We are happy to report that Royal Resorts has welcomed the first turtles of the season. To date 14 turtles, 12 green and two hawksbill turtles, have come ashore to nest and 1,747 eggs are now under guard in the corrals at The Royal Sands and The Royal Caribbean. The number is expected to rise considerably in the coming weeks.

Throughout the summer and into the fall the dedicated Royal Resorts security staff will be patrolling the beaches every night on the lookout for more nesting turtles.

It takes between 45 and 60 days for the eggs to hatch so that means that we should be welcoming the first babies of the season sometime during August.

Grand Residences Riviera Cancun, the latest luxury property developed by Royal Resorts has also reported its first nest today, June 25. Scroll down for more information.

Follow the Turtle Rules

Sea turtles are protected by Mexican law and the rules for handling the adults, fragile eggs and hatchlings are now stricter than ever. If you see a nesting turtle on the beach, please watch from a distance, keep quiet and follow the instructions given by the security guards. Flash photography is prohibited and the only torches permitted are those with a special red bulb.

If you are staying in a beachfront villa, please turn the terrace lights off and draw the curtains. Bright lights disorientate sea turtles.

Help us keep the beaches and sea clean, plastic bags, fishing lines and nets, ring pulls and other garbage are lethal for turtles, birds and other marine creatures.

Always use environmentally friendly sun blocks and bug sprays and shower before going into the sea. Wear a white t-shirt as protection against the sun’s rays when you go snorkeling instead of using sun products that contain chemicals that are harmful to corals and marine life such as sea turtles.

Sea Turtle Releases

If you are going to be staying at Royal Resorts during the summer and fall, you may have the opportunity to watch the tiny turtle hatchlings being set free. Ask at the Front Desk for information, as the Security team will notify staff when the eggs begin to hatch.

During a turtle release, please follow the instructions issued by the security guards and activity staff. Make sure that your nails are short and that you wash your hands before and after the event. Cigarette smoke and traces of sun tan oil, soap, hand lotion, insect repellent and any other chemical that you may have on your skin are harmful to the babies. Be very careful when releasing the baby turtles, always supervise children and remember, no flash photography.

The thrill and emotion of seeing a nesting sea turtle and participating in a turtle release, watching as these precious creatures scuttle towards the waves and wishing them Godspeed as they begin life at sea is an unforgettable experience.

Grand Residences Joins the Campaign to Protect the Sea Turtles

Opened on December 7, 2013, Grand Residences Riviera Cancun is participating in the turtle protection campaign for the first time and it welcomed its first turtle of the season on June 25. The green turtle eggs were transferred to the new corral and the nest was labeled with the date, time, species, size and number of eggs.

Biologists and volunteers patrolled the gently sloping beach just to the south of Puerto Morelos in previous years, but nests were recorded and left in situ. Between 70 and 80 turtles nested on the beach in 2013. With a formal protection program, this number is expected to rise. The Grand Residences corral is the first such enclosure on the beach and will protect the eggs from predators such as crabs, birds, raccoons and dogs, and from the waves.

Pick up a Save the Sea Turtle T-shirt & Support Conservation

You can help protect the sea turtle and the environment by purchasing a souvenir sea turtle t-shirt or cap from the Royal Resorts Gift Shop at The Royal Sands, The Royal Caribbean and in the resort store at The Royal Haciendas. They are available in a variety of designs and sizes and a percentage of the sales proceeds will be donated to the Royal Resorts Foundation’s conservation causes.

Stay posted for more turtle updates