Introducing the kids to Sea Turtles

In Mazunte, we stopped at the Sea Turtle museum.  Of the 8 species of marine turtles, 7 live in Mexican waters.  This museum, which was more like an aquarium gave the kids a great introduction to sea turtles. 

Among the things we learned:

• Sea Turtles can live over 100 years
• When they lay their eggs, they return to the same beach where they were born.
• The temperature of the sand determines the percentage of males versus females that hatch. 
• When the eggs hatch, they look for the reflection of the moon and stars on the ocean to find their way to the water.
• Due to many predators when they are small and other environmental factors they face as they grow, less than 1% make it to full adulthood.

Due to the risks faced by turtles to their wellbeing, a variety of sanctuaries have been established to move turtle nests to safe hatching areas, and hatchlings are supported so that they may have their best shot in life.

 

 

 As turtles are discovered, they are tagged so that they may be tracked over time.  Once they reach adulthood, they have no natural predators other than man.

 

Leaving the museum, the kids had a new appreciation of turtles and an awareness of what they could do to help.

First impressions of the coast

The coastline between the cities of Huatulco and Puerto Escondido is made up of many bays and inlets, divided by rocky outcroppings into the Pacific. 

On this stop, we explored the bay and coastline of San Agustinillo.

 

Spectacular rocks and cliffs dot the coastline and depending on the tide, you can climb the rocks and watch the countless pelicans that frequent them. 

 

 

The beaches in each bay and inlet vary in terms of the type of sand and shells and way that the beach drops off into the ocean.  This one had a more gentle drop off, and the kids started their shell collections.

Some are of the bays are welcoming to beginning swimmers while others require strong swimming skills, and still others are favored by surfers due to the high rolling surf.  Many time, swimming conditions vary based on the tide and weather.

 

While we didn't swim on this stop, the kids had great fun climbing the rocks and watching the waves pound into them, rolling over the rocky outcroppings and creating little waterfalls and other wonderful occurrences.