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Contact:
Brad Nahill
Manager
Ocean Conservancy
7227 SW Linette Way
Beaverton, OR
Tel: +246/418-0990
Fax: +246/418-0990
bnahill@oceanconservancy.org
www.seeturtles.org
Recommended by:
Sustainable Travel International
www.sustainabletravelinternational.org
info@sustainabletravelinternational.org
Type of destination:
Beach
Able to accommodate:
Families
Gay/lesbian
Seniors
Singles
Singles with children
Volunteers
Description of the area:
Ocean Conservancy’s SEE Turtles program links people with sea turtle sites in ways that directly support efforts to protect sea turtles. Baja California Sur, Mexico is a critical location for sea turtle populations; host to five of the world’s seven species — all of which are listed as endangered by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Most of Baja California’s turtles come there to feed and grow; many migrate thousands of miles across the entire Pacific. Sea turtles here find a haven rich in food sources and dynamic habitats that are ideal for growing strong until they reach reproductive age and are ready to begin the long migration home to the beaches where they were born to start the process anew.
SEE Turtles works with the Grupo Tortuguero, an award-winning peninsula-wide network of local conservationists and fishermen, working together to protect and study the region’s turtles. Visitors will be able to participate in conservation research in small towns along the Pacific coast, including San Carlos, Lopez Mateos, Todos Santos, and Laguna San Ignacio.
Available activities:
Adventure, sports
Eco/nature/wildlife
Educational, research, volunteering
Scuba diving/snorkeling
Tours
Visits to conservation projects
Walking/hiking
How to get there:
Making a difference:
While a few turtle sites have benefitted from modest, tightly monitored tourism programs, most turtle conservation sites, though interested, have not been able to take advantage of this strategy. The two biggest reasons that local and regional groups have not been able to tap this market are the lack of resources to either: 1) conduct outreach to the tourism market; or 2) build the necessary capacity to handle tourism. The heavy majority of turtle conservation groups around the world are small-budget groups working with few resources.
SEE Turtles will strengthen the international network of sea turtle conservation organizations by filling the gaps in market access and capacity building. To fill the gap in market access, we are developing relationships with international tour operators to include sea turtle conservation activities and educating key constituencies through our website, media outreach, and other key venues. We are supporting capacity building efforts by providing mini-grants, sharing knowledge on the necessary components of a tourism strategy, and connecting partners with resources that can help to build capacity. In addition, we are helping to improve how tourists, operators, and conservation organizations manage turtle viewing through the development and dissemination of a best practices guide.
Rates:
Generally, in Baja California we will be promoting two types of turtle watching activities- beach walks ($15-25 pp) and in-water monitoring ($300-500 for two days, including food, camping, guides, boats, etc). However, we are initially promoting all-inclusive group tours managed by tour operator partners that range from $1,600 to $1,900 per person, including all ground costs (food, lodging, transport, guides, activities, and a donation to local conservation efforts) but not including airfare.
Additional Information:
Photo caption: Turtle monitoring in Baja with members of the Grupo Tortuguero. Photo courtesy of Neil Osborne.
Date when this information was provided: September 2008
