September 3 – 8, 2012

One of the most intriguing natural marvels takes place quietly and involves tiny, vulnerable creatures. For a few months annually on Mexico’s Pacific coast, olive ridley sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs in the sand. By the light of the moon, the baby hatchlings scurry to the sea, remembering forever their birthplace to which they will one day return to continue the cycle of life. 

• Personally ensure that journey is a safe one by helping to patrol the beach while the sea turtle hatchlings head to the sea.
• Spend several nights working side by side with the Mexican Ministry of the Environment, Mexican Navy and locals to guard beaches closes to nesting sites. 
• Stay at a picturesque ecolodge set high on the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean.
• Explore a community-based project working to restore mangrove estuaries and a wild iguana conservation farm.

Trip Itinerary

The dates below do not include travel time to and from the destination. Please consult our tour operator, Natural Habitat Adventures, to discuss your best flight options.

Monday, September 3, 2012: Huatulco, Mexico
Arrive in Huatulco and transfer to an ecolodge with cabanas perched high on cliffs above an empty beach. Here on the little-developed Oaxacan coast, you are perfectly situated for a unique encounter with nature. Your expedition leader hosts a welcome dinner and orientation this evening. Posada Rancho Cerro Largo (D)

Tuesday, September 4: La Ventanilla / La Escobilla Turtle Camp
This morning explore La Ventanilla, a community-based project working to restore this mangrove estuary and protect its inhabitants, which include sea turtles, crocodiles and birds. You’ll also visit the Body Shop factory and store, where local people make products with natural materials from the area, creating a sustainable source of income.

After lunch in the fishing village of Puerto Angel, relax on the beach before returning to the lodge. This evening travel to La Escobilla Turtle Camp for a briefing on the sea turtle conservation program. Locals, aided by the Mexican Ministry of the Environment and the Mexican Navy, patrol the beach to protect turtles from poachers. Help guard the beach close to the camp before returning to our lodge around 1 a.m.

You may see females coming ashore after journeys of hundreds, even thousands, of miles, to bury their eggs in the sand. This stretch of coast is one of the best in the world for observing the arribada, a Spanish word meaning “arrival,” used to describe the mass nesting of olive ridley sea turtles. With many turtles coming ashore together, and many nests hatching at the same time, there is extra defense against predation, though the turtles also become more vulnerable to hunting and egg removal by human poachers. Posada Rancho Cerro Largo (B,L,D)

Wednesday, September 5: Mazunte / La Escobilla Turtle Camp
At Mazunte Beach, visit the National Mexican Turtle Center, created by the Mexican government to protect several threatened sea turtle species. Staff works to preserve the turtles both from natural predation and from human impacts such as gill nets, pollution, coastal development and hunting for the turtles’ meat, eggs and leather. Although olive ridley numbers have been vastly reduced from their historic populations, conservation efforts are helping this endangered species make a significant comeback.

This evening return to La Escobilla Turtle Camp, where you may have a chance to help release hatchlings into the ocean. These tiny creatures, just 1 ½ inches long, can grow to 100 pounds at full maturity. Posada Rancho Cerro Largo (B,L,D)

Thursday, September 6: Iguana Farm / Puerto Escondido
Late this morning, en route to Puerto Escondido, visit an iguana farm run by a biologist working to increase the local wild iguana population. Today’s destination is a placid seaside town whose name in Spanish means “Hidden Port.” Here on the unspoiled coast, unwind at a four-star hostelry set among palms and tropical gardens. This afternoon visit Manialtepec Lagoon, where you’ll find verdant mangroves, fishermen in dugout canoes, and a rich diversity of wetland birdlife, including herons, ibis and egrets, and more exotic species such as roseate spoonbills, white-fronted parrots and tiger herons. This evening return to La Escobilla Turtle Camp or enjoy an evening picnic at Manialtepec. Hotel Santa Fe (B,L,D)

Friday, September 7: Puerto Escondido
Take an early morning motorboat excursion to look for sea turtles in the ocean, where you may observe mating activity. Optional snorkeling, which may reveal colorful tropical fish, is included. After lunch return to the hotel for a final chance to enjoy the beach, visit the downtown area or simply savor some free time. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner in town. Hotel Santa Fe (B,L,D)

Saturday, September 8: Huatulco / Home
Transfer to the airport this morning for flights home. (B)