Encounter with the nature at the sea turtle camp

Badge of ExcellencePuerto Vallarta, Mexico

2 hours 15 minutes
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Enjoy a unique experience in Puerto Vallarta while helping to support its sea turtle population. This tour takes you to one of the most important sea turtle camps in Puerto Vallarta. There you will learn all about the magnificent creatures and the ongoing work of Mexican biologists to increase their survival rate before heading to the beach to help newborn turtles reach the ocean safely.

Help protect baby turtles by releasing them into the ocean
Learn about biologists' efforts to protect sea turtles
Excellent example of tourism supporting conservation
One of the most spectacular natural wonders in Puerto Vallarta

What's Included

Air-conditioned vehicle
Bottled water
Snacks
Biologist bilingual guide

Gratuities
Insect repellent

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Ecotours Vallarta / Dive Shop
Proa 20, Marina Vallarta, 48335 Puerto Vallarta, Jal., Mexico
Be at Ecotours Vallarta, Located near the ramp at the end of calle Proa, half block beyond the " 8 Tostadas" restaurant.

Start time

06:00 PM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions

Most travelers can participate
All participants must be able to walk 1 mile in total on sand and loose gravel.
Children from 4 to 11 years old must be accompanied by a paying adult.
If there are no baby turtles on the day of your tour, our sales staff will contact you to re-schedule your reservation.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 24 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Erika_C

This was without a doubt one of the most special experiences I’ve ever had! Our guides Margarita and Michael were so knowledgeable and so helpful! We learned so much about everything that they do to help the turtle population and could answer all of our questions. I highly recommend this tour and I will definitely be back to experience this again. It was magical and so special! Thank you so much for all the hard work you do!!

Reviews

5.0

51 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 51 reviews

Our last glimpse

Frances_S, Dec 2023

Seeing the baby turtles' heads popping up in the waves was amazing knowing they were safely on their journey.

A great lifetime experience!

Gregory_S, Dec 2023

The actual release of the turtles. Very special moment. Beautiful sunset. Plenty of good education about turtles and the release program.

So informative!!!

Mona_B, Nov 2023

This is a great tour to take. First we sit in the Eco Tour center and learn about the turtles, their chances of survival, their predators etc. You can ask many questions and the ladies were wonderful answering them all. Then a short drive to the end of the road by the Marina Golf course and a walk to the Turtle egg conservation area. There you get to release the turtles. The highlight of this excursion was after we released the small turtles at dusk we walked back to the vans. While we were doing this a momma turtle landed on shore and was trying to climb on to the sand to go lay her eggs. Unfortunately there were three shrieking kids and the turtle got spooked and left. It was still a great thing to see and a once in a lifetime experience.

Turtle time

Halima_B, Nov 2023

Great time - and very educational. My son enjoyed it, which says a lot for a teen. Thank you! We hope are turtles made it.

Great Experience

Linda_J, Nov 2023

The guides were very knowledgeable. Just walking alongside them on the beach was a learning experience.

So much fun.

Mark_R, Nov 2023

A great experience all around. Thoroughly enjoyed releasing a baby sea turtle into the wild. Cristina and Michael were excellent guides.

Beautiful Adventure!!!.. a bit rough for +75 year old grandparents

DANIELA_B, Oct 2023

The whole experience was great. We had a wonderful guide. Our group was comprised of husband, 2 yo daughter and 75 yo grandparents. Everything was perfect, the only thing I will say is that the 600meter walk through the beach was rough on the grandparents, they are very out of shape I have to say, so if you are in normal shape it should be ok. We got to see the turtles up in close and our daughter was so happy.

Helping the turtles was great! The initial presentation at the store, was poor.

jim, Oct 2023

Seeing and helping the turtles was great. It’s important work for this turtle farm and the turtles in general. But booking this adventure through Viator/Eco Adventures was not worth the $56 per person. I know you can book it for less with other organizations (knowing that some of the money goes to the turtle farm). The main reason it was not great was that Eco Adventures provided about a 30 minute presentation at their store on turtles. But the woman, though bubbly and having experience doing this for many years, was very difficult to understand. English is her second language (not an issue) but her accent is really strong and the presentation felt rushed. We tried to read the slides she presented to get the information she was trying to present.

Best experience!

Victoria_C, Oct 2023

The most memorable part of this experience was releasing my turtle “skittles” to the ocean and it was one of the most amazing things I have ever experienced in my life.

A must do!

Maegan_V, Oct 2023

I will remember this experience forever. We each got our own turtle to name and release! There was a lot of education too which was really cool.

Best Experience Ever!!!

Erika_C, Oct 2023

Real Deal

Lonna_D, Sep 2023

If you are looking for something real and not touristy BS, then this is a great outing. Our guide, Cynthia, was a great guide and a working biologist who was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the turtles. We all got to release baby turtles to the ocean. Bring the best bug spray you can buy, we were covered in 2 different types and still got a couple bites. Others on the tour were eaten alive by bugs.

Releasing the Turtles to the Sea

James_C, Aug 2023

A very good presentation was first given by the guides. Then we took the van to the beach and walked to the turtle camp. Then releasing the turtle from the coconut shell and watching him crawl to the vast Pacific was a great experience.!

Magically fantastic

Wendy_R, Aug 2023

Wonderful and magical experience! Highly recommended!! My kids loved it! We loved it!! Protecting these beautiful creatures and respecting their nesting process.

Donate and save a turtle while you can!!

Sheryl_B, Jan 2023

Bug bites are no joke fir these with sweet blood. I was only bitten where I had bare skin. Should have protected against them. Very small and once you have your baby turtle you don't concentrate on them. Suffered dearly. Loved naming my turtle after my father who died just before our trip "Paul W Blackford" and wishing him a long life. Learned so much, hate plastic bags now that I know the poor turtles think they are jelly fish and eat them! Save the turtles!!!

Once in a lifetime

Connie_K, Dec 2022

They came with the bucket of turtles that were ready to be released. We got a coconut cup, and each had a turtle placed in them for individual release. You named your turtle made a wish and sent then off towards the ocean. The guides were very knowledgeable and excited about their program.

Baby Sea turtles and a sunset

Ours, Aug 2022

Amazing! Must do if you are in Puerto Vallarta. Make sure you bring mosquito repellent. Perfect for all ages.

Very fun!

Daniel_R, Aug 2022

This was such a fun and informative experience. Very glad to have experienced it. I would only add to make sure you bring your bug spray!

Great tour

Bridget_k, Aug 2022

The turtles are so adorable. You will be routing for them. Keep in mind it is a mile in each direction over sand. The ecotours guide is lovely. The turtle rescue educator was a bit much. The salt water crocodiles were out and a bit unnerving. I’d say this tour is best for 10 + years old.

Once in a lifetime experience!

Darcy_R, Dec 2021

An amazing experience for all ages. Tour company is very knowledgable and there to help you with anything. Turtle Camp guides do and excellent job of teaching about the turtles, their life cycle, and conservation efforts. Participating in the actual turtle release was a once in a lifetime experience. Highly recommend it!