Picture this: it is your first time snorkeling in Boca Catalina. After a few minutes, you get the hang of it and feel more confident to venture further into the Caribbean Sea. At some point, you glance to the right and boom! A sea turtle swims gracefully near a lush seaweed garden. This almost movie-like scene is a common denominator on many of Aruba’s beaches. Why? This animal is among the species that enrich the island’s diverse wildlife. Doesn’t that make a memory for a lifetime?
If you have done any research about Aruba’s thriving tourism offer, you would know that visiting Arikok National Park, paddleboarding, windsurfing, and snorkeling are popular outdoor activities. The latter becomes even more special when visitors seek to spot any of the four local sea turtles in Aruba. Curious about them too? This article will guide you on how, where, and when to see them. Grab your goggles and let’s dive in!
Animals in Aruba: The Island’s Unique Animals and Plants
When is sea turtle season in Aruba?
Female sea turtles tend to return to the same beach where they were born to nest. Credits: Maria Isabella Bernotti/Pexels
Sea turtles in Aruba nest between March and September, according to the local non-profit organization TurtugAruba. This rare event happens every 2 to 5 years, with some species laying eggs up to 6 times per season. The eggs usually hatch between May and November. During these months, visitors can watch adorable baby turtles crawl through the sand to reach the water.
If you are planning your trip for a different time, do not worry! You can see these animals in their natural habitat year-round. The best way to do so is by snorkeling on your own or with a sightseeing tour in places like Tres Trapi, where you might also catch sight of the remains of S.S. Antilla resting on the sand, and Mangel Halto, known for its mangrove meadows (hence the name!).
Where to see sea turtles in Aruba?
Despite existing for around 110 million years, most sea turtle species face the threat of extinction, based on the data provided by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF). That is why, like in other destinations, nesting sites in Aruba are protected with and barriers.
As the Aruba Tourism Authority explains, Dos Playas beach, in Santa Cruz, serves as an important nesting ground, where anyone can view the hatchlings of the four types of turtles found on the island (the Green, the Hawksbill, the Leatherback, and the Loggerhead). Boca Grandi, located at the southeast end, is also a site to keep in mind.
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Responsible interactions: How to safely spot these creatures in Aruba
Four types of sea turtles inhabit Aruban waters. Credits: Jeremy Bishop/Unsplash
As you can imagine, several tour operators, such as Sea Turtle Aruba and Delphi Watersports, offer the chance to swim close to sea turtles in Aruba… Similar to scenes found in movies like Finding Nemo (2003). However, unlike those beloved animated characters, we humans must take certain precautions to avoid harming these animals and disrupting their habitats.
- If you see a sea turtle while in the water, observe it from a distance. Do not approach or touch it, as this can scare or stress the animal. The same rule applies when they are on the sand.
- Avoid using artificial lights or flashes from smartphones, cameras, flashlights, or other devices. These can disrupt their vision and disorient them.
- TurtugAruba advises against using vehicles that “compact the sand” on the coast because this makes it harder for all female turtles to dig nests and lay their eggs.
- Respect the signs indicating the presence of nests in the sand.
Do not leave waste of any kind, especially plastic bags or balloons, on the beaches or in the water. In the latter case, turtles may mistake a bag for jellyfish, their main source of food, which can be fatal. So be careful!
Now that you know the basic guidelines for protecting sea turtles in Aruba (and other destinations, for that matter), you can admire them while also helping them fulfill their role in maintaining seagrass beds, spreading nutrients throughout the Caribbean Sea, and balancing sea sponge and jellyfish populations.
Finally, at Ocean Z, we have prepared a free guide with these and other details about the stunning and enigmatic sea turtles in Aruba. Download it by clicking the button below:
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