Articles with the theme sea turtle

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)

Sea Turtle Preservation in the Yucatan Peninsula

In a region like Mexico where vast areas of pristine nature still exist, the effects of pollution, poaching, and human encroachment are hard to ignore. A recent example of environmental contamination is the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, resulting in the devastation of local sea turtles and marine life near the Gulf Coast states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, USA.

Fortunately, this threat has not extended to the Caribbean Sea or to sea turtles and other marine life in the Yucatan Peninsula, and is not expected to do so. (Concerns about oil reaching the Yucatan Peninsula, where Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and the Riviera Maya are located, are being investigated by local authorities, and proactive measures are being considered for future implementation if necessary.)

Sea Turtle Preservation

Recent environmental crises have heightened public awareness of nature conservation, but endangered sea turtles have been protected by federal law in Mexico since 1990. Sea turtle preservation in this part of the world is supported by various government and private organizations, individuals, and volunteers with a passion for preserving nature’s ecosystems.

Three endangered species of sea turtles commonly found in the Yucatan Peninsula are the loggerhead, hawksbill, and green sea turtles (less commonly, the Kemp’s Ridley and leatherback sea turtles). Hard to imagine, but these timid, massive creatures float effortlessly in water, yet are slow and awkward on land, where they must spawn their young and are most vulnerable to poachers who hunt for their meat, shells, and eggs.

Importance of Nature Reserves

Nature conservation is essential for maintaining the ecosystems that provide mankind with food, clean water, and fuel. Look at one example of the negative chain reaction that environmental climate change can have on nature:

Sea turtles need beaches and dunes to nest and lay their eggs. Since sand does not absorb nutrients well, the unhatched eggs and hatched egg shells provide nutrients to dune vegetation for improved plant growth. Stronger plants have larger roots, which hold the sand in place and prevent erosion (especially important for Cancun’s newly restored beaches — an $80 million government investment).

Sea Turtle Sanctuaries

There are several sea turtle preserves and protected nesting sites throughout the Yucatan Peninsula, three of which are near Cancun and accessible to tourists. Sea turtle sanctuaries allow travelers to learn about sea turtles while simultaneously protecting them.

May through September is sea turtle nesting season, where they can be observed safely at:

Isla Mujeres

The Tortugranja (turtle farm) on the island of Isla Mujeres is just a 30-minute ferry ride offshore from Cancun’s port. The turtle farm not only shelters nesting turtles but also captures them at sea, temporarily protecting them while mating. It has rescued up to six species of sea turtles, turtle eggs, and hatchlings, and has invited travelers to watch their release into the sea at maturation. Want more information? Send an email.

Open daily 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the Isla Mujeres Turtle Farm offers a one-hour tour about sea turtle behavior. Located at the southernmost end of the island at Carretera Sac Bajo #5, it is best reached by taxi.

Akumal Bay

Akumal Bay is a small but delightful, oceanfront town with a Sea Turtle Sanctuary and is only about 30 minutes south of Cancun and Playa del Carmen. The sanctuary offers a 50-minute sea turtle snorkeling tour along the coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea where tourists can swim with the loggerhead turtles in their natural habitat. The Centro Ecológico Akumal offers the opportunity to adopt a sea turtle.

After the snorkeling tour, a buffet lunch and open bar are provided on Akumal’s long, white sand beaches for a two-hour break. The tour begins with either a ferry ride from Cozumel at 9:30 a.m. or a meetup at Señor Frog’s in Playa del Carmen at 10:30 a.m.

Xcaret

Xcaret eco park sets up sea turtle shelters during nesting season while representatives search large stretches of coastline for turtle eggs and hatchlings, bringing them to the shelter. When the eggs hatch, they become part of the park’s Aquarium Conservation Program where they can mature safely.

After a year, the young turtles became part of Xcaret’s Environmental Education Program where tourists can observe them and learn about sea turtle behavior and preservation. Travelers are then invited to witness their release into the sea. Seasonal eco tours are offered at Xcaret’s turtle shelters.

Sea turtles are an important part of the ecosystem that mankind relies on for survival. When nature suffers, all aspects of life do. Sea turtles have existed for about 150 million years and can teach us what is needed for a healthy environment by learning about their extended survival. When traveling to the Yucatan Peninsula, consider discovering how these incredible creatures are being saved from extinction.

 

_____________________

Christina Famiglietti is a professional writer and editor with experience in various industries. Her most recent passion is the Mexican Caribbean, where she lives and is inspired to write about her beloved Mexico — its nature, culture, travel, and tourism.