Spring and summer is the best time for turtle watching in Puerto Rico. There are five species of sea turtles in the archipelago, and two of these species, in particular the hawksbill turtle and the leatherback turtle, are endangered. In Puerto Rico, you can do more than just go and see those beautiful reptiles, but also help conservation efforts that are especially critical during the hatching period.
The nesting season of leatherback, green, and hawksbill turtles lasts from February to August. Turtles lay eggs a few times during the same season in the sand as deep as 3.3 feet (1 m). It takes about 60 days for the babies to hatch, so from April till August you can watch nature's spectacle: tiny hatchlings are striving through the sand to reach the ocean.
Smaller hawksbill turtles have a sanctuary on Mona Island between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Larger leatherback and green turtles prefer to lay eggs on the beaches of the island of Culebra, which still has many isolated spots, like Zoni, Resaca, and Brava. Puerto Rico's Department of Natural Resources seeks volunteers annually from April through June to monitor the nests, make sure they are secured from predators, and count eggs. Some hotels, like Mamacitas Guesthouse in Culebra, participate in Turtle Conservation Project.
Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Beach Resort and Spa near Fajardo also runs a program together with the Department of Natural Resources and engages guests to monitor turtles' nesting and hatching. Bahia Beach Resort at the St. Regis hosts leatherback turtle nesting sites. The hotel has its own Nature Center and an on-site marine biologist to make sure its beach serves as a turtle sanctuary. Additionally, there are several Puerto Rican groups participating in monitoring the turtles, like Yo Amo al Tinglar, Tortugueros de Culebra, Playas pal Pueblo, Chelonia, Tortugueros del Sur, and the Culebra Sea Turtle Project.
Practical info
When do leatherback, green, and hawksbill turtles lay eggs in Puerto Rico?
The nesting season of leatherback, green, and hawksbill turtles in Puerto Rico is from February till August. Same season laying of eggs in the sand takes place up to 3.3 feet down. From April to August, the baby turtles hatch, and it is an incredible spectacle that visitors can observe. Show more
Which locations in Puerto Rico are good to witness baby turtles hatching?
Various locations are good for observing baby turtles hatching in Puerto Rico, such as Mona Island for small hawksbill turtle sanctuary, Culebra's beaches for larger leatherback and green turtles, and hotels like Mamacitas Guesthouse located in Culebra, Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Beach Resort and Spa near Fajardo, and Bahia Beach Resort at the St. Regis that are involved in turtle hatching monitoring programs and offer volunteering opportunities for conservation efforts. Show more
What is the goal of the Turtle Conservation Project implemented by Mamacitas Guesthouse in Culebra?
Mamacitas Guesthouse conducts the turtle conservation project that engages volunteers to monitor the nests, protect the eggs from potential predators, and count them. Such programs aim to protect turtle species from becoming extinct, allow the guests to learn the essential role played by these creatures in the ecosystem, and increase conservation awareness. Show more
What are some ways that tourists can participate in the turtle conservation efforts while in Puerto Rico?
Tourists can support turtle conservation efforts by volunteering to monitor nests of different turtle species, as several hotels in Puerto Rico, including Mamacitas Guesthouse in Culebra, Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Beach Resort and Spa located in Fajardo, and Bahia Beach Resort at the St. Regis, collaborate with the Department of Natural Resources to monitor turtle nesting and hatching, allowing guests to get involved in conservation activities. Similarly, groups like Yo Amo al Tinglar, Tortugueros de Culebra, and Chelonia are also dedicated to this natural cause. Show more
Which organizations in Puerto Rico are devoted to preserving sea turtles?
Along with the hotels like Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Beach Resort and Spa, Bahia Beach Resort at the St. Regis, and Mamacitas Guesthouse plus the Department of Natural Resources, other organizations help protect sea turtles in Puerto Rico, such as Yo Amo al Tinglar, Tortugueros de Culebra, Playas pal Pueblo, Chelonia, and Tortugueros del Sur, that work towards monitoring, safeguarding, and conservation of turtle species. Show more
