Huatulco Turtle Release and Bioluminescence Experience: Raising Oaxacan Coast Conservation Awareness
4.7
46 Ratings
Mazunte
Join us for a unique experience in Huatulco, Mexico, where you can support sea turtle conservation, release newborn turtles into the sea, and witness the mesmerizing phenomenon of bioluminescence. Book now!
Duration:
9 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
-
Santuario La Escobilla - Explore the surroundings of Huatulco helping nature, in this spectacular place we will learn about the work of volunteers who are in charge of protecting sea turtles that are in danger of extinction, we will visit a turtle camp where we will witness helping the turtles to release them to the sea to continue their life cycle, likewise we will enjoy a spectacular landscape of the sun hiding in the sea, they will have time to take photos.
According to the conditions of nature, the camp to visit can be Escobilla or Palmarito.
Note: if you are staying in Puerto Escondido we will be going to another turtle camp called Palmarito. - Playa Zicatela - We will enjoy a spectacular landscape of Zicatela beach, one of the main beaches of Puerto Escondido, where we will have time to take photos and contemplate the beautiful landscape.
- Laguna Manialtepec - The next experience will be knowing the phenomenon of Bioluminescence, a night show where millions of dinoflagellate microorganisms generate brightness when in contact with water as if they were fireflies in the water; enjoy swimming in the warm waters of some of Manialtepec while your eyes delight in the glitter.
Observation: It is recommended to bring a towel and a bathing suit to the tour since at this stop you will swim in the lagoon.
What's Included
- Manialtepec lagoon tour entry included
- Participate in a turtle release program
- Guided tour with a bilingual certified guide
- Comfortable transport with air conditioning
What's Not Included
- tips
- Food and drinks
Additional Information
You champion nature by highlighting the need to conserve the marine turtles of the Oaxacan Coast You aid newly hatched turtles in their journey to the sea
- You witness the breathtaking view of the sun disappearing into the ocean
- You take part in a nocturnal adventure in Manialtepec, accompanied by the melody of various insects
- You get the chance to observe the spectacular event of Bioluminescence
Note: If your accommodation is in Puerto Escondido, the tour will take roughly 5 hours.
Location
Santuario La Escobilla
Playa La Escobilla
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(46 Ratings)
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Jesusok6967yv
Dec 14, 2023
We had a great time ! - My family and I had a great time doing this tour. Lamberto was very polite and knowledgeable. He knew a great deal about the turtles and the bioluminescence and told us all about it before we got to the place. Made the long trip a lot shorter. Would definitely recommend! And if we ever visit Huatulco again, I’ll make sure to get my tours with them. They are very professional.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lizeth
Sep 5, 2023
The vacation of our lives 😊🙌🏻💝🌈 - Highly recommended, the best tourist guide company of Huatulco, very safe, professional, friendly and polite, I ask for private transport and was amazing, I got 3 different tours and activities and I find the best prices with Lambytours, waterfalls tour, Bahias de Huatulco tour, turtle releasing and bioluminescence, If you will be vacay on Huatulco definitely you have to do it with Lambytours
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Susanlynnk2017
Apr 12, 2023
Fantastic - Our tour was wonderful. Our guide Fabian with Paraiso tours took so much time to help us. He made sure everyone on the tour was looked after. The turtle release was amazing and swimming with the phytoplankton magical. It’s a long trip but worth it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Siobhan_o
Feb 16, 2023
Incredible experience - What an amazing day!
Our guide was Tito who was very friendly and spoke good English and took us to some great spots. The journey was quite long from Huatulco but we stopped at a chocolate factory, and at Zicatela on our way. We got to the turtle nest sanctuary just before the sunset which was stunningly beautiful, learned about how the volunteers collect eggs and re-bury them to ensure they hatch safely. The babies were then brought out in a basket which I was fortunate enough to carry down to the waters edge, we were then each given a few turtle hatchlings to release individually and watch as they made their way toward the ocean. It was an incredible experience and I would highly recommend to anyone who has an interest in turtle conservation.
