Punta Mita - SEA TURTLE RESTORATION PROJECT

An activist and educational resource for protecting endangered sea turtles populations in ways that meet the ecological needs of the sea turtles, the oceans and of the Punta Mita community who share the beaches and waters with these gentle, beautiful creatures. In a fascinating annual ritual, thousands of female turtles of varying species migrate hundreds-even thousands-of miles to Punta Mita and neighboring shores to lay their eggs. Using her flippers to dig a nest, the female deposits as many as 120 eggs, which hatch between 45 and 55 days later.

The Olive Ridley, the most common of the turtles in the region, is small enough at birth to fit in the palm of a hand, yet grows to be between 80 and 110 pounds. It takes between eight and 12 years for a turtle to mature enough to reproduce and Mother Nature makes sure the turtles return to the same beach where they were born to spawn.

Appreciating that only about one in a 1,000 baby turtles survives to adulthood in the wild, the Banderas Bay Turtle Protection Program was created to help ensure the turtles' survival. During the late fall months, Punta Mita owners and resort guests had the opportunity to help in the release of the newest hatchlings on a regular basis.

For those interested in participating in a hatchling release, we will soon be adding more information as the release season approaches.