GeckoGoneBlogging

So you wanna see a sea turtle?

(aka best places in the world to view sea turtles)

So you wanna see a sea turtle or two. Or more. Where best?

Good question! I suppose top turtle sighting locations depends a lot on how you wanna see your turtle.

Here are some options to get you started:

…While they are basking in the sun

Visualize sea turtles, and you’re probably painting an image of turtles gliding graceful in the water. They might nest at night, but outside of that, how often do you imagine these guys basking out in full glory during broad daylight?

At Turtle Beach, aka Honulani in the northern shores of Oahu, Hawaiian green turtles will crawl right up on to the sands to get their tan on before ducking back into the warm waters. Hawaii has developed a very turtle friendly culture, and as a result, these turtles are really not shy.

…While they are nesting…and hatching

These kind of come together. Kinda :p So if you want to see mother turtle, and hopefully hundreds of way-too-cute little hatchlings not long after, here are the places to consider:

North America:
Within the US, without doubt, the best state for viewing turtles is Florida (by a long shot), with a nod to Texas. On Florida’s east coast, Brevard County and Palm Beach county beaches alone represented 66% of all nesting turtle activity within the state. On the west coast, your best bet is Sarasota Country. In Texas, Padre Island National Seashore has been focusing on sea turtle conservation, with some good success in visits and sightings in recent years.

For Kemp Ridley turtles, the place to be in Rancho Nuevo, Mexico. This is the single most important beach for these guys as it’s, sadly, their only major breeding site. Boo. Gotta change that

Oceania
One word. Bundaberg, Australia. Rather more specifically – Mon Repos beach, about 15km east of Bundaberg. This place contains one of the largest concentrations of nesting marine turtles in the region. Visiting species include the loggerhead, green, and the flatback – a species unique to Australia and Papua New Guinea. So when should you go? See the nesting turtles from November to January, and hatchlings from January to May.

Southeast Asia
Take your pick. Turtle Islands of Tawi-Tawi, Philippines and Turtle Islands National Park, Malaysia are two of the world’s last remaining major nesting grounds for green turtles.

Central America
Costa Rica is the best place to be. Two adjacent regions – Tortuguero National Park and Parismina are collectively top places to go. Visit Parismina anytime between February and July – and especially between mid-April to mid-May for your best chances to see leatherback turtles. In fact, if you want to do your part to help, you can even spend 1+ weeks volunteering at the Parismina turtle hatchery. Other turtles in the region include green, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles.

…While they are swimming in the water

For all that the other ways to see sea turtles are pretty cool, there is something magical about these creatures glide gracefully through the water. Sea turtles can be spotted in many places around the world, but some of the good places to dive or snorkel with these guys include:

• Any place in Hawaii – turtles have been protected for so long in the Hawaiian islands that they are more inquisitive of humans than anything, allowing you to approach them. That said – don’t chase them. Even though I’ve always wanted to too. :p
• Yuctan Peninsula – Playa del Carmen
• Off the island of Sipadan off the Malaysian coast of Sabah
• By the Similan Islands (Donald Duck Bay) in Thailand
• Galibi, in the northern coasts of Suriname (there are also volunteering opportunities here)
• Ari Atoll, Maldives
• Big Blue, Fiji
• Porto Roma, Zakynthos, Greece
• Cousin Island, Seychelles (you can also volunteer here)
• Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

And as pointed out by Cris over at No Place Like Here, Project Tamar in Brazil is working on preserving sea turtles all long their coastline. You can visit their various branches and catch sight of new born turtle hatchlings. How cool is that?!

So there you have it. Something to get you started. Have fun admiring these beautiful creatures!

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Disclosure notice: Pokin is a self-confessed turtle-phile. She’s only “chased” turtles in two locations though and is looking forward to upping that tally in a big way.