Cañas Island is one of only 11 locations globally where olive ridley sea turtles engage in mass nesting. The Turtle Night Tour in Isla Cañas begins on the mainland, where participants board a boat that navigates through mangrove channels to reach the island. This journey is only feasible during high tide; otherwise, a walk along the pier may be necessary to reach the shore. The departure point for Isla Cañas is approximately 20 minutes from Playa Venao, with transportation available as needed.
Participants will have dinner at a family home that also serves as a small restaurant. The guide provides information about the turtles using posters displayed on the walls. After dinner, attendees will travel to the beach in a horse-drawn carriage or, on occasion, in a pickup truck. Depending on the tour’s start time, this transfer may coincide with sunset, allowing for a scenic view during the boat ride or upon arrival at the beach. The tour continues at government facilities where the turtle hatcheries are located, followed by a walk along the beach to search for nesting turtles.
Isla Cañas was designated a wildlife refuge on June 29, 1994. Located off the Pacific coast of Panama, the island covers an area of 832 hectares. The protected region spans 254.3 km² and lies between the Tonosí and Cañas rivers. It features a 13-kilometer stretch of gray-sand beach that serves as a nesting site for turtles. Following an earthquake in October 2026, the island is now divided into two sections.
Annually, over 10,000 turtles nest in this area, marking it as one of only two locations in Panama for mass nesting events, known as an “arribada,” with the other site being La Marinera in Tonosí. If fortunate, participants may witness this phenomenon, which occurs only on a few nights each year. Most nesting turtles are olive ridleys, the smallest of the sea turtle species, although hawksbill, loggerhead, leatherback, and green turtles also nest on Isla Cañas. These turtles lay over 600,000 eggs; half are kept in the hatchery, while the other half remain on the beach. A sunrise excursion is also available for those interested in observing the release of baby turtles on Cañas Island.
Turtle Nesting Tour on Isla Cañas
Cañas Island is one of 11 global locations for olive ridley sea turtles’ mass nesting, with a notable Turtle Nesting Tour on Cañas Island that begins on the mainland and includes a boat journey to the island. Participants enjoy dinner at a local family’s restaurant, followed by a scenic transfer to the beach. The island, designated a wildlife refuge in 1994, spans 832 hectares along Panama’s Pacific coast, featuring a 13-kilometer gray-sand beach that hosts over 10,000 nesting turtles annually. This site experiences “arribada” events, offering a unique opportunity to witness the nesting phenomenon. In addition to olive ridleys, other turtle species also nest here, and a sunrise excursion allows guests to see baby turtles released into the wild.
Trip Highlights
- Cañas Island is one of only 11 locations globally where olive ridley sea turtles engage in mass nesting.
- Over 10,000 turtles come to nest in this island every year.
- Expert local guides who will take you to patrol the beach and teach you about the turtles.
