There are three types of turtles that come to nest on the beaches of Ixtapa Zihuatanejo: the leatherback, olive ridley and black.

Fun fact: Did you know that sea turtles return to the exact spot where they were born to mate and lay their own eggs? They rely on Earth’s magnetic field to navigate their way back home. This destination holds the honor of receiving thousands of turtles every year and is highly active in the conservation of the environment and natural resources to maintain the survival of these precious animals.

Many volunteers and organizations patrol the beaches, relocating nests and marking off areas to help the preservation of these turtles. A fun and philanthropic activity you can do while visiting, is to go release newborn turtles and watch them embark their journey into the sea.

We highly recommend you release turtles under the supervision of a certified organization who can safely show you how, because humans cannot hold the baby sea turtles since it affects their survival. They imprint on the sand when hatched, and oils from our skin can interfere with this process.