2026 Sea Turtle Conservation: A Record Season Underway in Los Cabos

There is nothing quite like standing barefoot on a Los Cabos beach at sunset, watching a palm full of hatchlings make their first uncertain scramble toward the waves. It is one of the most memorable experiences a Pueblo Bonito guest can have, and it is only possible because of a conservation program that has been protecting sea turtles in Los Cabos since 2003.

The 2026 nesting season is shaping up to be one of the strongest in the program's history. As of August 17, our Sea Turtle Conservation team has recorded 807 nests and protected 86,679 eggs, a striking jump from the 529 nests logged at this same point last season, an increase of 53 percent. Of those nests, 63 have already hatched, sending 5,732 hatchlings into the Pacific so far this year.

According to Veronica Sánchez, who leads Grupo Pueblo Bonito's Sea Turtle Conservation Program, the surge reflects both a strong nesting year and continued improvements in how the team locates, collects, and relocates nests under current species protection regulations. The program focuses primarily on the olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), which accounts for 99 percent of nesting activity recorded in the municipality of Los Cabos, though other species nest along these beaches as well.

July, August, and September are the busiest months of the season, and this year has tested that rhythm in dramatic fashion. Over a single three-day stretch in the El Médano area, the team helped receive and protect 105 nests representing 11,515 eggs, a pace that speaks to just how demanding, and rewarding, this work becomes at its peak. Behind every number is a team patrolling more than five kilometers of beach day and night, tracking incubation conditions and sand temperature, and working to give every hatchling the best possible chance at reaching the sea.

The Hatchling Release Season is officially underway, having begun August 10, and reservations are open now through Concierge or your butler. Hotel guests can join releases which occur on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, though days and times may shift depending on hatching activity and weather. Each release begins with a short presentation on sea turtle conservation at 6:30 p.m., giving guests a chance to ask questions and take photos, before the hatchlings themselves are released around 6:45 p.m., wrapping up by 7:00 p.m. at the Sea Turtle Conservation Camp. This is a free, family-friendly activity and shuttle service is available from the hotels. Reaching the release site involves a beach walk of roughly five to fifteen minutes, worth keeping in mind for guests who may need extra time.

If a Los Cabos getaway is on your calendar this year, timing your visit for late summer through fall gives you an excellent chance to be part of this season's story and create a truly unique and special memory. 

Book your stay today, and upon arrival, be sure to speak to your concierge or butler about upcoming releases.