Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
most environmentally knowledgeable guides), arrange a tour directly through the Tor-
tugario Monterrico (
Click here
)
.
Some travelers have griped about the use of motorboats (as opposed to the paddled
varieties), because the sound of the motor scares off the wildlife. If you're under no time
pressure, ask about arranging a paddled tour of the canal.
Tortugario Monterrico
(admission Q50; 7am-5pm)
The Cecon-run Tortugario Monterrico is just a short walk east
down the beach from the end of Calle Principal and then a block inland. Several en-
dangered species of animals are raised here, including leatherback, olive ridley and green
sea turtles, caimans and iguanas.
There's an interesting interpretative trail and a little museum with pickled displays in
bottles. The staff offers lagoon trips, and night walks (Q50) from August to December to
look for turtle eggs, and will accept volunteers. Around sunset nightly from September to
January on the beach in front of the Tortugario, workers release baby turtles. For a Q10
donation you can 'buy' a turtle and release it. Despite what everybody else is doing,
please refrain from using flash cameras and flashlights - the poor little things are probably
already terrified and the flash may harm their eyes.
ECOTOUR
Parque Hawaii
(Asociación de Rescate y Conservación de Vida Silvestre; 7830-1374;
www.arcasguatemala.com
)
comprises a
sea-turtle hatchery with some caimans 8km east along the beach from Monterrico. It is
separate from and rivals Cecon's work in the same field. Volunteers are welcome year
round, but the sea turtle nesting season is from June to November, with August and
September being the peak months.
Volunteers are charged Q580 a week for a room, with meals extra, and homestay op-
tions. Jobs for volunteers include hatchery checks and maintenance, mangrove reforesta-
tion, basic construction and data collection. See the website for the complete lowdown on
volunteering here. Most of the egg collection happens at night. It's a way out of town, but
there are usually other volunteers to keep you company and while you're here you can use
the kayaks, go on village trips and go fishing in the sea and mangroves.
A bus (Q5, 30 minutes) leaves the Monterrico jetty every couple of hours during the
week and every hour on weekends for the bumpy ride to the reserve. Pickups also operate
on this route, charging Q30 per person.
WILDLIFE RESERVE
