A peaceful underwater encounter with a sea turtle is an unforgettable experience. Although a threatened species, these prehistoric armoured mammals can often be spotted in the waters around Curaçao. Which turtle species live here? Where do they swim? When do they come to shore to lay their eggs on the beach? And where is the best spot to observe the hatching of a turtle nest and watch the tiny baby turtles crawl to the ocean?
Of the 7 species of turtle that live in the oceans around the world, 5 of them can be found in the waters around Curaçao. The unfortunately named ‘soup’ turtle (green turtle) is an endangered species and may no longer be eaten. This also applies to the loggerhead turtle. The hawksbill turtle and the leatherback turtle are on the brink of extinction. The leatherback turtle prefers deeper waters and is rarely spotted, but the other 3 species can be seen while scuba diving or snorkelling.
“When the eggs hatch, dozens of baby turtles scramble across the beach to reach the ocean”