How to See Baby Sea Turtles in Guatemala

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The beautiful country of Guatemala is known for its fiery volcanoes, spiritual lakes and historic colonial towns. However, few people seem to know about Guatemala’s black sand beaches and the chance to see baby sea turtles make their way into the ocean for the first time. In this post, I’ve shared all you need to know about where and how to see baby sea turtles in Guatemala.

Each year, thousands of sea turtles head to the Pacific beaches of Guatemala to lay their eggs. If you’re in the right place at the right time, you will have the chance to watch the hatchlings experience the ocean for the first time.

This was one of the last things I did on my nine-month backpacking trip in 2021. I wanted to spend time by the ocean before heading back to the UK and returning to my office job. It felt very bittersweet that this was the last activity I did on my trip. It was truly magical watching these tiny sea turtle hatchlings make their way into the ocean.

If you’re planning a trip to Guatemala, seeing baby sea turtles is certainly something to add to your Guatemala itinerary.

I’ve put together the below guide on how I saw baby sea turtles in Guatemala.

Read next: visiting Guatemala solo? Here are some helpful tips to stay safe in Guatemala.

Where can you see baby sea turtles in Guatemala?

The best place to see baby sea turtles in Guatemala is on the west coast. Specifically, the small town of El Paredon. Each year, thousands of green sea turtles make their way to the shores of Guatemala to lay their eggs. Although turtles visit both the Pacific and Caribbean coastlines, the Pacific side is much better connected to tourist destinations such as Antigua and Lake Atitlan.

The small surf town of El Paredon offers the best chance of seeing baby sea turtles in Guatemala. This is mainly because of a local project in the town which is funded by the Driftwood Surfer Hostel.

Unfortunately, poaching turtle eggs in Guatemala is completely legal. Poachers line the beach at night and wait for the turtles. As soon as the turtles have laid their eggs, they are taken away and sold for food.

With turtle numbers dwindling, the project aims to keep the eggs safe until they hatch. Sometimes they will find the eggs before the poachers, other times they will buy the eggs from the poachers. Thanks to support from tourists who visit the project, the project announced it was able to save 40,000 eggs in 2022.

Baby sea turtles in Guatemala — Baby turtles in El Paredon

The best time of year to see baby sea turtles

The nesting season runs from June to November, with the busiest times being August and September. It takes an egg 60 days to hatch, so visiting from September to December gives you the best chance of seeing a baby.

I visited at the end of November and it was clear the season was coming to end. I had met other backpackers who had seen hundreds make their way to the ocean a couple of weeks before. The first morning I tried to see the baby sea turtles, none had hatched. Thankfully, the following day saw about forty hatch.

For the best chance at seeing the baby sea turtles in El Paredon, I’d recommend visiting in October or early November.

Is the project ethical?

Yes. I’m always suspicious of these types of projects. Especially when they let you touch the turtles or keep them from the ocean longer than necessary. I’m no expert, but a quick look online tells you everything you need to know – as soon as they hatch, turtles need to be in the ocean. The longer they are kept on shore, the less likely they are to survive in the wild.

Related read: How to spot ethical wildlife tourism

The project releases the turtles daily at the crack of dawn. Most of the hatchlings hatch overnight and it’s believed sunrise is the safest time to release them to protect them from predators.

At no point are you allowed to touch or handle the turtles. You’re asked to keep your distance and simply watch from afar.

How to see the baby sea turtles in Guatemala

To see the baby turtles, you’ll need to head to the surf town of El Paredon. Here’s everything you need to know.

Time of day: the turtle conservation centre releases the baby sea turtles just before sunrise. You need to be at the Driftwood Surfer before sunrise. You’ll then walk along the beach to the turtle hatcher.

Driftwood Surfer: it’s recommended to visit the Driftwood Surfer (or call) the day before to ask them for the latest info. The timings of the release can change depending on current conditions.

Booking: you don’t need to book this activity as such, but confirm with the Driftwood Surfer Hostel that it’s planning to run when you want to visit. I went to the hostel the evening before the release to confirm the time and that the sea turtles were being released.

Cost: It’s free to see the baby sea turtles being released. The guide will ask for a donation, with all the money going towards the project. You can also buy a T-shirt to support the sea turtle project in El Paredon.

Types of turtles: Most of the turtles found in the El Paredon area are green sea turtles. However, leatherback and olive ridley turtles are also possible.

What happens during the release?

After meeting at the hostel, the guide will take the group down the beach to the hatchery. It’s about a ten-minute walk from the hostel. Once you arrive, you’ll found it if they’ll be releasing any turtles. On my first attempt, none of the baby sea turtles had hatched that night, so had to turn around.

If there are sea turtles to be released, they’ll be ready to go in a giant bucket which is taken down to the shore. The bucket is gently laid down on the beach and then the magic happens.

You won’t be able to touch the turtles or help them in any way (which is how it should be). It really is an incredible experience.

Can I see the turtles lay their eggs?

Technically yes, but it isn’t advised.

If you’re staying on the Pacific coast, turtles tend to lay their eggs between June and November. This activity normally takes place at night. Human activity can seriously disrupt the process of the turtle visiting the beach and laying her eggs, so if you see one, it’s best to stay far away and watch from a distance.

How to get to El Paredon?

El Paredon is around a two-hour drive from Antigua city. There are daily shared vans between the two destinations. I’d recommend speaking to your accommodation about booking a shared shuttle. There are also daily connections between Lake Atitlan and El Paredon. This journey is a little bit more of an adventure with a boat ride involved.