP, which is overpriced. We camped on the Peninsula for half of that price and had way better facilities.
But we took the turtle tour with Gilbert at 8:30 PM (10 $ pP) and it was great!

Report Check-In

Lugar muy tranquilo, con buenas sombras tanto en el área de camping, como en la playa.
La playa es extensa y de una pristina belleza, lo cual transmite mucha paz.
Ana mi esposa disfruta,de las caminatas por ella, yo de la paz del mar y la visión de lejanía que aprecio frente a mi.
Escuchar la música de las olas es todo un deleite.
hay ducha y servicio sanitario.
Gilbert y su esposa son muy amigables y atentos.
a pesar de ser unas instalaciones básicas, sin tomas de corriente y otras facilidades para un RV, lo recomiendo.

Report Check-In

We had heard and read a lot of good reviews, but when we came there two busses with tourists also visited this place for turtle spotting. We had not a nice camping place and it was too crowdy. Dirty showers and toilets.
The owner is very friendly and the baby turtles are really nice to see.

Report Check-In

Best spot for a turtle watching tour! Gilbert (owner) was very friendly, we first had our doubts for the 10$ night/person price but after all, his tour (10$) is worth doing so! we checked prices at other places but couldn't find any cheaper. No regrets staying here. Free coconuts from the ground, don't park to close though.

Report Check-In

Best camping place in Guanacaste.
In front of the beach, all calm and the only sound is the waves at the ocean.
We stayed 2 kids and 2 adults one night and we should have stay longer.
The place is AWESOME. Gilbert and his wife Maria are SO NICE people. They help you with everything you need, they are there to talk to you, give you all the advices, show you their "paradise". Is a GREAT place for people looking for relax out of the main party places since this is a place to feel the nature and the real Costa Rica. We are going back as soon as we can.
Gilbert is a tour guide and can give you more info about wich dates are better for watching the adult turtles or the new little born ones.
Please DONT miss this place. The waves, the nature and this 2 persons are awesome.
Paid $10 per adult per night and $5 per kid per night.

Report Check-In

Fantastic spot with for a big outfit. Cold showers, potable water, electricity, and toilets. Gilbert is very passionate about the town as well as turtle conservation. With our stay there we were lucky to be in the hatching times of the turtles. We got to experience them being released into the ocean. You are right on the beach with beautiful views from sunup to sundown. This is a pay campsite. A must stop while exploring the peninsula.

Report Check-In

Now charges US$10 per person! No negotiating possible Another 10 pp. to go turtle spotting at night. Did stay but did not do the tour at night. You can go in the morning for free with him to watch the babys hatch. He says main season to watch the leatherback lay her eggs is September/October, where you'll see the whole beach full of these massive turtles, probably then it's worthed to go.

Report Check-In

Gilbert the owner is a sweetheart and as others have written, very knowledgeable about the turtles that are prolific on this beach. The $10 for an hour of turtle watching at 3am was totally worth it — we got to see a giant turtle laying her eggs and heading back to sea. He did not charge for watching the two batches of baby turtles he released during the day. Clean showers and toilets, electricity hookup if you use your own extension cord as we did. Comfortable seating area with tables, sink, and beach view.

Report Check-In

The ONLY place to camp I Ostional,as it is a natural reserve (refuge). We camped in Gilbert's front yard for $6/ person . He wanted $8/ night to run electric, and $1/person to connect to WiFi per night. Very expensive for what you get, but no other choices here. On the beach, but you are behind his house,unless you are small enough to get under the tree. He charges $10/ person for 1/2 hour of turtle spotting. We skipped it as we have volunteered and seen many turtles nesting in San Pancho Mexico.

Report Check-In

Campground at the beach front.
Gilbert, the owner, is very passionate about turtles, been the president of the conservation program for years. Once he starts talking, make sure you have a beer around 'cause it'll take a while :)

This beach is one of the - if not THE - best turtle spotting beaches in the world. Every might they can be spotted, ranging from a just a couple to thousands of them.

He knows when and where to go spot them. Normally you have to take a guide, but you can just walk out of the camp ground onto the beach and start looking for them. Walk along the water line and look for belly dragging marks. You're not allowed to use white light, only red light.

The amount of turtles you'll see is highly depending on the moon so if you have time, I'd contact Gilbert (NV below) and ask when is the best moment.
Two options: go North (to the right) and walk about 300m, or go South. South there are more, but there's also a river with crocodiles, so not recommended to do on your own.

The camp ground itself is basic: no designated spots with light or electricity but lots of shade and a sheltered area with light and running water.
Price is 6USD pp, non negotiable.
The entrance is a big white and brown metal gate, with a yellow arch. All rigs can fit in.

Owner is very friendly. You can contact him on +506 6123 9003 or via Facebook: Gilbert Rojas Araya

Report Check-In