Night falls over Eagle Beach, one of Aruba’s most iconic stretches of sand. Volunteers with the Turtugaruba Foundation find several dead hatchlings in the sand, disoriented by artificial light and unable to find the sea. Similar cases have been reported on other Aruban beaches, including Baby Beach and Arashi. Aruba has become a nesting refuge for four Caribbean Sea turtle species — the leatherback, green, hawksbill, and loggerhead — but the island’s rapid coastal development has created a growing tension between tourism and conservation. Between 2007 and 2024, an average of 110 to 130 nests were recorded annually around the island. In 2024, that number fell to 27 nests. The foundation’s figures show 19 nests in 2025 and just four in 2026.
Between 2007 and 2024, an average of 110 to 130 nests were recorded annually around the island. In 2024, that number fell to 27 nests.
This article covers what travellers should know about Aruba’s turtle nesting season — where to observe responsibly, why the population is declining, and how visitors can reduce their impact. The situation is more complicated than simply showing up at the right beach.
You can see nesting turtles on Aruba between March and November, but the experience depends entirely on where you stay and how you approach it. Eagle Beach offers the most reliable sightings, but light pollution from hotels and streetlights has caused a steep decline in nests. Responsible viewing requires joining a guided program — not walking the beach alone with a white flashlight.
Aruba’s Nesting Beaches and Turtle Species
Four species nest on Aruba’s shores, each with different timing and habitat preferences. Leatherbacks — known locally as tinglar, laúd, or driekiel — are the largest of the world’s seven sea turtle species and tend to nest earliest, often as early as February or March. Smaller hawksbills are more common from May onward. Green turtles and loggerheads fill the middle of the season. Each species lays anywhere from 80 to over 100 eggs per clutch, and a single female may nest multiple times in a season, returning every two to four years to the beach where she was born.
Eagle Beach is the most important nesting beach on the island. Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort sits on the main nesting stretch and runs an organized Turtle Watch program where guests can sign up to be notified the moment a hatching is detected. Manchebo Beach, Druif Beach, and Arashi Beach also see regular nesting activity throughout the season. Manchebo is wide and quiet, with very little nighttime foot traffic. Palm Beach gets some nesting, but the higher density of hotel lights and beachfront activity makes it less reliable than Eagle. Boca Catalina and Malmok Beach are lesser-known but important nesting beaches.
First-time visitors wanting a structured experience
Photographers focused on hatchling releases at dawn
Travellers who prefer quieter, less developed beaches
Leatherback nests reported on Aruba’s west coast in 2008 — a benchmark that has not been approached in recent years.
What I’d do: Base myself at a property on Eagle Beach that participates in conservation measures, then spend one evening with a Turtugaruba patrol to understand the monitoring process firsthand. The contrast between a lit hotel strip and a dark, protected nesting beach is instructive on its own.
Where to Observe Nesting and Hatching
Eagle Beach and the Bucuti & Tara Program
Eagle Beach remains the most reliable location for sightings, but the experience is not spontaneous. Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort coordinates with Turtugaruba to reduce lighting, fence off nests, and install barriers that help guide hatchlings toward the sea. Guests can sign up for the Turtle Watch program and receive a call when a nest is active. The best time of night to see females nesting is between 9 PM and 2 AM. The best time to see hatchlings is at dawn, just as the sun comes up. Volunteers carry red-filtered lights, which are invisible to turtles. White light disorients both adults and hatchlings.
Arashi Beach and the Northwestern Coast
Arashi Beach, located on the island’s northwestern tip, sees regular nesting activity, particularly from hawksbills later in the season. The beach is smaller than Eagle and more exposed to wind, but it has less hotel development directly on the sand. The recent installation of streetlights in the parking lot at Baby Beach led to the deaths of disoriented hatchlings, a reminder that even small changes in coastal lighting can have outsized consequences. Near Fisherman’s Hut, several turtles have been run over in previous years after straying from their natural route because of nighttime glare.
Aruba lacks mandatory regulations limiting light visible from beaches during nesting season. The Turtugaruba Foundation works with individual hotels and N.V. ELMAR, the electric utility, to manage streetlights on a case-by-case basis. ELMAR has been cooperating for more than 20 years, reducing lighting in areas where nests are detected.
Manchebo and Druif Beaches
Manchebo Beach is wide and quiet, with very little nighttime foot traffic, making it a consistent nesting site for green turtles and loggerheads. Druif Beach, adjacent to Manchebo, shares similar conditions. Both beaches lack the organized Turtle Watch programs found at Eagle, so visitors should contact Turtugaruba directly for guidance. The Turtugaruba Visitor Center is in Bubali and can provide current nesting information.
What I’d do: Skip Palm Beach entirely for turtle viewing. The light pollution is too dense, and the beachfront activity makes it unreliable. Instead, walk Manchebo at dawn during hatching season — the low light and quiet conditions improve your chances significantly.
Practical Planning for Turtle Season
Nesting season runs from March through November. Females come ashore at night to dig their nests and lay eggs from March through September. Hatchlings emerge roughly 60 to 70 days after the eggs are laid, meaning baby turtles begin appearing on the beaches from late May and continue through November. The incubation period depends on weather and sand temperature — warmer sands tend to produce more females, cooler sands more males.
| Species | Peak Nesting Months | Typical Clutch Size |
|---|---|---|
| Leatherback | February – April | 80–100 eggs |
| Green Turtle | May – July | 100–120 eggs |
| Hawksbill | May – September | 80–100 eggs |
| Loggerhead | April – June | 100–120 eggs |
Artificial coastal lighting disrupts both nesting and hatching. Adult females rely on the darkness of the seaward horizon to choose nesting sites. Hatchlings orient themselves by following the natural reflection of the sky on the sea. White light from hotels, streetlights, and even flash photography can cause hatchlings to crawl inland, where they die from dehydration, predation, or vehicle traffic.
