Twenty minutes south of the Orquidea is El Refugio De Vida Silvestre La Flor, also known simply as Playa Flor. This 3,000-hectare coastal preserve is the cherished site of the arribadas – the “mass arrivals” of olive ridley turtles that emerge from the sea by the thousands to lay their eggs in the sands of its naturally protected, horseshoe-shaped bay. One of only a handful of such arribada sites in the world, it is one of nature’s most spectacular shows to witness these beautiful creatures come ashore hundreds at a time to give life in fascinating synchronization.
More than 100,000 nests are laid each year at Playa Flor. Arribadas take place several times throughout the year, with the heaviest swarms happening in October. Approximately 50 days after a mother lays her nest, the eggs hatch and the baby turtles make their way en masse to the ocean. Numerous conservation efforts are in effect, including the aggregation and coordinated release of hatchlings so that each one has a better chance of survival when released as part of a larger group. Frequently, the government office at the entrance of the refuge has baskets of hatchlings and visitors can perform the incredible feat of releasing baby turtles into the surf at sunset.
Just one beach south of us at Escameca, local nonprofit organization Vital Actions is also working hard to preserve the olive ridley sea turtles. The nonprofit organization manages an egg sanctuary on the beach, which can be viewed on your own, and often offers hatchling releases and educational nature talks.
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