I recently had the pleasure of visiting Los Cabos, Mexico for a little adventure, sunshine, and general merriment. When I headed down to the Baja Peninsula I hardly expected to have any truly moving experiences, but when I found myself releasing freshly hatched baby sea turtles that have been hanging out on the endangered species list for quite some time, my heart just about melted.
Aside from being a great place to take in some sun and tequila, Cabo San Lucas is a burgeoning eco-tourism hotbed. The people, hotels, and tourists of the Baja Peninsula sincerely care about their beautiful surroundings and local wildlife. Baja Outback, a great adventure tour company, offers visitors a chance to experience the protection, birth, and release of a variety of sea turtle species. Participants start by learning about the habits and lifestyle of each turtle species that can be found on the peninsula, the mating habits (mmmhmmm), and life expectancy followed by a visit to rows of undisturbed, protected nests. After exploring the nests, guests are introduced to hundreds of freshly hatched baby sea turtles- no older than a handful of minutes.
Each member of the group picks a few turtles, names them, and then lines up in a row to release the babies for their exciting (if not tearful) voyage to the sea. It sounds weird, but somehow in the moment you get very attached to your sweet little turtles, especially knowing that there’s a good chance they won’t survive terribly long. As a mom, releasing my reptilian babies felt similar to sending my son off to his first day of classes. All I could think is “do your best, little babies, and may all your turtley dreams come true.”
If you’re heading to Cabo anytime soon, have a heart, and love the planet you live on, this is a definite MUST DO. It’s $75 USD per adult, and children are welcome at a discounted rate of $45 USD. I can’t wait till my son is old enough to appreciate this- I will be back for sure.
