Campamento Tortuguero Nuevo Puerto Arista (no phone, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. daily), a state-sponsored turtle protection and preservation program, is one of four installations in the area (the others are in Boca del Cielo, Costa Azul, and Barra de Zacapulco). It’s essentially operated by one person, whose main activities are patrolling the beach by foot and ATV in search of fresh turtle nests (whose eggs are relocated to protected enclosures) and liberación (releasing) of hatchlings back into the sea.

Travelers are welcome to participate; beach patrols are about three hours long and depart between 7 and 11 p.m., while hatchling releases take place at low tide, usually between 6 and 11 p.m. Both take place year-round, but July to November is peak nesting season, and hatchlings are most numerous May to October.

Getting to Campamento Tortuguero Nuevo Puerto Arista

The campamento is located 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) west of town, just before Villa Murano hotel; stop by beforehand for the night’s schedule.