Arribada - Costa Rica

Olivier Blaise

A little beach on the Pacific coastline of Costa Rica is home to one of the world's most mysterious natural phenomenon. Every November and December, for one week, tens of thousands of sea turtles convene near Ostional to lay millions of eggs. This event represents the greatest concentration of sea turtles in the world: 50 000 turtles on a beach at the same time! The hueveros (egg collectors) work non-stop from dawn to dusk. The eggs they sell are to be found on the counters of Costa Rica's cantinas and bars, as their exportation remains prohibited. Swallowed whole and washed down with beer, the yolk is said to possess aphrodisiac qualities. In any case, it is an excellent source of protein.