Marine Turtles

Historically, the marine turtles have arrived at the coasts of Bocas del Toro, for several centuries.  Despite the fact that these endangered species have been hunted for many years, the ecotourist can rejoice in the fact that their dollars contribute to the local economy so that the native Panamanian does not have to resort to the sale of the turtle's meat or eggs to sustain their households.

Four types of marine turtles arrive at beaches of the islands to nest: the hawkbill, the loggerhead, the leatherback and the green one. This last one makes an important migration during the months of July and August that happens throughout the coast to go to nest to beaches of Tortuguero, Costa Rica, as well as on Isla Colon. The observation of the nesting, during the night, requires diverse well-taken care of and for that reason specialized guides. One of the bigger enemy, nonsingle for the turtles nesting but also for the small young when being born, is the light. For this reason, the use of lights while observing marine turtles nestin is strictly prohibited.

The lights, when the turtles come to nest, can do them come back to the sea. Nevertheless, when already they have nested, the existence of lights attracts them and often they take them towards the opposed side to which they must go: the sea, being a mortal trap. The same it happens to the newborn. The ideal places for observation of turtles in Bocas are Bluff beach, where an activity organized by conservationist groups exists, or in Long Beach, in the Marine Park, where although there is no usual visitation of tourists is possible to collaborate in the protection of the nests.