Turtle Release Puerto Escondido, Playa Bacocho (2023)

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Looking for more information on the turtle release in Puerto Escondido, on Playa Bacocho? This post outlines everything you need to know!

Releasing a baby turtle into the ocean in Puerto Escondido really was one of those ‘pinch-me’ moments. We didn’t really know what to expect, and we had no idea just how special it would be.

The turtle release in Puerto Escondido happens at Playa Bacocho every day at 5pm. You’ll have the chance to hold a tiny, baby turtle in a coconut, then place it gently on the sand to help it make its big journey to the ocean. With the sunset as a backdrop, it’s one of the most unique and incredible experiences we did in Mexico!

This guide explains everything you need to know about the turtle release in Puerto Escondido, and why it’s such a special activity not just for us, but for the turtles and the planet.

Psst! I have lots more videos and photos of the turtle release in Puerto Escondido over on my Instagram. If you want to check them out, they’re all saved in my highlights! You can follow me here!

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Turtle Release in Puerto Escondido

Contents

If you’re visiting Puerto Escondido, make sure releasing a turtle is on your bucket list!

Is the turtle release in Puerto Escondido ethical?

Yes! The volunteers at Vive Mar go out of their way to explain the reasons behind the turtle release, and why it’s an important part of protecting them.

Before releasing the turtles, you are put into groups to discuss the work they do. As the turtles lay eggs on the beach, the volunteers at Vive Mar collect them from specific dangers, like global warming, urban encroachment, predators and sadly, humans.

Some Mexicans actually use turtle eggs in cooking, so they’ll hunt for them along the beach. Before this can happen, the volunteers collect the eggs and put them safely into incubators, where they are also protected from global warming.

The rising temperatures of the sun can impact the gender of the turtles. The hotter the temperature, the more likely the turtle will be female, and the colder, the more likely it will be male. Controlling the temperature in the incubators helps to keep the population balanced.

A large part of Playa Bacocho is protected in order to keep it safe for the turtles. Incredibly, the same turtles that were born here, return 10 years later to lay their own eggs. This is called ‘natal homing’.

Vive Mar works effortlessly to ensure the area is safe for the turtles, by teaching in local schools and communities. The turtle release is an amazing way to educate others about the dangers these animals face, and how we can all help in our own way.

Although it is not known for sure, it is thought that only 1 in 1000 turtles survive the journey from shell to sea. In conservation projects like this one, that is raised slightly, and it is believed to be more like 20 in 1000.

Tips for the turtle release in Puerto Escondido

Your turtle may get eaten by predators! This sounds horrible, and I’ll be honest, it is. But, it’s the way the food chain goes. So don’t be too upset if you see your turtle being eaten by a seagull as it enters the sea. And do not attempt to throw rocks at the seagulls to stop them, or blame the volunteers!
You need to buy a coconut to hold a turtle in order to be allowed into the ‘turtle release’ zone. Entering for photography only isn’t permitted.
Taking a photo for Instagram is great, but looking after your turtle is more important! Once you have your turtle, you have a responsibility to keep it as safe. This may require using two hands on your coconut, and none on your camera! Take photos when you are sitting down releasing your turtle instead.
Your turtle may be energetic and try to escape your coconut! As hard as it is, try not to touch the turtles under any circumstances. The chemicals on our skin are damaging to them. Instead, use another coconut to stop it from falling out onto the sand.
You won’t find out if your turtle is a boy or girl, so just go by what you feel. Give it a name and build a connection, and then cheer it on from the sidelines!
When you release your turtle, you need to stay behind the line, and not get any closer. This is to protect all of the hundreds of baby turtles being released.
The volunteers at Vive Mar only get paid through tips. Make sure you have some change on you to tip at the end!

Where can I release turtles in Puerto Escondido?

The turtle release in Puerto Escondido happens every day at Playa Bacocho, which is located in the north of Puerto Escondido. As you arrive at the beach, the entrance to the turtle release centre is hard to miss, and is well-signposted.

Check out my post: Getting Around Puerto Escondido in 2022: A Complete Guide for more information on how to get to Playa Bacocho.

Backpacking Mexico? Make sure you check out my travel resources for everything you will need on your trip (and some great ways to save money!)

When can you release turtles in Puerto Escondido?

The turtle release at Playa Bacocho in Puerto Escondido happens every day at 5pm. Be sure to arrive by 4.50pm to join the queue, register, pay, and listen to a short speech about the conservation of turtles. The actual turtle release happens around 6pm.

Going in and out of the water, snorkelling, diving or surfing in Mexico? Don’t forget your GoPro to capture all of your amazing memories!

How much does it cost to release a turtle in Puerto Escondido?

As of November 2022, it costs 150 MXN (£6.50/$7.70) per person to release the turtles on Playa Bacocho. This goes directly to conservation.

The Vive Mar project is a non-profit organisation, and volunteers are paid only through tips.

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Arriving at the Vive Mar Centre

From start to finish, we loved the turtle release experience in Puerto Escondido. We actually did it as part of my 30th birthday celebrations, and straight after we planned to do it again!

Not knowing we had to arrive before 5pm, we arrived at Playa Bacocho around 4.30pm by chance. The taxi dropped us off right by the Vive Mar centre, so we were able to just walk over and wait for the staff to tell us more information.

By 4.45pm, the centre was exceptionally busy. A few of us were panicking about whether there would be enough turtles or not, but thankfully there were! I’d still recommend arriving at Playa Bacocho by 4.50pm though, just incase!

