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Outings of the Season - Turtle Watching

 

 

 

GIANT Leather Back Turtles

Turtle Watching 1_2MBOne of the most moving experiences the natural world has to offer is the sight of the giant female leatherback turtle engaging in her timeless ritual of egg-laying. Trinidad is fortunate enough to be among these creatures laying sites. Each year between March and August, these mysterious leviathans of the deep return to the beach where they were born to begin the cycle anew. These turtles, the largest of the marine species, weigh from 700 - 1000 lbs and are 5-8 ft in length and 2 - 3 ft in width. The female digs a deep hole with her back flippers and lays about 80 - 125 soft glutinous eggs into it. Throughout the process she is completely vulnerable to attacks of poachers, dogs, possums etc. which were quite common. The entire laying process takes about 2 hrs. 'Members Only' Maxi Taxi Service is offering a choice of two trips. You can either do a return trip or an overnight trip.

 

Turtle_Watching_2_160KBFor the return trip we take you out to Matura Beach which is located on the eastern side of the island. Matura Beach is a patrolled beach by Nature Seekers Inc. Jesse is also a member of this group. They patrol the beach during the nesting season. They also tag and implant a tracking device on the turtles in order to study and keep count of the amount of turtles, which return here each year. The attacks by poachers on this beach have become non-existent due to the dedication of this group to protecting our leatherback turtles. A government permit is required to go on this beach which we will obtain for you. We will leave Chaguaramas around 5:00pm, it's about a 2 - 2 ½ hour drive to Matura, on the way we will make a stop for a local dinner. We will be taken onto the beach by a guide from Nature Seekers Inc. and we will get to view the entire process as well as take photos when the guide allows us to.

Turtle_Watching_3_160KBFor the overnight trip we will take you to Grand Rivere which is also on the eastern side of the island, this beach is ideal for an overnight trip. It is about a 4 hour drive from Chaguaramas and we will take you to a hotel located on the beach where you will spend the evening and be taken out by the guides to view the laying process. You can take pictures of the turtles at early dawn as Grand Rivere is a small beach and with so many turtles laying close to each other the flash from the cameras during the night is disturbing to the turtles coming onto the beach to nest. We return to Chaguaramas the following day.

 

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Don't miss out on this incredible sight!

 

Please visit us at our office or contact us for more information.

 

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