Playa del Carmen Records Over 2,000 Sea Turtle Nests in 2026 Season

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Authorities have recorded more than 2,000 nests of loggerhead, green and hawksbill sea turtles in Playa del Carmen during the 2026 nesting season, with 91,859 eggs and 22,431 hatchlings counted so far, the city council reported.

The figures were presented during the first session of the Committee for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles, which brought together representatives from government, the hotel sector and civil organizations to review progress of the 2026 Marine Turtle Protection and Conservation Program.

Yamilli Colli Cach, deputy director of environmental education and outreach, said 1,200 of the nests are located in the area directly monitored by the city council, while the remainder are managed by private companies and civil organizations.

Of the total, 434 nests belong to loggerhead turtles, accounting for 22,505 eggs and 10,167 hatchlings. Green turtles account for 1,548 nests, with 65,603 eggs and 11,592 hatchlings, while 18 hawksbill nests contain 3,751 eggs and 672 hatchlings.

Environmental education efforts

As part of the season’s education and outreach activities, 2,070 people have received training on sea turtle protection and conservation, and 2,095 people have taken part in awareness events, including environmental fairs, workshops and activities such as “Paint Your Turtle.”

In addition, 283 volunteers have joined beach cleanup efforts.

Colli Cach said preventive measures also target hotels and residents in coastal areas, particularly during the nesting period from May to October. Before each season, the city council sends notices to beachfront hotels asking them to remove lounge chairs from nesting zones, regulate lighting and keep vehicles off the beaches.

Officials also stay in contact with residents near the shoreline to encourage them to turn off lights that could disturb nesting turtles or disorient hatchlings as they make their way to the sea.

The city council said the protection of sea turtles depends on coordinated participation from authorities, the hotel industry, civil organizations, volunteers and the public, and pledged to continue conservation and environmental education efforts for the rest of the 2026 season.