Every year, while most visitors are looking at the horizon, something older than any resort is happening a few steps up the sand. Female sea turtles climb out of the surf at night, dig a nest with their back flippers and leave behind a clutch of eggs that will, weeks later, become a trail of tiny hatchlings racing for the waves.
In Los Cabos, the dominant nester is the olive ridley, which one local conservation program estimates accounts for roughly 99 percent of recorded nesting in the municipality. Leatherbacks and black turtles also nest here, in far smaller numbers. The season generally runs from summer into December, peaking in July through September, with hatchlings emerging about 45 days after the nests are protected and sometimes up to 75 days in cooler months.
It is a season of record numbers: one regional resort conservation team reported 807 nests and more than 86,000 eggs protected by mid-August 2026, a roughly 53 percent increase over the same point in 2025.
When the Hatchlings Go to the Sea
The most meaningful moment for visitors is the release. Programs typically hold them in the cool hours of the morning or at dusk, when hatchlings are least likely to be disoriented by heat or predators. Dates vary, but August through October is the sweet spot, and some programs run into early November. Pacific-side communities such as Quivira run conservation efforts from late July through mid-December, and beaches around San José del Cabo have also seen record nesting years.
How to Witness It Well
The rule of thumb is simple: the turtles do the work, and we stay out of the way. Join a release organized by a licensed program or your resort, keep lights and flash photography off, never touch a nest or a hatchling, and never place one in the water yourself. A hatchling’s crawl across the sand is part of how it imprints on the beach it will, years later, return to.
Our concierge team can connect you with responsible releases during your stay and shape the rest of the trip around a quiet morning on the sand.
FAQ
When is sea turtle nesting season in Los Cabos?
It generally runs from summer into December, with peak nesting from July to September and peak hatchling releases from August through October.
Which species nest in Los Cabos?
The olive ridley is by far the most common, with leatherback and black turtles nesting in much smaller numbers.
Can I join a hatchling release?
Yes, through licensed conservation programs or resorts that organize releases. Never handle a nest or hatchling on your own.
Plan a Stay Around the Season
Explore our homes along the coast and let the concierge arrange a respectful release
