Each night on Isla Mujeres something magical is happening right now, ancient creatures from the deep blue, nest on the white sand beaches of Mexico’s beautiful Caribbean island.
From May to September sea turtles arrive on the shores of Isla Mujeres and lay their eggs in the soft white sand of its beaches. Find out about the ongoing conservation work of the government, it’s team, and volunteers who patrol each night, making sure that these nests, and eggs are protected, and that the babies are safely released into the sea to start their journey …
The beaches of Isla Mujeres are nesting sites for different sea turtle species, including Loggerhead Turtles, Hawksbill Turtles, and Green Turtles. These turtles travel thousands of miles to return to Isla Mujeres’ Caribbean coast to mate and lay their eggs in the soft white sand from May to September.
During nesting season, the beaches along the Caribbean shore of Isla Mujeres are patrolled by a team led by Edwin Novelo Ríos, Director of Medio Ambiente y Ecologia (Environment and Ecology), along with volunteers from Campamento Tortuguero (Turtle Camp), as well as island citizens, and visitors, who all walk the beaches at night to protect the nesting turtles and their eggs.
Campamento Tortuguero (Turtle Camp) is a program activated during the turtle nesting season, a body is formed with volunteers, who coordinate patrols and actions to protect and collect the eggs from the beaches. This year, the efforts of the Environment and Ecology agency, its team, and the Turtle Camp volunteers have successfully protected 307 turtle nests and 35,244 eggs, and they have released 908 baby turtles into the sea.
How can you help?
The government and volunteers' efforts allow these turtles to return to Isla Mujeres each year to nest in their ancestral nesting grounds, before continuing their global journey. These crucial conservation activities are essential for protecting sea turtles. If you’re visiting Isla Mujeres this summer and want to get involved, here are some important points to remember...
If you see a turtle nesting on one of the beaches, ALWAYS keep your distance, and keep quiet.
Do not shine a light on the turtle or in the area (this includes flash photography), only use red light. (You can buy red light torches / head torches before you come to bring them with you, and donate it after).
If you see a turtle nesting, you can call the ‘Tortucel’ number, and give the location to them - (+52) 988 303 8310
Always follow the instructions of the volunteers, or team patrolling the beaches. They are there to protect the turtles. If they ask you to keep your space, then you should respect their wishes.
Why not donate some snacks, coffee, water etc. to the volunteers patrolling the branches, they work tirelessly through the night.
Keep the beaches clean, and free from trash. Always take your litter home with you, or trash it when you see a trash can. Keep the beaches free of trash to make it easier for turtles to nest.
Credit for photos from - Atenea Gómez Ricalde - Facebook
Thank you for the hard work of President Atenea Gómez Ricalde and her team at the Municipal of Isla Mujeres for providing us with the photos and information, so that we can invite you and keep you up to date with current events on the island. Thank you to Edwin Novelo Ríos, Director of Medio Ambiente y Ecologia (Environment and Ecology), his team, along with volunteers from Campamento Tortuguero (Turtle Camp) for their conservation work, and for protecting the nesting sea turtles.