Articles with the theme cancun sea turtle preservation

Name the Sea Turtle | Yucatan Holidays Contest

Have you ever imagined that a sea turtle can literally give you the opportunity to enjoy one of the most beautiful vacation spots in the World? Well, it is true!

At Yucatan Holidays, we care about the environment and we love protecting the different plant and animal species that live in our region. Each year, from May through September, hundreds of sea turtles visit the pristine beaches of Cancun and the Riviera Maya to lay thousands of eggs. Each turtle lays between 100 to 200 eggs!

Time has passed and now, the little turtles are hatching. This is why TODAY we launch the “Name the Sea Turtle” Contest! This is what you have to do:

STEP 1. Take a look at the baby sea turtle photos below. Pick a name for the turtle and think why you picked that name.

STEP 2. Write in the comments area below the name you chose for the little turtle and the reason or the story of that name in a couple of lines.

STEP 3. Invite your friends to visit and LIKE the Yucatan Holidays Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/YucatanHolidays

STEP 4. You have ONE WEEK to send the name for the baby turtle and the story! (only ONE name per person) On Wednesday, September 1st at 6PM (CST) the first phase of the contest will be over!

STEP 5. On Friday, September 3rd at 12PM (CST), we will post the 10 best names (picked by the jury) on our Facebook Page. Once published, you’ll have to tell your family, your friends, the friends of your friends and everyone else to LIKE the name you chose!  Remember: To vote, they have to LIKE the Yucatan Holidays Facebook page first!

STEP 6. Last day to LIKE (vote) is Friday, September 10th at 12PM (CST). On that same day, the winners will be announced!

__________________________________________

THE PRIZES

Your favorite part. This contest will have 3 winners.
1st Place: 5-day / 4-night stay in Cancun* + 2 Dolphin Encounter adult tickets (Take a look at the Dolphin Swim gallery )

2nd Place: 5-day / 4-night stay in Cancun* + Lobster Dinner Cruise (Take a look at the Lobster Dinner gallery)

3rd Place: 5-day / 4-night stay in Cancun*

Yucatan Holidays, Dolphin Discovery and Columbus Lobster Dinner Cruise want you to enjoy an unforgettable vacation in Cancun! So start thinking, pick your name, and tell your friends to vote!

__________________________________________

THE SOON-TO-BE-NAMED BABY TURTLE

Baby turtle says: “You give me a good name, and I’ll help you win!!”

* 5 days / 4 nights of hotel accommodation in Cancun (not all inclusive accommodation) for 2 adults and up to 2 kids (less than 12 years old). You’ll be able to choose between two of our Cancun hotels: Ocean Spa Hotel &  Laguna Suites Golf + Spa

- Airport – hotel transportation.
- The chance to upgrade your prize to all inclusive or to our luxury Hacienda Tres Rios Resort at a discounted rate.
- Vacation prize is valid for 18 months and has no date restrictions.
- Taxes and activation fee are not included ($169 USD)

Baby Sea Turtles Go Wild in Cancun

It is that time of the year again in Cancun and the Riviera Maya, sea turtles hatch from their eggs and waddle rapidly out of their sandy nests and into the water. A small group of us writers, photographers and turtle lovers were lucky enough to witness it first hand.

Upon arrival, we all thought that we were simply going to release previously hatched turtles, pat them on their tiny shells and wish them luck. We were wrong. Within a blocked off area, designated solely to turtle nests in Cancun’s hotel zone, hundreds more of them were born right before our eyes. We were simply standing nearby observing the nest and throwing around some sea turtle fun facts when a bunch of these adorable little creatures made their rapid escape from the sandy earth. It was like a turtle fountain! They just kept coming and coming and coming until we had two larges boxes full of them almost ready to release.

Some of the sea turtles were not quite ready to be set free. Just newly hatched, warm and sandy, their tiny umbilical cords were still exposed which made them very vulnerable to predators. So those little squirts are waiting it out a night before they are sent to sea. If you are already in the Mexico Caribbean for the turtle hatching season or will be next year, here are some important things to remember while observing them.

· If you are lucky enough to witness a female sea turtle lay eggs, keep your distance and do not take photos with flash.

· When the baby sea turtles hatch, keep quite, don’t use light and simply observe.

· Only handle sea turtles with the proper authorization. Never try it on your own. They are simply too vulnerable of a species.

· Do not release them directly into the water. Let them find their way. If they waddle in the wrong direction, simply turn them around.

 

_________________________

About the Author

Kristin McCollum is a travel writer that has spent the past year traveling and working throughout Europe and Mexico. Now settled on the Yucatan Peninsula, she finds inspiration in every person she meets and in the natural beauty which surrounds her. Follow Kristin onTwitter.