A sea turtle nest is a miracle of life that unfolds right on the sands of Tulum. At Casa Nalum, we have a private beach where gentle waves meet soft sand. Here, our guests can witness sea turtles during nesting season up close—and safely. In this blog, you will learn each step of nesting, why it matters, and how we help protect these ancient reptiles.
Table of Contents
Turtle Nesting Highlights
1. Female Turtles Return to Their Natal Beach
When night falls, a mother turtle uses her strong sense of magnetic fields and smell to find the same beach where she hatched. This is called natal homing. Returning to her natal beach helps her keep the cycle of life going.
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⭐ Nesting Season: May to September along Tulum’s coast
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📍 Location: Mesa and El Palmar shores near Casa Nalum
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🕒 Time: Late at night or early morning to stay safe from the sun
At Casa Nalum, we turn off most lights along our private beach. This low artificial lighting helps prevent hatchling disorientation. Guests can use a red filter flashlight on our guided walks. It is gentle and helps protect turtle eyes.
2. Digging the Body Pit and Egg Chamber
A female turtle clears a spot by scooping away dry sand with her flippers. This hollow is called the body pit. She then digs deeper to make the egg chamber.
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Carapace and plastron rest on the sand while she digs
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Scutes on her shell help move sand out of the way
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False crawl: If she feels unsafe, she may return to sea without nesting
Guests at Casa Nalum learn how to watch quietly from a safe distance. Our turtle patrol volunteers mark nests each night. They use small stakes and tape so hatcheries can protect eggs from marine debris and beach erosion.
3. Laying Eggs and Camouflaging the Nest
Once her egg chamber is ready, the turtle lays her clutch. A clutch size can be 80 to 120 eggs. Each egg is like a ping-pong ball with a soft shell.
⭐ Clutch Size: Up to 200 for some species
💵 Cost: Free to watch with our guides
📞 Contact: +52 999 331 7326 to join a turtle walk at Casa Nalum
After laying eggs, she covers the pit, using her flippers and her plastron to pat the sand. This camouflaging process hides the nest from predators and prevents nest predation by birds or crabs.
4. Incubation and Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination
Once the nest is buried, eggs go through an incubation period of about 45–60 days. The sand’s warmth decides the hatchlings’ gender. This is known as Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination.
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🏖️ Warmer sand: more females
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❄️ Cooler sand: more males
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🔄 Pivotal point: around 29°C for a 50/50 mix
Our villa manager monitors beach temperature and shade. We plant local mangroves to cool certain spots. This can help keep the sex ratio balanced and fight temperature skewing.
5. Hatchling Emergence and the Race to the Sea
Late one night, tiny turtles break out together. This mass event is sometimes called an Arribada when many turtles dig at once—or a turtle boil by local guides. They use the moon’s light on the water to find the pelagic oceanic zone.
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👣 Hatch date: varies by nest, marked by volunteers
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🥚 Egg chamber collapse: helps them climb out
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🚶♂️ Group dash: safety in numbers to avoid local birds and crabs
At Casa Nalum, we host a public hatchling release for guests. Volunteers clear paths and guide hatchlings safely to the sea. We teach the kids why they must not touch the babies. This also supports wildlife management and rescue and rehabilitation when needed.
6. Protecting Nests with Casa Nalum
We are more than a villa; we are a beach guardian. Here is how we help:
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Nest monitoring each dawn and dusk by our team
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Providing free conservation tours for our guests
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Sharing tips on avoiding boat strikes and artificial lighting
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Email updates on hatch dates and local turtle news
Our guests can learn about threats like longline fisheries, marine debris, and coastal armoring that harm turtles worldwide. We join clean-up events and support beach nourishment to keep sands healthy.
Tips & Tricks
At Casa Nalum, we have insider tips to make your turtle experience safe and fun:
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Use a red filter flashlight for night walks
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Keep a low profile: talk softly, walk slowly
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Wear dark clothes to stay hidden from nesting turtles
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Avoid flashing lights on cameras to prevent disturbance
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Book a turtle patrol walk early: we limit group size for safety
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Stay on marked paths to protect coral reefs, seagrass beds, and nearshore hardbottom habitats
Link to our Eco Tourism Guide for more ways to help sea turtles.
A Final Word
Turtle nesting on Tulum’s beach is a true miracle of life. At Casa Nalum, our private pool and beachfront setting give you the best base to enjoy this wonder. You can relax by our pool, then join a nighttime turtle patrol on our beach. Every nest you help protect is a step toward a brighter future for these ancient creatures.
Ready to see a sea turtle nest in action? Book your stay at Casa Nalum and join our team in caring for this amazing place: https://casanalum.com
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where do most sea turtles nest?
Most female sea turtles return to their natal beach—the same beach where they were born—to lay eggs. They use a mix of smell, moonlight, and magnetic fields to find their way home.
Do sea turtles nest in Tulum?
Yes, sea turtles nest in Tulum from May to September. In Sian Ka’an biosphere reserve nests are protected with mesh and guided patrols. At Casa Nalum, we also welcome guests on safe nesting walks.
What if I see a sea turtle laying eggs?
Stay back and keep quiet. Do not touch or shine lights at the turtle. Watch from a distance until she finishes, then let her return to the sea.
Do all sea turtle eggs hatch?
No. Undisturbed nests can have more than 90% of eggs hatch. Disturbed nests often have under 25% success. Protecting nests from predators, debris, and coastal armoring helps improve hatch rates.
How long does it take for a sea turtle egg to hatch?
Eggs usually hatch after about 45–60 days, depending on the local sand temperature during the incubation period. Cooler nests can take longer, up to 70 days.
What should I do if I find a nest on the beach?
Do not touch it. Report it to local turtle patrols or the Casa Nalum team. We will mark, protect, and monitor it until the hatchlings emerge.
Enjoy your stay and happy turtle watching!
