Leatherback Turtle Watch, Gandoca
Help protect endangered Leatherback turtles nesting population through ecotourism
Get to know Gandoca, a laid back beach community who has fought to protect the leather-back turtle. Learn how volunteers gather data on the turtle nesting population. Your collaboration in this tour is what will protect this amazing creatures for future generations. Gandoca has run their sea turtle conservation project for more than 10 years. Enjoy the beach, observe the Leatherback (Baula) Turtles laying their eggs in the sand (from March to July with hatching through August), do some trekking by the Gandoca Lake and swamplands and watch a great diversity of local and migratory birds. Stay in cabins or in local family’s homes.
No repellant on the turtle watch and it’s a night time hike. Wear dark, long sleeved clothes.
Overnight packages
Lodging, 3 meals, & local guide, Leatherback Turtle Watch, (nesting season March-July and hatching through August)
Cost: $60
Duration: two day package
Visiting Gandoca contributes to the local community sustainable development and the Baula Turtle protection program.
Night time Turtle Watch Only:
Pick up at your hotel at 5PM, transport to Gandoca, participate in the turtle protection program and watch, return to hotel at midnight or 1 AM.
Cost: $70
Duation:
6-8 hours
Includes:
Local guide and transportation
Learn More about Marine Life and Sea Turtles
Likewise, Talamanca has the most extensive marine richness of the country: coral reefs, sea grass beds, wetlands and freshwater fish. The Talamancan coast—particularly Gandoca Beach located within the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge (see next section for more info.) is a major nesting site where four of the six species of sea turtles that nest in Costa Rica lay their eggs. The largest of the sea-turtle species, weighing as much as 500 kilograms, is the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). These as well as hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), and green turtles (Cheloma mydas) nest here. These species are under grave threat of extinction. Over the last 10+ years the efforts of ANAI (http://www.anaicr.org) and now WIDECAST (The Network of Marine Turtle Conservation for the Greater Caribbean, http://www.latinamericanseaturtles.org), have increased the survival rate for Leatherback sea turtles to in excess of 90%, from an original survival rate of just 5% (or a poaching rate of 95%) in the early 1980’s, before the conservation project was launched.
When a nesting female turtle is found during beach patrols during the turtle-nesting season (March to the end of July), volunteers gather information such as the nest size, tag the turtle’s flipper, and gather the eggs. These eggs are either taken to the hatchery, or relocated to a safe position elsewhere on the beach. Once the hatchlings emerge two months later they are tracked until they safely reach the sea. For more information on the work of sea turtle protection or for details of volunteering opportunities, go to http://www.latinamericanseaturtles.org or turtle observation excursions on page 35.
It is not legal to purchase products made with turtle shell, or to eat turtle eggs or meat.
