Walking along the deserted beach in Tulum, lit only by a million stars and the moon and accompanied by the music of the crashing surf, I heard a strange sound. Thwap. Thwap. Thwap. Like a leather strap hitting the sand. It took only a moment for me to discover the source of the noise, a gigantic mama turtle under a palm on the beach using her flippers to dig her nest. I sat down in the sand some distance away to observe this magical moment and give mom some peace. Thwap. Thwap. Thwap. A few minutes later I saw the beam of a small red light approaching, the turtle patrol had come to measure and tag the mother and to mark the nest. They waved me over, the mother had begun laying her eggs and they invited me up close. She was simply majestic, huge, peacefully releasing her ping-pong ball eggs in the hole she had dug.
Turtle Nest in Tulum
The turtle patrol measured her, she was 1 meter wide and more than 1 meter long! I cringed when they clamped the tag on her flipper, though I knew she probably wouldn’t feel it and in the long run the ability to track these animals will protect and preserve the species. I whispered questions and the volunteers whispered answers back. ”How many eggs will she lay?” ”About one hundred”. ”How long before the eggs hatch?” “About sixty days”. Once they had measured and tagged her, they left, saying they would be back to mark the nest. I stayed for a moment until she started to THWAP again, throwing sand all over me as she began to make her way back to the sea. I left her alone in her journey and continued on my way, changed by the experience and feeling a special connection to the planet.
The Tracks of a Nesting Turtle in Tulum
The Riviera Maya and Cancun are favourite nesting places for sea turtles, they have been coming to these shores between May and October for millenia. Witnessing a nesting turtle is an incredible experience, but there are some rules that must be followed to ensure the moms and nests are safe and undisturbed. Here’s what you can do if you are in the area during nesting season:
1. Do not use lights on the beach, shut off balcony lights, and cover all outside lights and windows if you are in a house/condo. The lights are a major distraction and could confuse the turtles and send them back to sea before they are able to lay their eggs. If you must use a flashlight for nighttime walks, be sure it is covered with a dark red filter. Many hotels are respectful of this rule, if you think yours could do more, let them know!
2. If you see a turtle coming ashore to lay their eggs, notify your hotel staff or turtle patrol if you happen to see them on the beach.
3. Do not approach the turtle (unless specifically at the invitation of turtle patrol), do not touch the turtles (Do I need to say don’t sit on the turtles? Unfortunately it seems I do have to, I have seen some disturbing photos of people “riding” nesting moms). Definitely do not interfere with any part of the nesting process.
4. Do not take flash photography, this will definitely spook the mom.
5. Do not have beach parties during the nesting season.
6. Keep the beach free of litter or any obstacles that may get in the path of the turtle (bring in beach chairs at night, etc).
7. Keep pets indoors at night, barking dogs are not turtle-friendly.
8. Do not disturb the nests, if you see what you think is a nest that has not been marked, notify the hotel or the authorities.
If everyone works together and respects these rules, we can ensure a long and happy life for this endangered species and their continued visits to Cancun and the Riviera Maya for years to come. For more information about turtles in the region, the CEA (Centro Ecologico Akumal) is a fantastic organization dedicated to the conservation and protection of “las tortugas” in the Riviera Maya.
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