Playa Las Tortugas Turtle Release

We always plan one family vacation every year to relax and slow things down.  In January we went back to one of our favorite spots – Playa Las Tortugas.  When you book your family vacation here you can expect a quiet, safe environment that is perfect for relaxation and fun. The Playa Las Tortugas Turtle Release is a great addition to any family vacation.

We love going back to Playa Las Tortugas because you rent your villa where staff comes in to cook meals for you. They also clean daily and offer laundry services. There are miles of beach to enjoy away from the resorts and crowds of people.

This year we planned our trip around the turtle releases they offer.  At Playa Las Tortugas there is a turtle sanctuary that collects eggs when they are laid in the sand and protects them from animal and human predators.  Once they hatch they collect them in a cooler and allow the public to release them for a small fee – about $5 US/person, which must be paid in cash.

Playa Las Tortugas Turtle Release

June through August the beautiful Olive Ridley sea turtles return to the same beach they were born on to carry out their centuries-old ritual of laying their eggs.  These Momma turtles can weigh up to 100 pounds and span up to two feet in length.  In large self-made nests along the secluded shoreline, they lay up to 100 eggs. These are later harvested by volunteers and incubated until they hatch.

The baby turtles are then released into the water by volunteers or guests from November through February.  The times may change depending on the number of nests saved and the incubation period.

We participated in the turtle release three times on our visit and had the experience all to ourselves twice.  I took photos for the first time because capturing that moment for the kids was important to me.  I am amazed at the result of the photos and love that we have these memories captured.

The closest airport to Playa Las Tortugas is Puerto Vallarta. We enjoy staying a night or two in a hotel and having the round-trip car service take us to our villa. While in PV there are many fun activities like Pirate Ship Vallarta, food tours, and even swimming with the dolphins. Our favorite family vacation full of fun and relaxation is Playa Las Tortugas Turtle Release.