Release of Baby Turtles on Cañas Island

The release of baby turtles on Cañas Island offers an opportunity to take part in setting these hatchlings free. It is advisable to arrive at the port of Cañas between 5:00 and 5:10 a.m. to travel to the island while it is still dark. Upon arrival, visitors will proceed to the hatchery, where staff will check which nests have hatched. Park rangers will gather the turtles while a guide shares details about the process. As dawn breaks, participants will move to the beach to observe the turtles making their way to the water. Witnessing newborn turtles emerge from their eggs and begin their journey towards the Pacific Ocean is a memorable experience, which is available from September through mid January.

Each year, nearly 35,000 sea turtles nest on Cañas Island. The beach, which was originally 13 kilometers long, was divided into two sections after an earthquake in October 2026. Currently, only 2 kilometers are protected by park rangers, who collect eggs for the hatchery, while the remaining nests are left on the beach to develop naturally. With some luck, it may be possible to see a mother turtle coming ashore to lay her eggs at dawn. Approximately 600,000 eggs are laid on the beaches of Cañas Island, with the main species being the olive ridley, hawksbill, loggerhead, black turtle, and green turtle.

Cañas Island ranks among the eleven most significant sea turtle nesting sites globally. These beaches experience events called “arribadas,” where numerous turtles arrive simultaneously to lay their eggs. In Panama, there are two such locations, with the other being La Marinera, also found in the Tonosi district of Los Santos province. Tours are available to observe the turtles laying eggs at night on Cañas Island from July 1st to December 15th.