Baby Sea Turtle Releasing Tour in Zihuatanejo: 3.5 Hours

Watch baby sea turtles dig out of the sand and race to the ocean

A 3.5-hour tour from Zihuatanejo that takes you to Juluchuca beach to learn about the three species of sea turtles that nest on this coast, see eggs from an active nest, and release hatchlings into the ocean. Hotel pickup from Ixtapa or Zihuatanejo is included, along with a guide who explains the turtles' life cycle, the predators they face on land and in water, and the survival challenges they encounter from birth until they return years later to lay their own eggs. The tour ends with a locally made coconut macaroon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sea turtle releasing and local tour

• Travel to Juluchuca community
• Learn about sea turtle life cycle
• See turtle egg in nest
• Witness baby turtles hatching
• Release baby turtles to ocean
• Taste fresh coconut macaroon

The experience

The tour starts with a drive through town to the rural community of Juluchuca, a stretch of beach known for coconut production and chosen by sea turtles because it is long and secluded: far enough from the noise of the tourist towns that mother turtles will come to lay their eggs there. Once you arrive, your guide spends about 20 minutes explaining the life cycle of the three sea turtle species that nest in this part of Mexico, the predators that hunt them before they reach the ocean and after, and the odds they face. A chart breaks down the differences between the species so the details stick.

Then the guide carefully uncovers a nest found the day before and shows you an egg inside, then covers it again. You move to a nest that is actively hatching and watch the hatchlings dig their way to the surface. Once they emerge, the guide collects them into a small container where they stay for 10 to 20 minutes until they are active and ready to move. The guide then carries them to wet sand about 25 feet from the ocean, sets them down, and the turtles instinctively run toward the water. You stay until the last one makes it in.

After releasing the turtles, you get to taste a fresh coconut macaroon made locally in Juluchuca before heading back to your hotel. The whole experience, including the drive, takes 3.5 hours. An air-conditioned vehicle picks you up from your hotel lobby in Ixtapa or Zihuatanejo and brings you back.

What’s included

• Round-trip hotel pickup from your lobby in Ixtapa or Zihuatanejo.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.
• the turtle farm visit with nest viewing and hatchling release.
• a locally made coconut macaroon after the release.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 14:00

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Infant (2 to 11 years)

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 39 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 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Luis de la Maza Ixtapa Zihuatanejo tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see sea turtles at the moment they hatch and help them reach the ocean. The timing depends on which nests are active when you visit, so the guide selects the nest on the day itself to ensure you witness an actual hatching rather than an empty beach.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (2 to 11 years).

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 tour actually spend at the beach versus driving?

The tour lasts 3.5 hours total, and travel time is included in that duration. Once you reach Juluchuca beach, the guide spends about 20 minutes explaining the turtle species and their challenges, then you move through the nest viewing and hatchling release, which takes the bulk of the remaining time on the beach.

What exactly do I get to do with the baby turtles?

You watch the hatchlings dig out of an active nest and emerge to the surface. The guide collects them into a container for 10 to 20 minutes while they become active, then carries them to wet sand about 25 feet from the ocean. You watch them run into the water and stay until all of them have made it in.

Will I see turtle eggs?

Yes. The guide carefully uncovers a nest that was found the day before, shows you an egg inside, and then covers it again so the nest is not disturbed. You also witness a nest that is actively hatching, where the hatchlings are emerging on their own.

What are the three kinds of sea turtles that nest here?

The guide explains the characteristics of the three sea turtle species that come to lay eggs on this part of the Guerrero coast. A chart is used during the explanation to show the differences between the species so you can understand which is which.