Summer and fall are the best months to see baby sea turtles in Puerto Vallarta, although these incredible animals visit the beaches along the Pacific Coast throughout the whole year. From July through to the end of November is when the numbers of turtle sightings in Puerto Vallarta increase dramatically and the local authorities are on the case to collect and protect turtle eggs that are laid on the beaches.

To help increase the occurrence of baby sea turtles in Puerto Vallarta and thus their survival rate, there are many programs in place to protect sea turtles. In fact, turtle and baby turtles are a protected species in Mexico. When mature female turtles are noted on Puerto Vallarta’s beaches, local businesses are obliged to contact the environmental authority SEMARNAT to come and collect the eggs. The authorities then take the turtle eggs to a sanctuary until the baby turtles can be released back on the same Puerto Vallarta beach where the mother was found laying her eggs.

Turtle eggs are considered by some to be a delicacy (and a necessity for some poor families), so authorities in Puerto Vallarta take great care to protect the eggs. Likewise, if the eggs were left on the beach, they are in danger of being eaten by animals or dug up by mistake by tourists digging sand holes!

The chance of catching a sighting of baby sea turtles in Puerto Vallarta during the months from July and December are very high. At least once or twice a week, there will be a baby turtle release on one of the beaches in Puerto Vallarta. Ask the activities leader at your hotel, who should be able to tell you when the next turtle release will be and where. There is nothing more special and breathtaking than watching hundreds of baby turtles run towards their destiny on Puerto Vallarta’s beaches.