For information about what to do & where to stay in Los Cabos, please consult our Los Cabos City Guide.

Visitors and owners of Tortuga Bay and Las Ma�anitas resorts
participate in Local Turtle Protection Network on the beaches of Los Cabos

	Baby Tortuga, Los Cabos

Imagine enjoying the tranquility on a shaded verandah of a luxurious beachfront condominium, surrounded by tropical gardens, cascading pools and awe-inspiring sunrise vistas. Las Ma�anitas and its many pools, spas, indoor/outdoor fitness center and onsite professional putting green provide precisely the serenity you envision. Or perhaps you daydream of the azure sea and the spectacular hues of a salt water pool. Tortuga Bay, the newest and very private luxurious beachfront condominium development in San Jose del Cabo, has your name on it.

Either fantasy could be your next vacation in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico. Visitors and owners of Las Ma�anitas and Tortuga Bay are doing more than sport fishing in fertile waters, playing golf on world-class courses, enjoying the thrill of endless eco-adventures, or indulging in relaxation and lively entertainment. They are becoming the perfect cheering section for the treasured Sea Turtle community of Los Cabos and the ecosystem at-large.

From June to December the Olive Ridley and Leatherback Turtles visit the beaches in front of Las Ma�anitas and Tortuga Bay to lay their eggs. Should the eggs survive the 45 days before hatching when the turtles work their way into the sea, a near-miracle is set in motion: Seven to 15 years later as mature turtles, they will return to the same beaches to continue the cycle. The Local Turtle Protection Network is active in seeing that these creatures are spared extinction�although protected by law, the turtles and their eggs are highly sought after as a delicacy for consumption. Onsite staff at Tortuga Bay and Las Ma�anitas are prepared to assist the turtles in avoiding extinction, completing training on the endangered species provided by the Municipalities Turtle Protection Network. The Network was established in order to create a partnership between tourism and conservation efforts. And it�s working.

	Tortuga Release

As a result, in 2009, vacation visitors and owners participated in three releases at the beaches in front of the luxury condominium resorts allowing more than 340 turtles to safely make their way to the Sea of Cortez. This year, by mid-September, 251 turtles have been released to the Sea of Cortez from Las Ma�anitas and Tortuga Bay and three nests are currently under protection with more than 300 eggs combined.

The protection begins with the nighttime security staff, the first humans to witness the turtles laying their eggs, a nocturnal event. Immediately, rescue efforts are initiated. First, the nest must be analyzed as the eggs cannot be moved after seven hours of being laid or the embryos will die. If the nest must be left intact it is marked with flags so it can be watched and protected from predators both natural and man-made. If it is allowable due to being within the first seven hours of laying, the eggs are moved to an incubation site or �farm� until they hatch.

Onsite staff at Las Ma�anitas and Tortuga Bay are certified by PROFEPA , the Mexican Governmental Agency responsible for the protection of natural resources, and have the proper credentials for the handling of the turtle eggs. Baja Vacations invites all of its owners, visitors, staff and local families share in the rare experience of releasing the newly hatched turtles to the sea. �It�s a true celebration to witness the smallest of creatures make their successful journey. We�re blessed to be able to enjoy the Baja�s natural surroundings up close and personal, and at the same time, we�re so protective of it. It�s about life�s luxuries, small and on a grand scale too,� says Michael Schaible, Broker/Owner of Baja Properties Real Estate Company and developer of Las Ma�anitas and Tortuga Bay.

When planning your vacation in Los Cabos, don�t miss the opportunity to make reservations at one of the privately-owned condominiums and villas of Las Ma�anitas and Tortuga Bay . Toll Free 1-877-462-2226.