Watch Sea Turtles On Your Nicaragua Vacation

La Flor, Nicaragua, is one of the places where mass numbers of sea turtles arrive several times per year to lay their eggs. This fascinating event is called arribadas. Going on a turtle tour to La Flor is one of the most fascinating experiences I have had.

There are only seven species of sea turtles left in existence throughout the entire world. Five of those seven species are present in Nicaragua including the Green Turtle, the Hawksbill Turtle, the Leatherback Turtle, the Loggerhead Turtle, and the Olive Ridley Turtle. Each of these species of turtles has been placed on the critically endangered species list or the endangered species list. The most commonly seen turtle on Nicaragua’s Pacific beaches is the Olive Ridley Turtle. The Leatherback Turtle and the Hawksbill Turtle can also be found here in much smaller numbers.

A major problem threatening sea turtle populations is the commercial consumption of turtle eggs. The coastal dwellers have found an additional food source in the eggs and more significantly they found there was a very high commercial demand for the eggs. The turtle eggs are easily sold to seafood restaurants in the larger cities or simply to people on the street.

The regulated protection of the turtles and turtle eggs is managed by organizations like the Cocibolca Foundation as well as the Nicaraguan Army. Beaches such as Chacocente and La Flor are national turtle reserves. At these sites creative agreements have been made with the local populations. The local residents are allowed to take a certain number of eggs in exchange for their help in protecting the sea turtle nests.

Environmentally sensitive tours to La Flor to watch the arribadas can be easily arranged in colourful and charming village of San Juan del Sur. It is quickly becoming a popular Nicaragua real estate investment destination amongst retiring baby boomers.

Read more about sea turtles in Nicaragua.