With World Turtle Day coming up on 23 May, start making plans to add seeing these incredible creatures first-hand…
Sea turtles on the coastlines of Riviera Nayarit
The official mascot of Riviera Nayarit, four protected species of sea turtle use the coast of Nayarit as a nesting site including leatherback turtles, Olive Ridley turtles, hawksbill turtles, and green turtles. The Olive Ridley nesting season begins in June and ends in November. Indigenous to Nayarit, the Olive Ridley is one of the smallest species of sea turtle and is named for the olive colour of its heart-shaped shell.
During the summer and autumn months, travellers can visit ‘Grupo Ecológico’, part of the Costa Verde’s marine turtle nursery, located in Riviera Nayarit’s San Francisco. Turtle hatchlings are released every Wednesday evening during the nesting season. After sunset, the organisation shows an educational slideshow about the fascinating world of sea turtles and their conservation initiatives followed by the releasing of young hatchlings if available.
More adventurous travellers may volunteer with the organisation for a minimum of two months to aid with hatching and releasing the endangered sea turtles.
Dominican Republic’s Saona Island for sea turtles
Saona Island, part of the Parque National del Este, is the Dominican Republic’s most visited natural attraction. Home to the largest colony of frigate birds in the Caribbean, it is also an important nesting area for turtles and, during the November to March nesting season, endangered hawksbill, green and leatherback turtles flock to the island’s beaches to lay their eggs. Daytrips to Saona Island are available from Punta Cana.
