Save the Turtles Tour in Mexico

Upon arrival at the Zihuatanejo airport, you will be greeted by your local guide and transferred to your hotel to freshen up before going out for some delicious, fresh local Mexican cuisine with your guide.

Your guide will be with you for the duration of your visit and will share with you important local cultural customs as well as safety tips. If you arrive early in the day, you will have time to explore the city at your leisure before embarking on your first eco tour excursion.

This morning you will take a walking tour of this traditional Mexican fishing village. Visit the fresh fish market where fishermen display their catch for sale. They will even clean it for you if you like!

After your morning walking tour, you will board a small ferry boat for the short trip across the bay to Los Gatos beach. Here you make hike one of the many trails, visit the lighthouse, or just relax on the beach while being served drinks and food by one of the local restaurant tiendas.

In the evening, you will have the opportunity to enjoy one of the many beachfront restaurants and fresh Mexican food.

This morning you will head to Park Bio Zihua, whose mission is the conservation and protection of native species. Interact with wildlife, learn about the local ecosystem, and if desired, participate in a local research study of the animals. This park is near Playa La Ropa.

The afternoon is free to explore the village, hop on a bus to one of the local archeological Mayan ruins, or head to another eco-themed park near Playa Blanca. This second park has panoramic observation towers, tropical trails, a butterfly garden, and a variety of fauna including macaws, iguanas, and hummingbirds.

This morning, take a short drive to Ixtapa, only 3 km from Zihua. After a short city tour, you will have the option of swimming with the dolphins, horseback riding on the beach, enjoying a massage on the beach, or paragliding over the ocean.

The afternoon is free to explore the small town, or you may elect to visit a nearby island off Playa Linda for snorkeling in the calm bay waters.

The highlight of the trip, and what you have been waiting for is today. You will drive about 45 minutes west of Ixtapa to an area where the turtles commonly lay their eggs. Depending on the time of year, you may dig up the turtle eggs in new nests to move inland to a protected area until they hatch, or you might have the opportunity to dig up the hatchlings and release them into the ocean (December – February are the best months for releasing). The average incubation period is 65 days.

Your local hosts will also provide you with a light snack and beverage while learning about the local turtle rescue efforts. The area is home to the Green Sea Turtle which nest every two years and weigh between 240 – 420 pounds (110 – 190 kg); the Olive Ridley, a smaller turtle at only 75 to 100 pounds; and the best known Leatherback, which can be 660 – 1,100 pounds when fully grown.

Today is a free day to spend more time in either Zihuatanejo or Ixtapa doing what you want. You may rent a bicycle to explore the many local trails, spend time on the beach, or shop in the local shops for jewelry, clothing, artisan gifts, and fresh markets.

This morning you will be transported to the local airport for your connecting flights home. We hope you have enjoyed your travels through Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa and return soon.