Date of publication 31/01/2024
Everything you need to know about sea turtles
Sea turtles are symbols of longevity and wisdom. In many cultures, they are associated with renewal, spiritual protection, and the connection between land and sea, as creatures that move gracefully between both worlds. One ancient myth with Hindu origins, echoed in other traditions around the globe, tells of a giant turtle carrying the Earth upon its shell. The resilience, strength, and timeless presence of these marine animals have inspired stories passed down through generations for centuries.
Watching sea turtles in their natural habitat offers a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of life. Their quiet determination and enduring journey through the oceans invite us to pause, observe, and reconnect with something greater than ourselves. All it takes is a willingness to look closely.
Where Do Sea Turtles Live?
If you’re wondering where sea turtles live, the answer depends on the species. Most have a preference for the tropical and subtropical waters of the world’s oceans, although some spend more time offshore while others remain closer to the coast. Their distribution is largely influenced by food availability at different depths, as well as by nesting and breeding seasons, when females return to beaches to lay their eggs. Some species also migrate through temperate waters and may even venture into colder regions.
Broadly speaking, however, the places sea turtles call home share two essential characteristics: warm waters and abundant sources of food. These conditions provide everything they need to thrive throughout their long ocean journeys.
Coral reefs, which play a vital role in maintaining healthy coastlines and oceans and supporting overall environmental balance, provide habitat for many sea turtle species. In the Americas, some of their most important habitats can be found in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Brazil.
In Brazil, the coastal destination of Praia do Forte is a natural paradise that is ideal for ecotourism and for observing sea turtles and other fascinating marine species in their natural environment. There, Iberostar hotels collaborate with the TAMAR Project, a conservation initiative dedicated to protecting sea turtles. Through the creation and management of protected nesting areas, the project helps female turtles safely lay their eggs and supports hatchlings during their first steps toward the ocean.
How Many Species of Sea Turtles Are There?
Of the more than 300 species of turtles, or chelonians, in the world, 60 are land turtles, 250 are freshwater species that live in rivers, wetlands, and marshes, and only seven are marine. Six of the seven recognized sea turtle species belong to the Cheloniidae family. They can be identified by their smooth, scale-covered shells and by the claws at the ends of their flippers. Only the leatherback belongs to a different family, Dermochelyidae, and lacks scales. The debate over whether there is an eighth species, which most experts classify as a subspecies of the green turtle, remains open. Whatever the case, all sea turtles share remarkable intelligence and an extraordinary ability to adapt to change, something we, as human animals, can learn from. Here are a few more facts about each of these species.
Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
The shell of the hawksbill turtle gleams like a precious jewel, especially when sunlight dances across its surface in the water. Its distinctive carapace features more than thirteen translucent central scutes and up to ten pairs of marginal scutes, displaying a rich palette of colors that ranges from black and brown to amber, yellow, and deep reddish tones. Smaller than many other sea turtles, it typically measures between 24 and 47 inches in length and weighs between 130 and 200 pounds.
Preferring warm waters and life in the open ocean, the hawksbill inhabits tropical and subtropical regions around the world. There, it spends its days navigating coral reefs and coastal ecosystems, where it plays an important ecological role. Under favorable conditions, this remarkable species can live for 30 to 50 years.
Centuries of being hunted for their beautifully patterned shells, once used to make decorative objects and handicrafts, have left a lasting mark on the hawksbill turtle’s story. Interestingly, these turtles accumulate toxins from their primary food source, sea sponges, making their flesh potentially poisonous to predators. This natural defense comes from compounds found in the sponges themselves, which are harmful to many other animals.
Today, hawksbill turtles are protected, and their capture is prohibited under international conservation laws. In several destinations, however, it is possible to observe them responsibly and without disturbing their natural behavior. The waters of the Riviera Maya and the nearby island of Cozumel, renowned for their rich marine ecosystems, offer opportunities for ethical encounters while diving or snorkeling in Cozumel. Female hawksbill turtles also come ashore to nest between June and October on the beaches of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.
Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)
The impressive loggerhead sea turtle, also known as the loggerhead or yellow turtle, can grow up to 47 inches long and weigh as much as 440 pounds. It inhabits tropical and temperate waters across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Despite its wide distribution, the species is considered endangered in several regions, including Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula.
