Season Reflection & Volunteer Call: Protecting Sea Turtles at Playa Linda

As our first official permit year winds down, the Playa Linda Turtle Project team is reflecting on what we've accomplished—and looking ahead to what's next.

This is preliminary data we’ve compiled as the season comes to a close. We'll finalize the full season report in July, but with nesting activity increasing, we didn’t want to miss the opportunity to invite new volunteers to join us during this critical point in the season.

A Look at the Numbers

Since patrols began in August 2024, our team has documented nearly 200 nesting events. These include false crawls, nests with and without turtles present, and, most importantly, nests that were either poached or rescued.

• 127 nests (64%) were poached

• 71 nests (36%) were successfully protected thanks to volunteer efforts

These numbers highlight both the challenges we face and the real impact of boots-on-the-ground conservation.

A Milestone: Our Own Turtle Hatchery

One of the most exciting accomplishments of the season was the construction of our own turtle hatchery—a secure space where we can relocate vulnerable nests and monitor them until hatching.

With guidance and support from Reserva Playa Tortuga and the tireless help of local volunteers, we completed this project just in time for the late-season surge. The hatchery will be a game changer as we move into Year 2, offering better protection, more data opportunities, and safer conditions for hatchlings.

Our First Year on Patrol

We’ve walked hundreds of miles, met new neighbors, guided travelers, and grown stronger as a grassroots team.

This year we:

• Witnessed turtles nesting under the stars

• Hosted baby turtle releases

• Responded to false crawls, poaching activity, and natural hatching events

• Welcomed families, retirees, students, and solo travelers on patrols

Every walk made a difference. And while it hasn’t been easy, it’s been deeply meaningful.

What’s Next: Peak Season Is Just Beginning

Although this permit cycle ends soon, turtle nesting activity in our area typically peaks between August and October. That means the most active—and most vulnerable—part of the season is just beginning.

We’re already seeing an uptick in nesting, and we need more volunteers to cover upcoming patrols.

How to Join

• Patrols occur at night (high tide) or at dawn, depending on the tide schedule

• Walks are about 4 miles round trip along the beach

• Bring closed shoes and a red-light headlamp if you have one

• No experience needed—we’ll guide you through it

Every walk helps us collect data, prevent poaching, and give sea turtles a better chance at survival.

Join Our Community

The Playa Linda Turtle Project is a 100% volunteer-run initiative. There are no salaries, no offices—just people walking the beach together to protect something they love.

If you’ve volunteered this year: Thank you.
If you’re considering it for the first time: Now’s the time.

Let’s make Year 2 even more impactful—for the turtles, and for the beach we all share.