Santa Maria Sea Turtle Nesting Tour: Watch Careta-Careta

Stand on the beach as nesting sea turtles emerge from the water

A guided tour in Santa Maria where you watch careta-careta sea turtles come ashore to nest, lay around 80 eggs, and return to the ocean, led by a specialized naturalist guide. The tour runs 2 to 3 hours and includes hotel pickup and an air-conditioned vehicle. Guides speak English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and one additional language.

Step-by-step itinerary

Observe Careta-Careta turtle nesting

• Meet specialized local guide
• Watch turtles come ashore
• Observe turtles make nests
• See turtles lay about 80 eggs
• Help cover the nest
• Watch turtles return to sea

The experience

The careta-careta sea turtle nesting happens on the beach in Santa Maria, and you watch it unfold under the guidance of a local naturalist who knows the species and the conservation challenges they face. A specialized guide meets you and takes you to the nesting site, where you observe the turtles as they emerge from the water, dig their nest, lay an average of 80 eggs, and cover the nest before making their way back to the sea. The whole sequence takes 2 to 3 hours, and the guide explains what you're watching as it happens: the life cycle of these prehistoric creatures, why the nesting matters for the marine ecosystem, and what threatens their survival.

Hotel pickup is included, so you don't arrange your own transport to the beach. An air-conditioned vehicle gets you there and back, which matters on a warm day when you're standing in the open waiting for the turtles to arrive. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian or one of the other available languages, so the explanation reaches you in your own words.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• a specialized naturalist guide who explains the turtle nesting and marine conservation.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 15 Jul 2027

Book up to2h before

AgesUp to age 90

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 9 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tour Sal

Is this one for you?The tour includes pickup from your hotel, so you don't need a car or need to find your own way to the beach. The guide handles the transport and you arrive ready to watch the turtles come ashore.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long does the whole tour take from pickup to drop-off?

The tour itself runs 2 to 3 hours on the beach watching the turtles nest, plus travel time to and from your hotel in the air-conditioned vehicle.

Will I see the baby turtles hatch?

No. You watch the adult turtles lay the eggs and cover the nest before returning to the sea. The eggs incubate in the sand for weeks before the hatchlings emerge.

Is this tour suitable if I'm not in great physical shape?

Yes. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You stand on the beach and watch, and the guide handles the rest. Infants can come along if they sit on an adult's lap.