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| Green Turtle |
Turtles are some of nature’s most beautiful and majestic creatures, to watch them glide effortlessly through the water is truly a sight to behold, and what better place to see these creatures than in the heart of the Riviera Maya, in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea. Playa del Carmen is inundated with dive shops and tours that will take you to some of the most breathtaking reefs to view some of world’s most extraordinary snorkeling and diving opportunities, and it is not uncommon to see several of these exotic turtles in a single dive. Of the seven species of turtle worldwide (all of which are endangered) you can find three right here – the Loggerhead turtles, Green turtles and Hawksbill Turtles.
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| Hawksbill Turtle |
Nesting season for Playa del Carmen’s local turtle population is almost upon us however, May usually marks the beginning of turtle season on the Riviera Maya, and everyone is asked to take a little extra care and consideration during this time. First the Loggerhead turtles will begin coming ashore at night to find suitable nesting locations on the beaches. Later, in June-July will come the Green turtles, with the last hatchlings having emerged from their nests sometime in September – October. As for the Hawksbills turtles however, although they can be seen feeding in the reefs of the Riviera Maya, prefer to nest on the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.
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| Loggerhead Turtle |
If you are walking along beach be wary of nests that are marked by conservationists and under any circumstance do not disturb them, try your best not to harass the turtles in any way whether they be swimming alongside you or found on the beach, keep pets locked up at night and remember handling a turtle without proper authorization is a federal offense in Mexico.
Keep your distance so that the beauty before you will continue on for others to see, the future of the regions turtles depend on it.
