Cancún Gears Up for Sea Turtle Nesting Season With Expanded Protection Efforts

Cancún, Quintana Roo — The 2026 sea turtle nesting season officially began in Cancún this month, with authorities, hotels and environmental staff preparing to protect thousands of nests along the beaches of Benito Juárez.

Fernando Haro Salinas, director general of Ecology for the Benito Juárez municipal government, said coordination is underway with 51 hotels participating in the sea turtle protection program. Hotels are already installing protective corrals and marking off beachfront areas to safeguard nests throughout the season, which runs from May to December.

In parallel, the municipality will place four protective corrals on public beaches and has completed training for hotel and maintenance personnel who will monitor the arrival and egg-laying of the turtles.

“We are fully prepared and have completed 100 percent of the training for the staff who will be on duty throughout this season for the arrival and nesting of the turtles,” Haro said.

Three main species nest on Cancún’s shores: the green sea turtle, the loggerhead and the hawksbill. Leatherback turtles may also appear, though less frequently.

Last season, 54 protective corrals safeguarded more than 1.2 million eggs, leading to the release of over 1.13 million hatchlings into the sea. However, Haro noted that last year was biologically considered a low-nesting season, raising expectations for a significant increase in turtle arrivals in 2026.

Haro urged residents and tourists to respect protected areas, avoid using lights on beaches at night, and report any sightings to environmental personnel to help conserve these marine species.