Ahead of World Turtle Day this Friday, I wanted to share a story idea that feels especially timely given the growing global focus on conservation-led travel and endangered wildlife.
Turtles have survived for 220 million years, outlasting the dinosaurs, multiple ice ages and mass extinctions. Yet today, they face a tipping point. World Turtle Day on 23rd May highlights a sobering reality: an estimated 61% of turtle species are now threatened or already extinct.
Against this backdrop, a remarkable success story is unfolding on the northeast coast of Trinidad. While many habitats are disappearing, Grande Riviere beach is currently witnessing a record-breaking surge in nesting numbers. Thanks to decades of community-led conservation, as many as 400 Leatherback turtles, each weighing up to 600kg, come ashore in a single night, making this the most densely populated Leatherback turtle nesting beach in the world.
It was here that Len Peters and the Grande Riviere Nature Tour Guides Association were featured inBBC’s Blue Planet II.
Still early in the season, this year has seen a record number of turtles with over 4,000 coming ashore to nest in April alone.
At Mt. At Plaisir Estate Hotel, guests don’t just watch from the sidelines; they have a front-row seat to this ancient ritual and can actively participate in turtle preservation.
How visitors are getting involved:
- Night Tours: From March to July, rather than just observing, guests can join expert-led night Tours. Under the supervision of certified guides, they assist with actual data collection used in global marine research as the turtles come ashore each night.
- Hatchling Rescue: In July and August, the focus shifts to the Hatchlings. Visitors help find and protect recently hatched nests to ensure the tiny turtles make it past predators and safely into the ocean.
Since HADCO Experiences purchased the hotel in 2023 they have committed to prioritising turtle conservation and collaborating with Len and his community team. As part of this, the property overlooking this sacred site and the surrounding village has implemented a strict lighting policy during turtles season to prevent disorienting the turtles and guest donations help fund the conservations programs. The 21-room ecolodge is intentionally low-tech; with no TVs or outside noise, the focus is strictly on Mother Nature.
The nesting season is currently at its peak and runs through July, with the hatchlings expected to emerge from June through to September.