The loggerhead has long held a special place in local traditions and beliefs. For some Indigenous peoples of the Yucatán Peninsula, it is associated with the sacred mother figure believed to have given birth to humankind. Today, this remarkable species continues to inspire admiration, not only for its size and strength but also for the extraordinary migrations that carry it across vast stretches of ocean throughout its life.
To ensure the survival of their species, female loggerheads return to the very beaches where they were born to lay their eggs, guided by an extraordinary instinctive memory. When they come ashore, they may appear to be crying, but this is actually a natural process: specialized glands near their eyes help them expel excess salt absorbed from seawater.
Their predominantly carnivorous diet has given them exceptionally powerful jaws, capable of crushing hard-shelled prey such as crabs and shrimp. They also feed on jellyfish, small fish, and, occasionally, algae, which provide additional vitamins and minerals. This varied diet helps sustain them throughout the long migrations that are such a defining part of their lives.
Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
The green turtle is the only sea turtle species that becomes entirely herbivorous in adulthood. It is also one of the largest and most powerful, typically weighing between 350 and 550 pounds and measuring 31 to 51 inches in length. During its juvenile years, it feeds on small crustaceans and fish, but as it matures, its diet gradually shifts to seagrasses and algae. This dietary change is also responsible for the greenish tint of its body fat, from which the species gets its common name.
Green turtles inhabit tropical, subtropical, and temperate oceans around the world, although they are especially fond of shallow coastal waters near islands, bays, and seagrass meadows. As mentioned earlier, some scientists argue that the subspecies Chelonia agassizii, commonly known as the eastern Pacific green turtle, should be recognized as a separate species from Chelonia mydas. For now, however, no scientific consensus has been reached.
Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
The leatherback turtle, the only sea turtle belonging to the Dermochelyidae family, is remarkable for both its size and appearance. It can weigh more than 880 pounds and grow to over 78 inches in length, making it the largest sea turtle in the world. Unlike other sea turtles, it does not have a hard, scale-covered shell. Instead, its back is protected by a thick, leathery carapace with distinctive ridges running along its length. Its flippers are proportionally larger than those of any other sea turtle, allowing it to travel extraordinary distances across the oceans.
Leatherbacks feed primarily on jellyfish, although they also consume squid, crustaceans, fish, and sea urchins. One of their most fascinating traits is their exceptional navigational ability. Guided by the Earth's magnetic field, these turtles undertake some of the longest migrations in the animal kingdom. Each year, they leave tropical waters and travel thousands of miles into colder regions, following ocean currents such as the Gulf Stream in search of food.
Flatback Turtle (Natator depressus)
As its name suggests, the flatback turtle is distinguished by its unusually flat shell, which lacks the pronounced arch seen in other sea turtle species. It does, however, feature a distinctive upturned edge around the carapace, giving it an elegant and easily recognizable silhouette. Adults typically measure between 37 and 51 inches in length and weigh between 220 and 330 pounds.
The flatback turtle can only be found in a very specific part of the world, between Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Endemic to the Australian continental shelf, it is a protected species whose nesting beaches are found exclusively along the northern coast of Australia. Female flatbacks return to these shores to lay their eggs, while males spend their entire lives at sea. Their diet consists mainly of marine invertebrates, including sea cucumbers, mollusks, and jellyfish.
Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)
Like the green turtle, the olive ridley turtle takes its name from the olive-green color of its shell. It is one of the smaller sea turtle species, typically measuring between 20 and 30 inches in length and weighing between 88 and 110 pounds. Despite its modest size, it is among the most abundant sea turtles in the world.
Olive ridleys are especially common along the Pacific coasts of Central America, from Mexico to Costa Rica, as well as in Panama and parts of northern South America, including Suriname. They are best known for their spectacular arribadas, or mass nesting events, during which thousands of females come ashore simultaneously to lay their eggs. Although they are often described as primarily omnivorous, their diet consists largely of algae and other plant matter, supplemented by crustaceans, mollusks, and jellyfish when available.
