Hawksbill Sea Turtle Nesting — Mona Island

About this spectacle

Mona Island, a remote and largely uninhabited island off Puerto Rico's west coast, hosts one of the Caribbean's most significant hawksbill sea turtle nesting beaches. Under the cover of darkness, female hawksbills haul themselves above the tide line to excavate nests and deposit clutches of eggs in the sandy shores. Visitors who make the journey — requiring a boat crossing and permit — may witness these ancient reptiles performing a ritual unchanged for millions of years. The island's near-complete isolation means bioluminescent waters, undisturbed forest, and an almost total absence of artificial light heighten the night-time encounter. Later in the season, hatchlings erupt from the sand and race toward the sea in a frantic, poignant scramble. The experience is raw and intimate: no infrastructure, no crowds, just the sound of waves and the sight of one of the ocean's most endangered creatures fulfilling its life cycle.

When to go

Apr — Oct, peak Jun — Aug

Getting there

Nearest airport: MAZ. Nearest city: Mayagüez.

Booking options

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