First Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nest of 2026 Found on Cozumel’s Punta Sur Beach

Cozumel, Quintana Roo — The Foundation of Parks and Museums of Cozumel (FPMC) has recorded the first loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nest of the season at the Punta Sur Turtle Camp, officially launching the 2026 Marine Turtle Protection Program.

Rafael Chacón Díaz, director of Conservation and Environmental Education at FPMC, announced that since the beginning of the year, staff have conducted ongoing beach cleanups to ensure that turtles find the best possible conditions for nesting when the season begins.

On Friday night, during one of these cleanup patrols, biologist Ricardo Peralta Muñoz spotted the tracks of the first turtle to arrive on Cozumel’s shores to lay eggs that will hatch into new sea turtles in the coming months.

The discovery represents a moment of hope and environmental commitment, highlighting the importance of protecting coastal ecosystems and strengthening conservation efforts for emblematic species of the Mexican Caribbean.

FPMC General Director Juanita Alonso Marrufo said the institution promotes a vision of sustainable development based on respect for nature, biodiversity protection, and shared responsibility to preserve Cozumel’s natural wealth for current and future generations, in line with the state government’s New Agreement for the Wellbeing and Development of Quintana Roo promoted by Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa.