Sea Turtle Rescue Center | Cayo Largo, Cuba

Centro de Rescate de Tortugas Marinas (Sea Turtle Rescue Center)

Sea Turtle Rescue Center, Cayo Largo, Cuba

You cannot be in Cayo Largo without visiting the Turtle Center! Not necessarily for its modest facilities, but to learn more about their impressive work and dedication to the protection, rehabilitation, and preservation of those species identified as vulnerable or endangered. This project is essentially aimed at increasing the survival rate of sea turtles from egg-laying to the release of newborns into the sea.

Formerly "La Granja de las Tortugas" also known as the "Turtle Farm", this center is located right next to the Marina Marlin in the Pueblo Isla del Sol, northwest of Cayo Largo, about 7-8 km from the hotel zone. It is operated by the marina.
location of the Sea Turtle Rescue Center

Admission: 2 USD per person
Tickets must be purchased at the marina office (next door)
Hours : 08:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 16:30

Every year, from April to September, the beaches of Cayo Largo become a nesting site for hundreds of sea turtles. Usually during the night (22:00 to 06:00), females climb to lay their eggs on deserted beaches but also on hotel beaches (see warnings at the bottom of the page). They dig nests in which they lay their eggs (about 100-120), bury them and then return to the sea.
Read here the story of our sighting of nesting turtles

The species most commonly found on Cayo Largo's beaches are: The Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta Caretta), the Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys Imbricata), and the Green Turtle (Chelonia Mydas).

Nearly all species of sea turtles are endangered. Many populations are in decline due to pollution, over-exploitation, poaching, climate change, coastal development, and fishing activities (bycatch, entanglement, trauma from boats).

Rescue and Preservation
This represents the primary mission of the center. Here is a summary of the main steps, and some statistics:

Collecting eggs
The turtle center staff collects thousands of nest eggs every season, from all sectors of Cayo Largo (from hotel beaches to the western beaches, and up to the farthest eastern beaches such as Playa Los Coco and Playa Tortuga). Special attention is given to nests on the most vulnerable beaches, thus avoiding them from being trampled, or being flooded by the wave in places where the beach is too narrow or eroded.

Incubation and hatching
The eggs are brought to the nesting/incubation area at the Turtle Center where they are re-buried, identified and dated. After the incubation period of about 60 days, the hatchlings come out of the egg and emerge together from the nest. The baby turtles are then transferred to tanks where they will be temporarily kept and fed until they are strong enough to stand a better chance of survival when they are released into the sea.

Release to the sea
The release of baby turtles is done on a safe and the widest possible beach. It's important for newborns to remember their environment in order to be able to find their way back in the decades to come, because the females faithfully return to lay on the beach where they were born. Babies must crawl alone over several meters to develop their muscles and memories. The release of baby turtles is an activity to which tourists are regularly invited to take part. It's an unforgettable experience to gently drop these little creatures on the sand and watch them rushing towards the sea and start swimming, while hoping that "our" little turtle will survive the many dangers that 'wait!

Reaching maturity is a long journey. It is estimated that 1 in 1000 survives the first year and only 1 in 5,000-10,000 survive to adulthood. The goal of the project is to increase this percentage of survival so that populations can thrive again.

Other activities of the center:

Specialized guide service to observe nesting and collect eggs, and this safely for both you and the turtles.

We had the extraordinary chance to participate in one of these nocturnal expeditions, click the following link to read: Our story of this beautiful adventure.

Tagging turtles: Each year dozens of nesting females are measured and tagged in order to monitor their returns in the following years. Tags are usually place on the trailing edge of the front flippers before the turtles return to the sea after laying their eggs on the beach.

Education and Awareness: A visit to their small information center and staff explanations will allow you to learn more about these beautiful marine reptiles, and to make you aware of the importance of conservation and populations expansion efforts. This awareness also includes learning how to behave so as not to disturb sea turtles, especially during the nesting season

Rescue and rehabilitation: Rescue, care and release of sick or injured turtles.

Photo Album - Turtle Center

PLEASE, DO NOT DISTURB TURTLES AND NESTS
Sea turtles are slow and clumsy on land, nesting is exhausting for them. Plus, they are very sensitive to disturbances (movements, noise and artificial light), if they are frightened they could turn back and even release their eggs at sea!

During nesting season (April to September) :

Avoid venturing on the beach at night unless accompanied by a trained professional guide.
Avoid making noise or using a flashlight on or near the beach.
Avoid approaching a turtle emerging from the sea, or digging its nest.
Never touch a turtle or try to ride one!
Avoid crowding around a turtle, or around hatchlings.
Never step on a nest, you'll break the eggs.
Do not disturb a hatching, and don't pick up hatchlings, they don't need help except for a clear path to the water.