One of the experiences we were most excited about in El Salvador was releasing baby sea turtles into the Pacific Ocean! 🐢🌊
El Salvador’s coastline is uniquely vital to marine conservation because it’s the nesting ground for all four species of the Pacific sea turtles.
We made the early-morning trek from Santa Ana to Barra de Santiago, arriving just in time for an 8:30 a.m. release with AMBAS (Women’s Association of Barra de Santiago), a local women-run organization protecting sea turtle eggs and hatchlings.
Currently, Olive Ridley turtles return to these shores to lay their eggs. Unfortunately, many eggs are poached by humans for food, threatening already vulnerable sea turtle populations. Since 2007, AMBAS has been working to protect nests and give these tiny turtles a better chance at survival.
Watching the hatchlings make their tiny dash toward the ocean was both heartwarming and humbling. We also loved being able to support AMBAS’s conservation work through donations. The early wake-up call and car rental? Totally worth it!
Here’s hoping that 40 years from now, these little survivors will return to these same shores to lay their own eggs—and that this beautiful beach will be thriving with sea turtles for generations to come. 💙
🐢 Want to experience it yourself? Contact AMBAS via WhatsApp at +503 6839 4587 to ask about upcoming releases and reservations.
