LR
Travel Report
Saving Sea Turtles
S
ummer is sea turtle nesting time in the tropics, but, unfortunately, so many perils face newborn sea turtles that it’s estimated that only 1 in 1,000 will make it to maturity! However, many deluxe resorts have stepped up with sea turtle saving initiatives where guests can also participate. In Florida, the Sandpearl Resort on Clearwater Beach, St. Petersburg, works with the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (home of “Winter” the dolphin) to educate guests and alert them to sea turtle releases on the property. Jupiter Beach Resort in Palm Beach County works with the Loggerhead Marinelife Center to arrange turtle walks for guests and sells plush turtles with portions of the proceeds going to the centre. Lido Beach Resort and The Resort at Longboat Key, both in Sarasota, work with Mote Marine Aquarium to help guests learn about the rehabilitation and monitoring programs and to join in scheduled turtle walks. And one dollar of every “Tipsy Turtle” cocktail sold at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Beach Resort goes directly to The National Save the Sea Turtle Foundation.
©Jason Feinberg, www.theplacetob.com
One Resort at a Time
In Mexico, sister resorts CasaMagna Marriott and JW Marriott Cancun save an average of 3,000 endangered baby turtles annually, and guests are invited to release babies that have been hatched from their protected nurseries out to the sea. The following AM Resorts in Mexico also work with nature organizations and guests to help protect eggs and/or release hatchlings: Dreams in Cancun, Tulum, and Puerto Vallarta; Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita in Riviera Maya; Zoëtry Casa del Mar in Los Cabos; and Sunscape Dorado Pacifico in Ixtapa. In the Caribbean, Rosalie Bay Resort in Dominica is a sea turtle haven where guests can partake of releases on their unique black sand beach. And Aruba’s Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort teams up with sea turtle saviour group Turtagaruba to cordon off nests, educate guests and alert them to nestings and hatchings. Palm Island Resort in the Grenadines and Galley Bay Resort in Antigua also have similar alerting programs, where guests will be called to come and witness something very special. To find out more ways to help endangered sea turtles, visit www.widecast.org . SUSAN CAMPBELL
-- LuxuryReportMagazine.com