Santiago Island: Turtle Watching Tour with Wildlife Guides

Highlights

• Witness female loggerhead turtles nesting on Santiago Island
• Visit Praia de Clarinha in Pedra Badejo and see a turtle conservation camp
• Enjoy a fresh coconut before the turtle observation experience
• Learn about turtle conservation from experienced guides
• Support turtle conservation with a donation to Associação Caretta Caretta

Description

Experience one of the most unique and breathtaking wildlife moments in the animal kingdom when the majestic female loggerhead turtle comes ashore to dig her nest and drop up to 100 ping pong ball-sized eggs in the sand, before retracting back to the surf. Begin your experience by heading to Praia de Clarinha in Pedra Badejo, where the Associação Ambiental Caretta Caretta set up camp to continue their important work of turtle conservation during the nesting season. Pedra Badejo is also very popular for its coconut plantations, and you will have the chance to try fresh coconuts before the turtle observation. The tour will be operated by experienced and sensible turtle observation guides under the watch of the conservation staff at the beach. Follow the instructions of the guides and conservation personnel at all times. It is not allowed to drink alcohol during the tour or appear intoxicated. It is not allowed to use flashlights, phone lights, or other types of artificial lights. It is allowed to take pictures and videos without flash if the guides and conservation staff allow these. It is the highest priority to guarantee an undisturbed nesting process. Therefore, you are advised to wear dark clothes if possible and refrain from wearing perfume or strong-smelling cosmetics. The excursion will be held in a small multinational group. The staff speaks English, Portuguese, French, and German. Due to operational reasons, German and French guiding cannot be guaranteed. Please note: though Cabo Verde is one of the world’s most popular turtle mating and nesting spots, the island of Santiago is amongst the less popular ones for the local loggerhead population. Therefore, it is not guaranteed that the nesting can be witnessed or that turtles will be spotted. The operator has more than 3 years of experience in turtle observation tourism on the island of Boa Vista, but this is their first season in Santiago, so they have no experienced data about the frequency of turtle sightings. However, from mid-August onwards, the probability of observing hatchlings inside Caretta Caretta’s hatchery can almost be guaranteed. For each guest, €5 is donated to the Associação Ambiental Caretta Caretta.

Includes

Turtle observation with experienced guides Transportation from Tarrafal and on Request from Praia, drop off in front of your hotel or apartment. Donation to Associação Ambiental Caretta Caretta

Excludes

Coconuts

Important Information

• Follow the instructions of the guides and conservation personnel at all times. Stay with the group at all times. Wear dark clothes if possible Refrain from wearing perfume or strong smelling cosmetics No guarantee of turtle sightings on Santiago Island High to very high probability to observe hatchlings from mid-August onwards Very high probability to observe female Loggerhead turtles from August onwards

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund