
Leatherback Sea Turtle
A dark, leathery back rather than large hard shell plates.
Explore • Learn • Protect
Playa Langosta lies beyond Punta San Francisco from Tamarindo. Its shoreline includes rocky areas and the mouth of the San Francisco River. The beach is associated with Las Baulas National Marine Park and leatherback turtle nesting. The nearby estuary supports mangrove habitat.
Pico follows the changing shapes along the shore. Tati compares smooth sand with the rough edges of exposed rocks. Their questions lead them from a beach landscape to the idea that every habitat offers a different kind of home.
Landscape sketch: From a dry, safe viewing spot, draw sand, rock and water. Compare their colors and shapes. Add a sentence about what might change when the tide rises.
Choose a daylight visit with an adult. Ask locally about current tides, surf and access. Costa Rica’s tourism board identifies the northern rocky coast as unsuitable for swimming. Treat this discovery as a shoreline observation outing rather than a swimming recommendation.

A dark, leathery back rather than large hard shell plates.