Kemp’s Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii)
The Kemp’s ridley turtle is the rarest and smallest of all sea turtle species. Most adults measure no more than 28 inches in length, with some individuals reaching only about 18 inches. Their weight typically ranges from 66 to 110 pounds. Despite their relatively small size, these turtles are remarkable survivors, adapted to life in the coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
The species’ most important nesting site is Rancho Nuevo, a protected beach in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, where approximately 70% of all nesting females come ashore each year. Endemic to the Gulf of Mexico, the Kemp’s ridley has a more limited geographic range than other sea turtles, making it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes and human impacts. For this reason, it is considered one of the most endangered sea turtle species in the world and remains the focus of extensive conservation efforts.
Why Are Sea Turtles Endangered?
Many of the habitats where sea turtles live are now protected, as all seven species face some level of conservation concern. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the organization responsible for assessing the conservation status of animal and plant species worldwide, loggerhead, olive ridley, and leatherback turtles are classified as vulnerable, green turtles as endangered, and hawksbill and Kemp’s ridley turtles as critically endangered.
The flatback turtle is assessed separately under Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, which classifies the species as vulnerable. Although there is currently insufficient data to include it on the IUCN Red List, conservation efforts remain essential to protecting its limited habitat and nesting grounds.
The reasons behind their decline are largely linked to human activity. Ocean and coastal pollution, along with the effects of climate change, are making it increasingly difficult for sea turtles and countless other species to survive in their natural habitats. Rising ocean temperatures, for example, can disrupt the natural behavior of sea turtles and affect the delicate balance of the ecosystems on which they depend.
Although legal protections are in place in many parts of the world, illegal poaching remains a threat. Combined with habitat loss, plastic pollution, and environmental degradation, these pressures continue to put sea turtle populations at risk, highlighting the importance of ongoing conservation efforts both on land and at sea.
Through small everyday actions and conscious travel choices, you can help support healthier coastlines and, in turn, contribute to the protection of sea turtles and other marine species. One simple way to make a difference is by choosing restaurants that prioritize locally sourced, seasonal ingredients and responsibly caught fish and seafood. By doing so, you not only help reduce environmental pressure on marine ecosystems, but also support the local fishing and farming communities that depend on them.
Looking for more inspiration? This guide to community-based tourism offers ideas on how to travel in a way that benefits both local people and the natural environments that make each destination unique.
Fun Facts About Sea Turtles
What Do Sea Turtles Eat?
At Iberostar hotels, which are free of single-use plastics, you can enjoy a variety of water sports and observe these remarkable animals in their natural habitats while helping to protect them. Since sea turtles obtain everything they need from their environment, they should never be fed by humans. Most species are carnivorous or omnivorous, although some, such as the green turtle, become herbivorous as adults. Their diets include crustaceans, mollusks, anemones, sea sponges, jellyfish, certain fish, algae, and other marine plants, which provide all the nutrients they need to thrive.
Unfortunately, sea turtles sometimes mistake floating plastic bags for jellyfish or confuse other debris with food, which can lead to injury or death. As a traveler, you can help reduce this threat by caring for the beaches and coastlines you visit and by choosing accommodations committed to protecting the environment. These sustainable travel tips can help guide your choices on your next vacation.
How Are Sea Turtles Born?
Watching sea turtles hatch is one of nature’s most extraordinary spectacles. Every three to four years, during nesting season, adult females leave the ocean and search for a suitable spot on the beach to dig a nest in the sand. There, they lay dozens of eggs, typically between 50 and 200 per nest, carefully cover them, and return to the sea. Depending on the species and environmental conditions, the incubation period usually lasts between 40 and 70 days.
When the time comes, the hatchlings break free from their shells and make their way to the surface. Emerging from the sand together, they instinctively race toward the ocean, propelled by their tiny flippers. For the few that survive the journey, this marks the beginning of a remarkable life at sea and the start of an epic cycle that may one day bring them back to the very beach where they were born.
In destinations where you can see sea turtles, such as Aruba, as well as the places mentioned above, including Praia do Forte in Brazil and the Riviera Maya and Cozumel in Mexico, you may have the privilege of witnessing this extraordinary moment in a responsible way and from a respectful distance. It is important to remember that hatching is one of the most vulnerable stages of a sea turtle’s life, as predators often take advantage of this brief journey from nest to ocean.
This is one of the reasons why protected nesting areas have been established in many parts of the world where sea turtles reproduce. These conservation efforts help improve the chances of survival for hatchlings while allowing visitors to observe one of nature’s most remarkable events without disturbing the animals or their habitat.
