Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Turtle season is back and the most frequent visitor to the Bay of Banderas is the Olive Ridley turtle whose eggs are supposed to heighten sexual powers. This is the good news. Bad news is that they are under federal protection as an endangered species and it is a federal offense to sell and purchase anything related to marine turtles. Don´t even think about it, a couple of Margaritas will do the trick too.

Another interesting fact on who’s hot and who’s not in the Banderas Bay region: If the average temperature of the sand during the 3rd week of incubation is 86 degrees Fahrenheit, half the hatchlings will be female and half will be male. If the temperature rises 2 or more degrees during this period, all the baby tortuguitas will be females. If it falls 2 or more degrees, all the babies will be males.

Annually thousands of these fiery female turtles of varying species: Olive Ridley, the Green Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle and the Loggerhead migrate for their summer beach vacation from oceans up to thousands of miles away to Puerto Vallarta, Punta de Mita and all along the shores of Banderas Bay to lay their eggs.

Using their sensual flippers to dig a nest, the female lays up to 120 eggs, which hatch between 45 and 55 days later. Only about one in a 1,000 baby turtles survives to maturity but due to the Banderas Bay Turtle Protection Program now in it´s 30th year the numbers are improving. In case you need to report anything amiss contact Profepa at (800) 770-3372.

The hatching happens at night and residents and guests in Punta de Mita and the greater Banderas Bay area can have the opportunity to volunteer and help in the release of the newest hatchlings on a regular basis. Stay tuned.