info@seaturtlecamp.org

Visit Playa Las Tortugas Main Site

The success of the Platanitos Turtle Camp depends on volunteers, both national and international, who donate their time and physical labor to help preserve the endangered sea turtles that come to nest at Playa Las Tortugas every year.

The primary volunteer duties are carried out at night when the sea turtles leave the ocean to lay their eggs.  This includes patrolling the beach, even in stormy weather, collecting turtle eggs and bringing them back to the camp for incubation.   As the turtles begin to hatch, volunteers help

remove them from the nesting boxes in preparation for their release.  Just before sunset is the big event where hundreds, some nights even thousands, are released on the beach and scramble across the sand and through the waves to their new life in the ocean.

By joining in this extraordinary event volunteers will realize that their help truly improves the odds of survival for these gentle creatures. In addition to working on turtle patrol the volunteers are expected to help with cooking and cleaning duties in the camp.

As the Turtle Camp is located away from city life, the living conditions are different from what many are accustomed to. The weather is subtropical in the summer and many insects are present. Utilities (i.e., running water and electricity) are basic and may be temporarily lost due to weather or mechanical failure.

While there is always a lot of work to be done, there is also time to relax and make new friends. The experience gained by each individual during their visit here will depend on their desire to enjoy life and to blend into the Mexican culture.  By keeping an open mind volunteers are sure see many benefits from their time in the Turtle Camp.