Hawksbill turtle conservation
Launching 2027Join the waitlist!
Spend a few nights with the crew protecting hawksbill sea turtles in the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve, Belize. Patrol the beach at night, watch mothers nest and hatchlings run for the sea, and snorkel the reef by day.
Join the waitlistFree to join. Waitlist members get first pick of dates.
Be the first to know
Join the waitlist and you'll hear about launch dates before anyone else, with first pick of trips.
The experience
Nights with the turtles
Critically endangered hawksbill turtles come ashore to nest on the cayes of the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve. You'll join our team on the beach, under turtle-safe red light, to watch over them.
- Nightly turtle patrols with the team on two nesting islands, up to 8 guests per island.
- Watch mother turtles nest and lay their eggs, from a respectful distance.
- See hatchlings make their first run to the sea.
- Help the nesting beach with beach cleanups and optional landscaping that helps turtles nest.
When to come
Turtles almost all year
Trips run in 2027. Here's what each time of year is likely to bring. These are wild animals, so sightings are never guaranteed, but the odds are very good in season.
Your best chance to watch mother turtles come ashore and lay their eggs.
Your best chance to see hatchlings dig out and head for the water.
Quieter months on the islands, with the reef, the crew and island life.
Great for divers who want to pair the reef with the conservation work.
The trip
A few nights in the reserve
Price
$150 to $175per person, per night (estimated). Final prices come with launch.
Trip options
- Monday to Friday
- Friday to Monday
- Multi-night stays, starting 2027
- Departing from Placencia, Belize
Included
- Boat transfer from Placencia to the reserve
- All meals
- Shared bunk rooms on the island
- Guided snorkels
- Nightly turtle patrols
- Conservation presentations
Optional add-ons
- Scuba diving
- PADI dive courses
Meet the lionfish hunters
Our team is stationed on the islands, and our main conservation project right now is lionfish mitigation. Lionfish are invasive in Belize and eat the young fish the reef depends on, so our divers remove them every day. You'll see that work up close.
- Watch the hunters return with the day's catch of lionfish.
- See a dissection and learn what lionfish have been eating, then watch the crew fillet the catch.
- Presentations on lionfish and how removing them helps the reef.
- Taste lionfish at meals on the island.
- Spear a lionfish yourself: certified divers will likely have the chance to join a hunt with the crew (diving is an add-on).
- See how fins become jewelry, handmade in Belize.
Meat for meals, fins for jewelry, nothing wasted.
Every piece of our jewelry is made from a lionfish taken off the reef.
Island life
Between the patrols
Days on the island are simple and slow, in the best way.
Our scientific partner
Brightwater Climate
Brightwater Climate is our scientific partner, helping make sure the conservation work you're part of is grounded in good science.
Questions
Good to know
When do trips start?
We're planning to launch in early to mid 2027. Waitlist members hear first and get first pick of dates.
Where is it?
On the islands of the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve, at the southern end of the Belize Barrier Reef. Trips depart by boat from Placencia, Belize, and the boat transfer is included. We'll share full travel details when booking opens.
How much does it cost?
We expect about $150 to $175 per person per night, including meals, your bunk, the boat transfer, guided snorkels, turtle patrols and presentations. Diving and dive courses are optional extras. Final prices come with launch.
How long are the trips?
Multi-night stays, Monday to Friday or Friday to Monday.
Who can come?
Guests 18 and over can come on their own. Ages 6 to 17 are welcome with a supervising adult. Each trip has at most 16 guests, and turtle patrols take up to 8 guests per island.
Will I definitely see turtles?
They're wild animals, so nothing is guaranteed. Your best chance to see mothers nesting is May to August, and hatchlings August to November.
Will I touch the turtles?
No. Guests watch from a respectful distance under red light, and our trained team handles everything to do with turtles, nests and eggs.
Do I need to dive?
No. Snorkeling is included and needs no experience. Scuba diving and PADI courses are optional add-ons.
Where will I sleep?
In shared bunk rooms on the island. It's simple, comfortable island living.
Does joining the waitlist commit me to anything?
No. It's free, with no obligation. You'll get launch news first and first pick of dates.
Join the waitlist
Tell us a little about your trip and we'll be in touch first when dates open. Only your name and email are required.
You're on the list!
Thank you, . You're officially on the turtle trip waitlist. There's nothing more you need to do, and we'll email you first when dates open.
Extra and optional
Want to tell us a little more?
These questions are just to help us plan the trips. Skip them if you like: you're already on the list either way.