About 30 volunteers walk roughly 16 kilometers of coastline daily to monitor sea turtle nests on the island, according to Richard van der Wal, a representative of the Turtugaruba Foundation. The foundation has been active in Aruba since 2003 and is affiliated with the Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST). Systematic patrol is carried out in collaboration with the Aruba Tourism Security Patrol.
What I’d do: Time my visit for late May or early June, when leatherback hatchlings begin emerging and hawksbill nesting is just starting. The overlap gives you two distinct viewing opportunities within a single week. Avoid August and September, when afternoon thunderstorms are more frequent and beach access can be interrupted.
On the Ground: What to Know Before You Go
Responsible Viewing Practices
Red-filtered lights are the only acceptable light source on nesting beaches. Turtugaruba volunteers carry them, and visitors should do the same. White light — including phone screens, camera flashes, and standard flashlights — disorients turtles and can cause hatchlings to move away from the sea. Keep at least 10 metres from any nesting female. Do not approach a turtle from the front; she may abandon her nest. Do not handle hatchlings. If you see a hatchling moving inland rather than toward the water, contact Turtugaruba immediately rather than intervening yourself.
What to Pack
Dark clothing, closed-toe sandals or water shoes, and a red-filtered flashlight are essential. Insect repellent is advisable — mosquitoes are active near the dunes after sunset. A light long-sleeve shirt protects against both bugs and the evening breeze. Do not bring standard camera equipment with white flash. If you want photographs, use a camera capable of shooting in low light without auxiliary lighting, or join a program that permits photography under controlled conditions.
At Manchebo Beach, the sand stays cooler than at Eagle, making it more comfortable for barefoot walking during evening patrols. The trade-off is that Manchebo has no organized Turtle Watch program — you must coordinate directly with Turtugaruba or visit independently with proper equipment.
Local Conservation Context
Ecologist Oriana Wouters warns that “the main problem is cumulative: less available beach, more physical obstacles and more human activity reduce the chances of nesting, even in the absence of intense light.” Gisbert Boekhoudt, director of Aruba’s Department of Nature and Environment (DNM), said that “many beaches no longer offer minimum conditions for turtles, not only because of lighting, but because of the physical transformation of the coastline.” The DNM is part of an interagency group working on a coastal management policy for Aruba. On the nearby islands of Curaçao and Bonaire, organizations are dedicated to both education and monitoring and are responsible for ensuring compliance with established regulations — a model Aruba has not yet adopted.
- Book accommodation on Eagle Beach with a verified Turtle Watch program — Bucuti & Tara is the only resort with an organized notification system.
- Carry only red-filtered lights on the beach at night. White light from any source can disorient turtles and cause hatchling mortality.
- Visit between late May and early July for the best overlap of leatherback hatchlings and hawksbill nesting activity.
Aruba Turtle Nesting: Visitor Questions
When is the best time to see sea turtles in Aruba?
Nesting season runs from March through November, with leatherbacks arriving earliest in February or March and hawksbills more common from May onward. Hatchlings emerge roughly 60 to 70 days after eggs are laid, so late May through November offers the best chance to see baby turtles. Dawn is the most reliable time for hatchling sightings.
Can you see turtles nesting on Eagle Beach without a guide?
Technically yes, because the beach is public. But walking Eagle Beach at night without a guide and without red-filtered lighting risks disturbing nesting females and disorienting hatchlings. The Turtugaruba Foundation runs patrols, and joining them is the only way to observe without contributing to the problem. Solo visits are strongly discouraged.
Why are sea turtle nests declining in Aruba?
Artificial coastal lighting is the primary driver. Urban and tourism development has brought more streetlights, hotel illumination, and decorative fixtures that disrupt nesting and hatching behaviour. Habitat loss from coastal construction, physical barriers like walls, increased nighttime tourism, and marine pollution also contribute. In 2024, only 27 nests were recorded — down from an average of 110 to 130 per year between 2007 and 2024.
What should I do if I find a disoriented hatchling?
Do not pick it up or shine a light on it. Contact the Turtugaruba Foundation immediately. If the hatchling is moving inland rather than toward the water, it has likely been disoriented by artificial light. Volunteers can relocate it or adjust lighting conditions to guide it correctly. Handling hatchlings yourself can cause injury or stress.
Are there any hotels in Aruba that protect turtle nests?
Yes. Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort on Eagle Beach coordinates directly with Turtugaruba to reduce lighting, fence off nests, and install barriers that guide hatchlings toward the sea. JOIA Aruba by Iberostar has also implemented specific measures. These properties offer the most responsible viewing experience for guests.
Closing Thoughts
The decline from 130 nests to four in two years is not a seasonal fluctuation — it is a trajectory that reflects how quickly coastal development can outpace conservation. Aruba’s turtles do not need more visitors watching them; they need fewer lights pointing at the sand. The most useful thing a traveller can do is choose accommodation that has already made that choice.
For a broader look at Aruba’s coastline after dark, including stargazing and other nocturnal wildlife, see our guide to Eagle Beach after dark.
Sources and further reading
Aruba turtle nesting threatened by light pollution from coastal development. Centro de Periodismo Investigativo, 2026.
Aruba sea turtle nesting season guide. Aruba Playbook, 2026.
Witness the magic of sea turtle nesting season in Aruba. Aruba Papers, 2026.
Explore Places to Stay in Aruba
Feel free to zoom in and out of the map to explore the area and find the best place to stay for your trip.