Sea turtles have roamed the planet’s oceans for more than 150 million years: they swam alongside the dinosaurs and are still here, almost unchanged, like true travelers through time. And few places in the world are as important to them as Baja California Sur, where the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez create an exceptional refuge.
Of the seven sea turtle species that exist in the world, five live in the waters of Baja California Sur. Some come to nest on its beaches; others cross entire oceans just to feed here. They are part of the extraordinary marine wildlife of Baja California Sur, and this is a guide to getting to know them and understanding why they deserve our full protection.
Five of the world’s seven species
These are the sea turtles you can find in Baja California Sur, each with its own story:
- Olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea). The most abundant in the region and the one that nests most regularly on the state’s beaches.
- Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). The largest in the world: it can grow to more than two meters long. It is critically endangered and nests in the south of the peninsula.
- East Pacific green turtle, or “black turtle” (Chelonia mydas agassizii). An herbivore, it feeds mainly on seagrass and algae; it nests occasionally in the area.
- Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). With its unmistakable shell, it feeds on reefs and rocky bottoms, where it hunts for sponges.
- Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta). It visits the waters of BCS to feed and is the star of one of the most astonishing migrations on the planet (more on this in a moment).
Those that nest and those that only feed
Not all turtles use Baja California Sur in the same way:
- They nest on its beaches, above all the olive ridley, the leatherback, and the black turtle. The olive ridley does so regularly; the other two, less frequently.
- They feed in its waters, mainly the hawksbill and the loggerhead, which find a rich pantry here thanks to the enormous productivity of these seas.
This dual role, as both nursery and feeding ground, makes the region a key point for the survival of these species across the entire Pacific.
An astonishing trans-Pacific journey: the loggerhead
If there is one story that captures the importance of Baja California Sur for turtles, it is that of the loggerhead. In the early 1990s, scientists confirmed something extraordinary: many of the loggerheads that feed off the coast of Baja are born on the other side of the ocean, in Japan.
While still young, these turtles cross the entire Pacific, thousands of kilometers, to fatten up in the rich waters of the peninsula, especially around Magdalena Bay and the Gulf of Ulloa. Years later, they return to Japan to lay their eggs. It is one of the longest journeys in the animal kingdom, and it happens, in large part, thanks to this corner of Mexico.
Protected species, threatened species
All seven of the world’s sea turtle species are threatened, and in Mexico they are all under a total, permanent ban since 1990: it is forbidden to capture or harm them, or to trade in them or their eggs.
Even so, they still face serious dangers:
- Bycatch: getting trapped in nets and hooks meant for other species.
- Egg poaching on nesting beaches.
- Coastal development and artificial lighting, which disorients hatchlings as they search for the sea.
- Pollution, especially plastic, which they mistake for food.
The leatherback and the loggerhead, in fact, are listed as critically endangered, which makes every conservation effort urgent.
How they are protected in Baja California Sur
The good news is that Baja California Sur is also a land of conservation. Protected areas such as Cabo Pulmo National Park and the El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve safeguard essential habitats. Along the coasts, turtle camps and community collectives work to protect nests, release hatchlings, and educate new generations.
In all of this, responsible tourism plays a key role: when caring for wildlife becomes a way of life for local communities, nature gains a permanent ally.
One sea to protect
Sea turtles share these waters with gray whales, sea lions, dolphins, and a countless variety of species that make Baja California Sur a true natural sanctuary. To protect some is, ultimately, to protect them all.
At Kuyimá, they have spent more than three decades living out that commitment on the shores of San Ignacio Lagoon, within the same reserve that shelters much of this marine life. Their local guides welcome travelers with respect for every creature that inhabits these waters and share, on every outing, the value of protecting them.
That is why they invite everyone who wishes to draw closer to this world to join a gray whale watching tour in San Ignacio Lagoon and discover, up close, why one of the last wild refuges of the Pacific is worth protecting.
