Each year, from March through July, thousands of sea turtles make their way to the Caribbean to nest. Sea turtles return to the beach where they were born to nest after reaching maturity. Many Leatherback Turtles nest on Eagle Beach, meaning our guests may have the opportunity to witness this emotional and beautiful experience.
For many, experiencing a nesting turtle or watching a baby hatchling make their way to the sea is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Bucuti recognizes this, so during turtle season we have a call list which guests can sign up to watch the Leatherback Turtles as they come ashore to lay their eggs or to watch the tiny hatchlings make their incredible passage to the ocean for the first time.
We value these creatures just as we do our esteemed guests and we invite all guests to join us in the efforts to protect them. There are a number of ways Bucuti’s guests can work with the resort to ensure the best possibility of survival for these beloved and endangered creatures:
- Watch nesting turtles from a distance; If a sea turtle is disturbed, she may leave without nesting
- Leave the nests undisturbed
- Let the hatchlings crawl toward the sea on their own, allowing them to imprint their home beach
- Do not use any flash photography of the mother nesting nor the hatchlings. Artificial light is confusing to them.
- If you find hatchlings that got confused by lights alert a resort staff member
- Keep all outdoor lights off at night, including flashlights and cameras
- Please do not leave any plastic bags, balloons or other types of litter on the beach
- Make sure the path is clear for a nesting turtle or her hatchlings to make their way back to the sea
What Bucuti Does
As you know, Bucuti & Tara Beach Resorts is committed to protecting and preserving the environment. We work year round to ensure the best possible conditions for both the mother and hatchlings to increase survival in turtle nesting season. A few of our initiatives include:
- Monthly beach clean-ups – the third Wednesday of every month, Bucuti staff and guests come together to pick up litter along Eagle Beach
- Provide all guests with water canteens to discourage the use of plastic water bottles
- No disposable cutlery, cups, plates, plastic bags, etc. used on property
- Use solar lights on Elements deck and shielded lights near the beach at night
- Support introduction of law to ban plastic bags on island
- Support the Turtugaruba Foundation - a foundation for the conservation of sea turtles and their habitat in the Wider Caribbean, especially on and around Aruba - and have done so since Bucuti opened
- Place signs and barriers around nests to prevent disturbance of nests on beach
- Keep crowds away from the nesting turtles and hatchlings
- Keep the path to the sea clear
- Shoo away preying birds
Did you know?
- Sea turtles return to the beach they were born at to nest after they reach maturity
- Sea turtles use earth’s magnetic field to guide them throughout their voyage
- There are four types of turtles that nest on Aruba – Leatherback, Loggerhead, Hawksbill and Green
- Sea turtles reach maturity after 20 - 30 years
- Sea turtles nest every two to five years, not every year
- Sea turtles will nest six to eight times in one season
- Leatherback Turtles lay about 100 eggs per nest on Aruba
- Incubation period is about 60 days
- Leatherback Turtles don’t permanently reside in the Caribbean; they make their home in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Canada
- Leatherback Turtle’s favorite food is jellyfish
- It is estimated that one of every one thousand hatchlings survives to maturity
- All species of sea turtles are endangered
- Leatherback Turtles are critically endangered
On behalf of Bucuti’s staff, we thank you in advance for your efforts in preserving Aruba’s environment and we look forward to witnessing this magnificent manifestation with you.
