Top 5 Beaches in Central America to See Sea Turtles

There are seven species of sea turtles: the leatherback sea turtle, green sea turtle, loggerhead sea turtle, Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle, hawksbill sea turtle, flatback sea turtle, and olive ridley sea turtle. Most of them are either endangered or vulnerable.

Central America is one of the few regions of the world that is privileged to receive most of the species off of its shores during their nesting seasons. Keep reading to find the names and fun info about five of the best beaches to find sea turtles and even have a chance to release them and watch them lay their eggs.

01 of 05: Tortuguero – Costa Rica

Costa Rica is regarded as the birthplace of eco-tourism, with over 25% of its territory protected as national parks or reserves.

This destination is crucial for four species of sea turtles (leatherback, green, hawksbill, and olive ridley), which come here to nest.

Tortuguero, a 22-mile strip of beach, remains one of the last places to see a significant number of turtles from all four species during winter months, from February to July.

Besides sea turtles, Tortuguero offers encounters with land turtles, manatees, crocodiles, various crustaceans, eels, and bull sharks.

02 of 05: Monterrico – Guatemala

This region of Guatemala is increasingly popular among locals for weekend getaways, but it has long been a nesting site for sea turtles.

During high tide in the rainy season from July to late October, female olive ridleys come ashore to lay their eggs, while leatherbacks prefer nesting in November and December.

A reserve called Hawaii has been established to protect these creatures, where eggs are collected and safeguarded from predators until the hatchlings can be released.

03 of 05: Southern San Juan del Sur – Nicaragua

In the southern part of San Juan del Sur, you will find La Flor Wildlife Refuge, created to safeguard olive ridleys, as well as hawksbill, leatherback, and green sea turtles during their nesting season.

During the months of July to December, visitors can witness these three species of sea turtles, with the olive ridley being the most abundant, as over 100,000 individuals lay their eggs on this beach each year.

04 of 05: Ambergris Caye – Belize

Belize is home to the second largest coral reef in the world, attracting three endangered species of sea turtles (green, hawksbill, and loggerhead).

While most turtles only nest and depart, some linger among the reefs for additional feeding, providing unique opportunities to swim with them while scuba diving.

August marks the peak of the turtle nesting season in Belize, with sightings possible as early as May and as late as November.

05 of 05: Jiquilisco Bay – El Salvador

Four species of sea turtles can be found along the Pacific coasts of El Salvador, including hawksbills, olive ridleys, leatherbacks, and green sea turtles.

Bahia Jiquilisco is a recommended destination for observing these species, as it is a Biosphere Reserve that protects important natural habitats in El Salvador.

A fascinating aspect of this region is that hawksbills are not just visiting for nesting; they maintain a permanent residence throughout the year in the estuary.