When the rainy season comes to Ixtapa in June, I look forward to nights of listening to the raindrops on my window. But most of all, I love the rainy season, because this is the time when turtles come to our beaches and lay their eggs. The best part of turtles nesting for me is from August till the end of December, when we all can be part of one of the most emotional events – release of baby turtles to the ocean.
In Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo we are very fortunate to have one of the preferred lands on the Pacific coast for the sea turtles to come ashore and lay their eggs. Our beaches are home mostly to the Olive Ridley turtles, but also to Leatherback and Hawksbill turtles.
Dedicated organizations, trained volunteers, and several employees from hotel industry all around the area, carefully “rescue” the eggs and place them in corrals where the incubation is monitored. Turtles come out of their eggs after 40-50 days.
However, the preservationists don’t stop there! After hatching, the turtles are kept well fed and cared for in seawater tanks. Two to three weeks later the turtles are released into the ocean. With this, the endangered hatchlings are able to grow a bit more, protecting them from natural predators. Through this process, the specialized organizations in Ixtapa-Zihatanejo count more than 75,000 baby turtle released every year!
If you are planning a vacation between August and December, I suggest a trip to Ixtapa to partake in a turtle release. Your Capella Ixtapa Personal Assistant can arrange participation in a release. Speaking from experience it is truly a special experience. Hopefully this year we can cheer on the turtles together!
