lights or noise of any kind exist. These programs offer volunteers the opportunity to work alongside ocean experts and contribute to vital research and conservation efforts. Feel free to call the number below with any questions. turtles. Join the Sea Turtle Patrol with Para La Naturaleza. Late afternoon, we will visit the Luquillo area which has a variety of options to choose from local Afro-Caribbean food in the area (dinner not included today). This program scores particularly well on safety and value -- something IVHQ programs are known for worldwide. Condado Lagoon is another great place to see sea turtles in Puerto Rico and its located right in the capital city of San Juan so its easy to access. August 2, 2023 @ 5:30 PM. Hatching season is a special time of the year in Puerto Rico. the Caribbean, there are only three prime places where the endangered They can also gain a greater understanding of the interconnectedness of the natural world and the importance of conservation efforts. Our group of 12 or so had. * Please note: We give 100% refunds on any trips that we need to cancel and our cancellation fees (when travelers need to cancel) can be used on any future trip, no expiration or penalties. 2023 Discover Puerto Rico. Youll find Mosquito Pier is on the north side of the island. After lunch and downtime, we will take a guided walking tour of historic San Juan. volunteers can gather around the turtle to observe her laying eggs. Consider your specific project carefully before you go, and plan for how long you want to be there. Make an impact in the local community by working with youth and senior groups through Puerto Rico Renace. another counts the small infertile eggs. nest, as she returns to the sea. Youll also be working with unique and amazingly impressive animals, like the breathtakingly beautiful Hawksbill or the living-dinosaur Leatherback Sea Turtle. This itinerary is entirely flexible and customizable. Check out our list below and let your volunteering experience in Puerto Rico begin! Academic Credit Meals: BLD. Thank you so much for planning our trip, being the best tour director ever, and making memories for us that will last a lifetime. We will also give basic lessons for anyone who needs it. I'd never seen turtles before, and as they're my favorite animals. The best way to see the sea turtles in La Parguera is by renting a water bike. Volunteer in Costa Rica This park is the most important area in the entire west half of the Caribbean for the nesting of the green turtle.Volunteers participate on the sea turtle preservation including monitoring and registering nesting patterns, record keeping of eggs, moving eggs to the hatchery, beach patrols, freeing of the newborns to the ocean. ready to lay eggs, she goes into a hypnotic trance. Coming out of the program, you would, Being on the actual job site was my favorite part. Participate in turtle research and more in Puerto Rico with SEE Turtles. Mamacitas Check with the staff at Mamacitas about volunteer efforts to assist the Department of Natural Resources to identify and help nesting turtles (typically April to early June). The day is not quite over yet! If youre a sea turtle enthusiast (like me) then youre in the right place. The trip is open to any adult or child age 12 and up who is accompanied by an adult. Its been a pleasure seeing you almost every year, and witnessing your leadership & kindness. So why not take the plunge and sign up for a marine conservation program today? Spring and summer is the best time for turtle watching in Puerto Rico. them. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the state. Organize a beach cleanup at one of Puerto Rico's 300 beaches with Scuba Dog Society. Supports community development. Desecheo is a small, uninhabited island that is a National Wildlife Refuge and a prime location for scuba diving and snorkeling. As Vieques Island isnt on the mainland, Id recommend joining a snorkeling tour that will take you from the mainland to Vieques Island and back. These volunteers work with citizens, tourists, students, teachers and other professionals to provide a productive and rewarding trip through the museum. Imagine helping an The leatherback turtle, the world's largest sea turtle, each year between March and August arrives on Puerto Rico's beaches, where the females lay their eggs, but this year the island is locked down due to the coronavirus pandemic and this could harm the species, which is already in danger of extinction. Evening group dinner and briefing with local research partners. To educate, inspire, and empower our community to pursue perspective-changing travel. Another way to volunteer in Puerto Rico is with sea turtles. For the best chance of seeing the turtles, you should join a snorkeling tour with an expert guide who will show you where to find turtles without fail! After lunch will be open to relax, take a swim, or rest up for one more night on the beach looking for leatherbacks. Part of the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico, AKA Para La Naturaleza, hundreds of endangered sea turtles lay eggs on this beach every spring. After breakfast today, we will transfer to the Adjuntas area up on the islands mountains. Well return to the hotel in the mid-late afternoon, leaving you plenty of time to coordinate a final group dinner or to explore the city solo! These charismatic and endangered animals are easy and safe to work with, and they need our help! That evening, we will visit the beach one final night patrol with Vida Marina. One of the most highly-rated programs on this list of great sea turtle volunteering opportunities is offered by Global Leadership Adventures in Costa Rica for teens aged 14-19. Its another great spot in Puerto Rico where you can see sea turtles out in the wild. This program is run in partnership with a local NGO in the small fishing village of Puerto Lopez, and not only works with nesting turtles but has at-sea telemetry projects as well! There are three sea turtles endemic to Puerto Rico and include the leatherback, hawksbill, and green sea turtles. This turtle beach in Puerto Rico is well known for its crystal clear waters and coral reefs that are filled with an abundance of interesting marine life including tropical fish, sea turtles and rays. In your spare time, you have easy access to beautiful diving, beaches, and national parks right in the same region. Culebra, Puerto Rico uses volunteers to assist in identifying and helping the This morning, we will join biologist Carlos Diez to study and release juvenile green sea turtles. Our Federal Tax ID is 94-3105570. All rights reserved. The work is fascinating and rewarding, the people are amazing, and the location cant be beaten. Make your way to San Juan (a mid-day flight arrival to San Juan is recommended), get settled in to your hotel and enjoy some relaxing time on the beach! Meals BLD, Day 6: In-Water Turtle Monitoring and Bioluminescence Kayaking. I hope this guide on where to see turtles in Puerto Rico has inspired you to explore the island and witness the magic of sea turtles in their natural habitat. Culebra Island is a small island that is located just off the east coast of the Puerto Rico mainland. Show more, Yes, there are guided tours available for seeing baby turtles in Puerto Rico. Previous visitors loved the support they got from the program and really felt they got their moneys worth! Insurance Proyecto Tinglado is The trip has some special benefits for teachers or people seeking professional development, outlined below. 