Seasonal· Isla Bastimentos· Other Caribbean

Sea Turtle Nesting Season (Bocas)

9° 17.0′ N · 82° 8.4′ W · approximate

From February to November leatherback, hawksbill and green turtles haul out on Bocas beaches — Bluff, Playa Larga on Bastimentos, the Zapatillas and Escudo de Veraguas.

Belize Barrier Reef

Practical

Coordinate is the marine park (Wikipedia). Leatherbacks mid-February–July, best in May; hawksbills more likely in July–August (over 1,500 nests a year in Bocas); greens May–November (Visit Panama). Zapatilla hawksbill nesting March–September; Bluff Beach guided night walks April–August with ANABOCA; Playa Larga is the park's main nesting beach (Visit Panama; Wikipedia). Never shine lights on turtles or block their path; no take of turtles or eggs (Wikipedia; Visit Panama). Anchored boats near nesting beaches should keep deck lights low.

Best for

Night turtle walks

Season

Feb–Nov; peaks May (leatherback) and Jul–Aug (hawksbill)

Nearby