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Turtle SOS ‑ CLOSED

174 reviews
Outdoor Activities, Tours, Nature & Wildlife Tours
Santa Maria, Cape Verde
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About Turtle SOS
From June until December you can find out all about turtles in Cape Verde by visiting us at our turtle hatchery on the beach outside the RIU hotel or at The Turtle House in Santa Maria (next to CV Telecom). During July, August & September we can take you on a guided walk to see one of nature's most spectacular events - a turtle coming ashore to lay her eggs. Then from August to December there are baby turtles being born before your eyes in the hatchery. Adopting a baby turtle or a whole nest is a unique and genuinely Capeverdean souvenir! You will receive a certificate and photos of your baby or babies after they are born. A great gift for friends and family back home. The activities are managed by The Cabo Verde Nature Company and your contributions help to fund protection of turtles throughout the Cabo Verde islands. Hatchery visits are free and are available daily between 10h-12h and 16h-18h. Please check with your hotel or tour rep for more information or visit the Turtle House.
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Turtle SOS
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Matt and Julie x wrote a review Jan 2017
40 contributions29 helpful votes
small fenced off area outside of the Riu Hotel, definately worth a visit
We visited in November which was the perfect time to see the Hatchlings. As there is not much information on the internet we booked a trip with one of the tour guides from the beach which was a big mistake. You just need to order a cab from your hotel reception just before dusk and ask them to take you to the Hatchery at the Riu. I think they start their talks at around 6pm. This is run by volunteers who are very knowledgeable and give you a lot of information for free, but you should take money for a donation. The highlight is when they take the bucketful of baby turtles to the sea for release & you get to see them start their journey.…
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Date of experience: November 2016
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Sally T wrote a review Jan 2017
Burton, United Kingdom23 contributions10 helpful votes
Worth going to see - as important to the island!
We walked there from our hotel in Santa Maria - about 30 mins walk. Wasn't quite what we expected but glad we went, it was worth it to learn about and see the turtles, we saw one of the last batches to be hatched.
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Date of experience: December 2016
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Kathy S wrote a review Dec 2016
16 contributions13 helpful votes
Great experience
The turtle watch is something you must experience. Our tour guide was very informative. They cannot guarantee that you will be able to see the turtles. We were very lucky and it was wonderful to watch!!!!
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Date of experience: August 2016
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Dee C wrote a review Dec 2016
4 contributions4 helpful votes
Phone before you go open June to early Dec
We thought the reviews sounded so good we would visit this place but it wasn't there! Apparently it is a temporary structure on the beach that is there during the turtle season only. I thought even if there were no turtles we could still visit /learn. We were told it was great two weeks ago!! Not sure when season starts again (June the locals say) but check because the "open" indicator here on trip advisor isn't accurate!…
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Date of experience: December 2016
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reto_loves_turtles wrote a review Dec 2016
Basel, Switzerland2 contributions5 helpful votes
spectacular!! touching!! essential!!
cabo verde is one of the most important birthplaces for turtles. unfortunately there is more unsustainable tourism coming and the turtles' nest places get disturbed. gladly these committed girls and boys have decided to help the turtles. and it was a mind-boggling experience to see them baby turtles do their 1st steps into the ocean! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!…
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Date of experience: December 2016
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