Celebrate World Turtle Day with These Travel Adventures

Happy World Turtle Day!

Every year World Turtle Day shines a light on this season’s oceanfront stars, sea turtles, as they come to beaches all over the world to nest from mid-May to late-August. A variety of hotels and cruises are doing their part to celebrate and protect turtles and their nesting grounds, whether it’s racing tortoises in the Galapagos or sipping a fresh Tipsy Turtle cocktail in Fort Lauderdale. Take a look at some of these deals and features.

Colony Club, Barbados
SUP dude? For an unforgettable animal encounter, guests will love Colony Club’s stand-up paddle board (SUP) and turtle swim excursion. Starting out on the white, warm sands of Barbados’ renowned beach, travelers will paddle out to The Lone Star Restaurant, one of the local,turtle hangouts, and dive into the crystal blue waters to get up-close-and-personal with the island’s friendliest marine animals – the once-endangered population of hawksbill and leatherback turtles.

The Resort at Longboat Key Club & Lido Beach Resort, Sarasota, FL
Just minutes away from The Resort at Longboat Key Club and Lido Beach Resort, Sarasota’s Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium has treated and released more than 100 sea turtles at their rehabilitation center and monitors more than 35 miles of Longboat Key’s nesting beaches. Back at the resorts, kids will love spending a day at Camp Loggerhead and embarking on the Children’s Beach Walk & Turtle Talk. They’ll learn about some of the ocean’s longest-living creatures and even get to take home their own plush turtle toy.

Ecoventura, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Come face-to-face with sea turtles aboard Ecoventura’s fleet of sustainable mega-yachts. Daily excursions on two, unique, seven-night itineraries are lead by certified naturalist guides, allowing guests to stroll inches from iconic giant Galapagos tortoises and join sea turtles for an afternoon snorkel frequently throughout the cruise.

Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa, Fort Lauderdale, FL
The Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa’s 16-acre private beach is a safe haven for nesting turtles in season and many precautions are taken to preserve their nests. In fact, one dollar of the property’s signature cocktail, the “Tipsy Turtle,” made of blueberry vodka, pineapple juice, blue Curaçao and Parrot Bay Key Lime Rum, benefits the National Save the Sea Turtle Foundation.

CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort & JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa, Cancun, Mexico
The CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort and JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa‘s Sea Turtle Protection program saves an average of 3,000 endangered baby turtles each year. From June through September, marine biologists guide the staff in preparing and caring for nesting areas on the beach. Guests at the resorts are invited to participate in the release of the baby turtles, and can do so by calling concierge to find out ifturtles will be released on a given night.

Turtle Beach, Barbados
Like the turtles that nest on the 1,500 foot stretch of white sand it sits upon, the all-inclusive Turtle Beach resort protects its favorite animals by muting its beachfront lighting and by partnering with the Barbados Sea Turtle Project to help facilitate the birthing process. The TurtleBeach staff also participates in regular coastal clean ups to protect the turtles‘ habitat, while their elite team of Turtle Pioneers teach guests about island conservation efforts.