What you can do, as a tourist?
You can become a volunteer in such an organization. Main duties are patrolling the beach, taking care of the eggs and organizing events with the tourists – for example release the babies to the ocean and raising awarness about the phenomena and risks.
You can also buy a trip to the reserve. You can go over there with a fisherman from Las Penitas or by the kayak. During this tour you will see mangroves full of birds and maybe crocodiles. But the main attraction will be for sure the contact with the small turtles, which you will carry to the right place on the beach for the rest of their trip… to life hopefully.
The cost for 3 hours tour in December 2017 is more or less 20 dolars per person, including ticket to the reserve and guide.
According to scientist, only 1-2 turtles per 100 will survive to an adult age. In Isla Juan Venado only this year, in the period August-November, 18000 turtles were released into the ocean. We wish them all the best!
The Isla Juan Venado Reserve has been created 15 years ago. While the organization of the place and the beach itself look very good, we could feel lack of scientific data and specialist who would be able to check the efficieny of these operations. We wish the community that.