Los Cabos, Mexico: Pueblo Bonito's Sea Turtle Release Program involves Guests and Owners

I recently had the pleasure of soaking in the sun and natural beauty of Los Cabos, Mexico. The new Towers at Pacifica, the luxury resort within a resort at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf and Spa Resort, provided me with a luxurious place to relax and reflect. 

View of Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Resort and Beach
from the Montecristo Estates Villas

As I explored the pristine beaches I noticed a pen, about the size of a tennis court. I was told it was part of the sea turtle conservation program.

I missed an exciting opportunity to participate in the release of sea turtle hatchlings but if you are at the resort at just the right time you may be able to get involved.

Summer marks the start of the nesting season for the sea turtles that call Los Cabos home. Through mid-December, hundreds of turtle hatchlings will make their way from the beaches of Cabo San Lucas to the sea. Because the hatchlings are easy prey for natural predators and humans, these gentle reptiles need all the assistance they can get in order to reach maturity and increase their numbers.

The beaches of Los Cabos are
dotted with sea turtle protection
pens.

Since 2003, Pueblo Bonito Golf and Spa Resorts has made it an important part of the company’s mission to take part in ecological conservation efforts, notably Cabo’s world-renowned Turtle Protection and Release program. Pueblo Bonito believes in educating visitors and residents alike about the importance of active conservation. The annual Turtle Release program provides a fun and fascinating way to assist Mother Nature.

Each year, the resort’s team of naturalists observes adult female turtles during their annual summer return to Los Cabos. The beaches in Cabo are important nesting grounds for five species of sea turtles, three of which nest: Pacific Ridley, Leatherback and Galapagos Green Turtle.  Once the location of the nests is recorded, they are marked and protected after the female turtles return to sea. Fences and structures are erected to safeguard the nests from birds, animals and humans until the turtles hatch, usually from late September through mid-December.

Turtle pen on the Pueblo Bonito Pacifica property.

For guests and owners visiting Los Cabos during the fall season, Pueblo Bonito offers the opportunity to assist conservation team members as they release the hatchlings from the protected nests. Guests and owners enjoy hands-on participation during a truly rewarding experience, one that creates wonderful memories as well as photo opportunities.

Because there is no way to know exactly when the turtles will hatch, there is no predetermined schedule for the releases. When the eggs in a nest begin to hatch, the director of the ecological program notifies the resort. The event is then organized to allow interested parties to participate. The release is scheduled for just before sunset on that same day. The newly hatched turtles are set free on the beach in front of Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Resort and Spa. In 2015, more than 420 hotel guests from Sunset Beach, Pacifica and Montecristo participated in 33 sea turtle liberations.

Guests participating in the release.

Owners visiting their homes in Quivira Los Cabos are invited to take part along with guests at the Pueblo Bonito resorts. Those visiting Los Cabos during the turtle release season can check with the concierge desk at Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Golf and Spa Resort for details. The satisfaction of aiding an endangered species is an unforgettable experience!

Check the resort’s Facebook page for updates and interesting information. Can you imagine participating in the thrill of releasing these beautiful little turtles into the ocean?