Every year, from July to September, Tortuguero National Park welcomes the arrival of the GREEN SEA TURTLES that come to lay their eggs at the beach of this National Park.

   Tortuguero, translated as "land of turtles" is the most important site in the Occidental half of the Caribbean for the nesting of the Green Sea Turtles. Having the opportunity to admire, on a tropical night sky, one of these impressive animals drag herself to the beach, dig a nest and lay the eggs, is definitely a unique experience that will be hardly forgotten.

   Still, the turtles are endangered animals, both by natural and human predators. That's why in 1959 Mr. Archie Carr, one of the leading authorities on sea turtles became the founding scientific director of the Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC) created to study and protect these millenary animals.

   Visitors at Mawamba Lodge during the Turtle nesting period will receive our pamphlet GREEN TURTLES ARE ARRIVING Enjoy them...responsibly that resumes important information on how to enjoy this amazing opportunity and still help protect the turtles. To obtain this goal, Mawamba Lodge is observant of the conservation rules established by the National Parks authorities.

   To promote amongst the local population to stop capturing the turtles for meat and eggs, several projects involving the local community have been created. One is the education of the locals in order to become tour guides for the Green Turtle Night Tour, so they can obtain profit WITH the turtles and not FROM the turtles. Thus, we appreciate it very much when visitors comprehend that most of the turtle guides have limitations with foreign languages, such as English.

   During the tour of 02 hours, groups are limited to a maximum of 10 people per guide and a maximum of 10 groups are allowed at the beach at the same time, for a total of 100 people. Hence, when one confirms the participation on the tour, they shall understand the importance of assisting, as no refunds are available. There are two tour schedules and the National Park determines who goes on which schedule, one is from 8 to 10:00 pm and another from 10:00 to 12:00 midnight. Please read the important GREEN FACTS for more information.