At 5pm, the staff at Vive Mar told us we would need to pay 150 MXN (£6.50/$7.70) each to release a turtle. After queuing for a while and eventually paying, we were given a half-coconut bowl, which would be used to hold the baby turtle.

Our experience with releasing the turtles

Before the release, you’re split into two separate groups; one English speaking and one Spanish. The groups are then led by a volunteer from Vive Mar, explaining the reasons behind the release, and why it’s so important. Being so passionate about the turtles, they really added to the experience!

After the talk had finished, it was time to collect our baby turtle. We were told repeatedly not to touch the turtles due to the chemicals on our skin, and to not drop them on the sand. Because of this, I found it hard to concentrate on anything apart from looking after Baby Ralph (my turtle) and it was exceptionally hard to get photos!

Ralph was constantly trying to escape his coconut, so I was given another coconut to sit on top. Worried I might hurt him, I kept checking to see if he was ok! Fortunately, he made it to the sand, and I released him into the sea.

Ralph didn’t have an easy journey, and there were many crabs along the way trying to drag him into their hole in the sand. To say this was dramatic was an understatement. It seemed that everyone else’s turtle darted straight to the ocean, whereas Ralph looked confused and couldn’t make his mind up which way to go!

After trying to scare the crabs away (you’re behind a barrier, so you can’t do much!) Ralph eventually made it to the ocean, and tackled all the predators in sight. Sadly, some of the other turtles were gobbled up by seagulls, but as the staff member reminded us, it’s the food chain and there’s nothing we can do about it. Still, it was quite traumatic to watch!

After the turtle release

After the dramatic turtle release, we spent the rest of the evening on Playa Bacocho watching the sunset.

To say it was a core memory moment was an understatement. The sunset was one of the best I’ve ever seen in my life, and I had just released a baby turtle into the ocean!

Puerto Escondido really is one of the best places in Mexico, and I really hope you get to experience it too.

How to get to Playa Bacocho

Depending on where you are coming from in Puerto Escondido, there are a few ways to reach Playa Bacocho for the turtle release.

🚶‍♀️Walk: Walking would only be possible for those living north of Puerto Escondido, in areas like Centro and Rinconada. Even then, it’s quite a long way and most of it is up and down hills. From central Rinconada the walk would take around 30 minutes.

🚕 Taxi: Taking a taxi is the easiest and most reliable way to reach Playa Bacocho, especially if you need to be there on time to see the turtles. A taxi from Centro costs around 50-100 MXN (£4.40/$5), and from Rinconada 50 MXN (£2.20/$2.50).

🛵 Moped: Hiring a moped is a popular choice in Puerto Escondido, and is how most backpackers get around. I’ve personally never done it, as driving a moped in Puerto Escondido looks chaotic! But many backpacker’s hire a moped at the start of their trip to get around easily.

🚌 Bus/Collectivo: The most backpacker budget friendly way is by collectivo. Collectivos are essentially buses, and cost as little as 30p/$0.30 per journey. Most of the collectivos will be full of locals, but are easy enough to squeeze onto! Note collectivos are privately owned, so there is no timetable or way of knowing when they will arrive. They normally drive along the main road in Puerto Escondido, then down to Bacocho. You may want to check before boarding though!

Other things to do in Puerto Escondido

There are so many things to do in Puerto Escondido! That’s part of the reason why we decided to live there for a while. From daytime adventure activities to weekend trips and late-night dinners, Puerto Escondido is one of the best places in Mexico for digital nomads and backpackers.

Here are some of the other best things to do in Puerto Escondido:

Try surfing for the first time, or take a surfing lesson
Spot dolphins, whales and turtles on a boat tour
Learn Spanish in one of the friendly Spanish schools
Dine in the restaurants on the Rinconada strip (our favourites being Pinches tacos and El Sultan)
Go kayaking in the mangroves of Laguna Manialtepec
Take a day or overnight trip to Mazunte
Do a skydive
Relax on the beach
Go horseback riding during sunset
Watch the unbeatable sunset from Playa Carrizalillo
Party the night away at La Punta or Zicatela
Join a pool party at a local hostel
Watch a world-class surfing tournament at Playa Zicatela
Go snorkelling or scuba diving
Wake up early to watch the sunrise
Drink a cocos frios on the beach
Take a walk around Puerto Escondido’s biggest market, Mercado Benito Juarez
Go on a day or overnight trip to Chacahua

Visiting Puerto Escondido as a solo female traveller? I’ve got you covered; check out my safety tips for backpacking Puerto Escondido here.

Where to stay in Puerto Escondido

🛏️ Best hostel in Puerto Escondido for backpackers: Book here

If you’re a solo traveller and looking to party in Puerto Escondido, I recommend this hostel in La Punta. It’s known for its wild events and activities, has its own pool and isn’t far from the beach.

Getting around Puerto Escondido is easy, and if you prefer one area to another, taxis are cheap and widely available.

Best apartment in Rinconada, Puerto Escondido: Book here

Bungalow in Centro, Puerto Escondido: Book here

Apartment in Zicatela, Puerto Escondido: Book here

Turtle Release Puerto Escondido: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about the turtle release in Puerto Escondido.

When you’re planning a trip to Puerto Escondido, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t come across my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently backpacking Mexico with my boyfriend (read more here!), whilst creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more Mexico content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

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MEET THE AUTHOR!

Jennie

TRAVEL BLOGGER

Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.

If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).