Playa Aventuras DIF Records Historic Sea Turtle Nesting Season

Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo — More than 2,600 sea turtle nests were documented at Playa Aventuras DIF through the end of August, making 2026 the most active nesting season recorded along this section of the Mexican Caribbean coast, according to Fundación Eco-Bahía.

The organization’s Sea Turtle Protection and Conservation Program registered 2,637 nests and released 32,478 hatchlings into the sea. Because nesting activity continues, both totals could increase before the season ends.

Playa Aventuras DIF encompasses approximately two kilometers of coastline in Quintana Roo. It is recognized nationally as an important nesting site for loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), while green turtles (Chelonia mydas), also locally known as white turtles, use the beach as well.

Of the nests documented through August, 761 belonged to loggerhead turtles and 1,876 to green turtles. The hatchlings released so far include 21,115 loggerheads and 11,363 green turtles.

“The results we are observing this season are extraordinarily relevant to our conservation work,” said Luis Verdín, director of Fundación Eco-Bahía México. “Reaching the highest number of nests historically recorded at Playa Aventuras DIF also represents an enormous responsibility. Behind every nest is constant work involving monitoring, protection and collaboration.”

Verdín said the foundation remains committed to maintaining conditions that allow sea turtles to complete one of the most important stages of their life cycle along the protected coastline.

Monitoring reaches 95% of arriving turtles

Eco-Bahía said its field team observed approximately 95% of the turtles that reached Playa Aventuras DIF during the season, improving its ability to document nesting activity and monitor the animals.

The work includes daytime monitoring as well as nighttime patrols to locate nesting turtles and protect their nests. Five field technicians have participated in the conservation program. Environmental engineering students from the Autonomous University of Chiapas, or UNACH, also joined the team during June and July as part of their professional training.

Their work included direct participation in monitoring, nest protection and other conservation activities.

Record number of turtles marked

The 2026 season has also produced new information about the reproductive population using Playa Aventuras DIF.

As part of a tagging program operated in this area by the Association Flora, Fauna and Culture of Mexico, researchers applied 340 Monel steel tags. Eco-Bahía said that is the highest number recorded during a single nesting season at Playa Aventuras DIF.

Among the turtles marked, 270 were identified as possible neophytes, meaning they appeared to be females nesting for the first time.

The information can help conservation teams track individual turtles and improve their understanding of the reproductive population returning to this section of the Caribbean coast.

More than 800 people receive conservation guidance

Protecting nesting turtles also requires the cooperation of people who work or spend time near the beach.

During the season, Eco-Bahía provided awareness talks and guidance on responsible practices to more than 800 people. Participants included sargassum-removal workers, ZOFEMAT personnel and public security officers.

The program combines scientific monitoring, field protection, public education and professional training, bringing together technicians, students, authorities and people working along the coast.

With the nesting season still underway, Eco-Bahía said the 2,637 documented nests, 32,478 released hatchlings, 95% observation coverage and record 340 tags have already made 2026 an especially significant year for sea turtle conservation at Playa Aventuras DIF.

The foundation is inviting the public to support its environmental and marine conservation work through donations at eco-bahia.com/colabora.