The lives of turtles and people have been intimately intertwined in the North Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, Tortuguero.
Since the arrival of the first indigenous tribal group, relatives of the Mayans, several hundred years ago followed by other indigenous groups such as the Zambo-Misquito who arrived later on the scene, turtles were utilized in a sustainable manner and all was in balance until the first settlement of Europeans in the region.
Observing nesting turtles is an unforgettable experience. From July to October the most common of the four species that occur here, the Green Turtle, comes ashore at night. They grow to a length of 1 meter and adults weigh between 75 and 200 kilograms.
When the female reaches the beach, she drags herself to the highest point until she finds a convenient place to dig the nest which she does using her flat flippers as a shovel. At this moment, if the animal is disturbed or if she thinks she is in danger, she will return to the sea without spawning the eggs and unfortunately the nest will be lost.
The nest is ready when it’s about fifty centimeters deep. The female will start to lay the eggs, -approximately 100. When her task is completed; she covers the hole again using almost her entire body in an attempt to camouflage the nest, throwing sand in all directions and then she begins her weary journey back to the sea.
Visit Tortuguero and experience this unique approach to “Mother Nature” marvels.
Contact us today and learn more about how to add this wonderful experience on to your client’s vacation.
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