Sea Turtles Hatching in Riviera Nayarit

As travelers come to rest on the soft, white sands of Riviera Nayarit, so do plenty of sea turtles during the warmer months. If you’re looking to witness this phenomenon in person and want to know when sea turtles hatch, it’s best to plan your trip during the season, from June to November. The Riviera Nayarit Visitors & Convention Bureau notes that six of the seven sea turtle species found around the world come to Mexico each year to lay their eggs. The bureau notes that the same sea turtles that were born on the shores of Riviera Nayarit are some of the same turtles that come to give birth to up to 200 hatchlings.

Turtle hatching in Mexico is a breathtaking sight that moves hearts from beginning to end. Getting to witness sea turtles come to life and find their way to the shore is truly remarkable, as these fragile creatures discover what it is to move for the first time and what it is to step into the water. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reveals that a female sea turtle will find a spot above the high water mark in the warm sand, dig a nest, and lay her eggs, which can take up to three hours. After laying her eggs, the sea turtle makes her way back to the ocean. NOAA notes that after incubating for up to 60 days, the turtle eggs start hatching at the same time, creating a stunning sight. According to the Nayarit Tourism Secretariat, travelers may witness olive ridley, green, leatherback, and hawksbill sea turtles hatching along Riviera Nayarit. NOAA notes that after incubating for up to 60 days, the turtle eggs start hatching at the same time, creating a stunning sight. According to the Nayarit Tourism Secretariat, travelers may witness olive ridley, green, leatherback, and hawksbill sea turtles hatching along Riviera Nayarit. Guided by the light of the moon, these delicate hatchlings start to make their way into the ocean, where they’ll begin a life amid the glistening waves.

As you dive deep into luxury at Conrad Punta de Mita, find the best places to watch sea turtles hatch close to the shores of our resort. The beaches of Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta are home to some of the most well-known turtle camps and turtle release programs in the area. Join one of the experiences below so you can take in the magic of turtle eggs hatching or being released.

While taking part in a sea turtle release is a beautiful experience, it’s also one that can be further admired when conservation is at the forefront. Sayulita Turtle Camp is a volunteer-based project that offers travelers the chance to not only witness a sea turtle release but also the chance to “adopt a nest,” which provides the camp with materials for the nest’s incubation and release, ensuring the hatchlings’ safety. Release viewings are encouraged from October to December around 6:30 p.m. The camp can be found “at the end of Calle Pelicanos just before the beach.”

Many of the sea turtle camps in Riviera Nayarit value the conservation and protection of sea turtles along the coast, including the recommended experiences above. As a plus, Nayarit is home to Grupo Ecológico de la Costa Verde, A.C — an environmental group with efforts dating back to 1992, when they built their first marine nursery. Shortly after in 1993, the group received authority from the Mexican government to begin the first environmental group in Nayarit. Today, the group offers environmental education while also working toward sea turtle conservation.