Later we drove to the lagoon where we were taken on a boat to locate the bioluminescant plankton. The sky was so clear and the stars so bright they reflected in the water of the lagoon. Once the plankton had been located we were able to splash the water from the boat, it looked like stars rolling down your skin, and then we were allowed to swim, the glow was beautiful and so magical.
This was an unforgettable experience and so very worth the long drive.
Review provided by Viator
Patriciaa_m
Jan 16, 2023
Want to have fun and do something good for fauna? This is the tour for you. - Edger Escobar, our guide, was so special. The turtle release was a fun, hart warming experience. But, Edgar’s knowledge and experience added to the adventure.
I highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Goplaces574835
Nov 2, 2022
Great Tour - We loved everything about this tour. Edgar Escobar was an excellent tour guide and spoke good English. He was also very knowledgeable about the area. We had some time before the turtle release, so he suggested doing another extra tour that was right by the turtles. We took him up on the offer and we were able to see Yupi the monkey, feed some deer, and see a lot of crocodiles. Just make sure you bring extra pesos to pay for it. The turtle release was a wonderful experience. We each got to release a few turtles. After the turtle release, we went on to the Bioluminescence tour. We boarded a boat for a short ride to the middle of the lake. The moon was only a crescent so we were able to easily see it. We also stopped by a tent that was floating on the water that made it even easier to see the Bioluminescence glow. The water was really warm which made it nice to swim in. We would highly recommend this tour with Lamby and Edgar.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bernadett_m
Apr 28, 2022
Great trip for turtles and Puerto Escondido - This was a great trip. Edgar was a great driver and also spoke very good English. There was only us and 1 other couple. We stopped for a chocolate and cocoa demo and sampling and also a fruit stand for mangos a fruit along the way. The turtle release was fun and then we had dinner on Playa Zicatella in Puerto Escondido. The bioluminescence was fun more for being on boat at night and looking and stars and fish were jumping right into our boat. Entrance fees were included. It was a late night getting back but a very worthwhile trip.
Review provided by Viator
Dustypantz
Jan 3, 2023
Glowing, Chocolate, and turtles, oh my! - Turtle experience, and bio illumination were both very cool. We also had an additional stop at a chocolate shop, which was a nice surprise.
Although the experiences were very special, they were also somewhat short. It would be nice the have more information or things to do at each stop, as it was fairly expensive compared to if we had done the same activities independently.
For example when we got back from the lagoon, it would have been nice to have some food waiting for us, as it wasn’t feasible for us to purchase since we left our money on the bus while we swam.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rafael
Nov 10, 2022
Memorable - Releasing baby turtles as the Sun was setting over the Pacific Ocean, and waves are crashing into the beach. memorable moment I'll never forget about. Unfortunately during the Bioluminescence part of the tour we didn't get to see much action of it during the lagoon ride. From my experience with Bioluminescence it's a hit or miss. Did stargaze & see the milky way while at the lagoon since it's a location with little light pollution. Great hospitality from the tour agency, during the bookings I had with them. Would book again
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rongo817
Oct 24, 2022
Not so great - not as great as others claim. Confusion about pick up times. The drivers who called me to tell me when I was being picked were poor communicators. For me, this was two events, not one. I didn't realize the tour operator was in Huatulco and not in Puerto Escondido where i was staying. The turtle release was "cute". I was taken back to my hotel and then waited 1.5 hours for the driver to pick me up to go to the lagoon. He spoke almost no English. The bioluminescence was not impressive. The captain of the boat spoke some English. It had rained for 2 days so I suspect the plankton did not receive enough light to fluoresce, hence not very visible. The Mexican family of 3 people on the tour with me were able to get much more thorough explanations from both the driver and the captain. This tour was for me the worst experience with Trip Advisor, given the cost, poor organization. I have booked more than 10 tours with Trip Advisor in the past.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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