The Puerto Vallarta Sea Turtle Camp offers visitors to Puerto Vallarta a unique night adventure. This is a magical adventure, for the old and young alike. The Bay of Banderas is home every year to thousands of Olive Ridley Turtles that were born here, and return to lay their eggs. However, the survival rate due to natural predators, including humans, is very low.
Your participation in this tour helps to fund a program which facilitates recovery of the population of Olive Ridley sea turtles which are facing the danger of extinction.
As part of this tour, you can join in the effort in a number of ways:
- Patrol and search the beach for hidden eggs
- Participate in releasing the turtle hatchlings to the ocean
- Collect and protect turtle eggs during the summer
- Provide support to the newly hatched young
Marine turtles are some of the most ancient creatures in the world, and even though they have existed for around 200 million years, they are now in great danger of disappearing forever. The Sea Turtle Camp is a great way for people of all ages to learn more about sea turtles while taking part in the protection and conservation of this endangered species.
The ability of a sea turtle to migrate hundreds (and occasionally thousands) of miles from its feeding ground to its nesting beach is one of the most remarkable acts in the animal kingdom. That fact that adult females return faithfully to nest on the very beach where they were born makes the feat even more amazing.
Hatchlings usually emerge from their nest at night or during a rainstorm when temperatures are cooler. Once they decide to burst out, they erupt from the nest cavity as a group. The little turtles orient themselves to the brightest horizon, and then dash toward the sea.
If they don't make it to the ocean quickly, many hatchlings will die of dehydration in the sun or be caught by predators like birds and crabs.
Come and join this tour, and make a real difference in the effort for conservation of this reptile and research project in Banderas Bay.
Children 11 years old and younger are welcome on the tour when accompanied by a paying adult. Hotel pick-up is not available for this tour.