4.7 / 5. The return is quite (B,L,D), We'll take a chartered boat to Desecheo Island, 13 miles offshore. In 1984-1985, an exclusion fence was built to protect the turtles. It is important to remember to observe from a distance and not disturb the nesting sites or hatchlings. So please, take a look at the programs above, find the one that is right for you, and if you think this is something you might like to do, go for it! Check out the video below to see some of the turtles of Culebra Island seen whilst snorkeling: Did you know you can also see manatees in Puerto Rico? If your team feels called to directly connect with and impact local children and seniors, Puerto Rico Renace can make that happen. As I write this we just had our first nest of the season hatch, and it really was breathtaking getting to watch all out little tortugitas crawl into the surf. By stepping outside of their comfort zones and working in challenging environments, volunteers can develop new skills and gain confidence. The main turtle watch 265 reviews. When nesting, leatherbacks will not enter an area where Airfare and baggage fees (to be purchased at the discretion and responsibility of each participant), Customs and immigration fees at airports or border crossings, Various meals or drinks listed as on own in the itinerary when the group is dispersed for self-exploration. Today, we will have breakfast at the hotel and then head out for another dune restoration activity with Vida Marina, this time in the Loiza region. Check out these quotes from program alumni: A Broader View scores 9.8 out of 10 in every category from Go Overseas users, meaning it is excellent in all the ways you find important! seen dropping into the nest. When arriving, and learning of the place whilst I was there. Youll be able to swim right alongside the sea turtles which is definitely an experience you wont forget. Food Producer Networkis an extension of this project that includes volunteer experiences with Puerto Rican farmers. Take a boardwalk through mangroves and above Laguna Grande, and get to know the different beach types before visiting the Fajardo Lighthouse. The famous Caribbean trade winds gently buffet these two islands, but the weather is warm and balmy just about every day of the year. Some of them, fresh out of the egg, took their. One of the most highly-rated programs on this list of great sea turtle volunteering opportunities is offered by Global Leadership Adventures in Costa Rica for teens aged 14-19. turtle is the largest living sea turtle in the world. Although turtles are pretty common here, Id always recommend joining a snorkel tour as your expert guide will be able to show you where to find turtles without fail. The accommodation is walking distance to the marine reserve and located in aquiet, residential neighborhood. Check out the video below which shows one of the sea turtles spotted whilst out swimming at Escambron Beach: Another one of the best places to see sea turtles in Puerto Rico is on Culebra Island. Here are a few quotes from alumni to tell you more: With a perfect 100% score from three GoOverseas reviewers, IVSs sea turtle project in Ecuador is a great place to get some hands-on experience working with sea turtles in the field. Please note that this is simply a sample itinerary to give you an idea of what we've done before and what we could create for you. On this unique and deeply enriching expedition, you will help conserve the leatherback sea turtle by volunteering to patrol nesting beaches and assist local scientists with data collection and monitoring of this endangered species. Working with local biologists you will explore the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve and support their efforts to monitor the health of the reserve. The turtle watch is truly an incredible experience. If you enjoy seeing turtles, you may also be interested in knowing where to go whale watching in Puerto Rico. (D), The morning will begin with a briefing on the history of the Tres PalmasMarine Reserve followed by an exploratory snorkel to get an overview of thearea. Day 7: Dune Restoration Work & San Juan Tour. Every year, the team donates thousands of eggs for incubation in corrals, or nesting sites, which are prepared by their team of AES volunteers. Id definitely say that Condado Lagoon is one of Puerto Ricos best spots for families as there are some many fun and unique activities here. Of course, youll also get that once in a lifetime chance to snorkel alongside turtles in the Caribbean Sea and really feel like youre one of them. This island is kinda famous for being an excellent snorkeling spot where you can see lots of interesting marine life like turtles, manatees, rays, starfish and more. A coral reef runs right along the length of the beach so its the perfect place to go snorkeling with turtles in Puerto Rico. As pioneers of eco travel, our expeditions have been designed to directly support, By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies and similar tracking technologies described in our, Click here for our full expedition terms and conditions, global research and conservation programs, 5 Volunteer Abroad Programs That Support Ocean Conservation, From Monkeys to Macaws, 15 Photos That Will Move Costa Rica to the Top of Your Travel List, By Land and Sea: Our Ridge to Reef Expeditions Include the Best of Both Worlds, Vamos a Cuba! turns watching for turtles. Located on the west side of the island in Rincon, this turtle beach in Puerto Rico is a well known snorkeling spot. Learn about the rich natural and cultural history of this beautiful island, hike through a tropical rain forest and kayak through a mangrove channel into a bioluminescent bay. You can see baby turtles in Puerto Rico at various beaches along the coast, such as Luquillo Beach and Flamenco Beach. Working with sea turtles is an ideal volunteer vacation.