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 Travel & Outdoors | May 2007 
Helping The Tortoise Win The Race
 Christine Delsol - SF Gate
| | The CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort invites you to come and witness a wonder of nature, while participating in the conservation of endangered marine turtles every year from July through November. | 
| | During the 2005 turtle season, the Marriott's biologist and recreation personnel, with the participation of guests and local school children, contributed to the survival and release of 17,784 newborn tortoises. | 
| | Hatchlings are released at night in order to increase their chance of survival. |
Turtle-loving travelers heading to Puerto Vallarta in the coming months can join the region's Sea Turtle Release Program to help thousands of hatching baby sea turtles survive long enough to reach the sea.
This past month, sea turtles began laying their eggs on beaches as part of a yearly natural phenomenon that lasts through September. Normally the eggs would incubate in the sand, but recreational resort activities now make the beaches dangerous places for baby turtles.
On the Puerto Vallarta coastline — one of the world's most important breeding grounds for endangered species of sea turtles — the Sea Turtle Release Program helps the reptiles complete their breeding cycle. Staff at participating resorts gather eggs each night and take them, still in their nests, to incubators where researchers gather and study data.
Turtle liberation ceremonies are held daily throughout the season at participating hotel beaches. Local eco-tour operators also host night tours to the research camps to see sea turtles laying eggs and hatchlings being released. Open Air Expeditions (vallartawhales.com), best known for whale-watching trips, is one operator that maintains a nesting nursery and research center where small, guided tours are welcome.
By early November, when hatchlings emerge from their eggs, resort guests can join staff in releasing hatchlings at their nesting sites. Traditionally, children name their baby sea turtles, wish them luck and free them to find their way to the water.
Before the Sea Turtle Release Program, only 40 percent of the eggs hatched. Now, 96 percent will hatch, according to Dennis Whitelaw, general manager of the Marriott CasaMagna, which participates in the rescue.
Marriott and Renaissance Resorts have extended their Passport to Paradise promotion through Dec. 15. A $100 resort credit per room, good for spa treatments, meals, water sports and other services, will be granted to guests holding new passports who book a minimum stay of five nights. The new passports must show an entry stamp only from Mexico. Participating properties include CasaMagna Marriott Cancún, JW Marriott Cancún and CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta. Visit the website for more info. |
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