The Mayto Sea Turtle Camp has delivered its strongest conservation season on record, collecting 1,575 nests between May 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026, on the remote Cabo Corrientes coast south of Puerto Vallarta. The figure marks a 21-year high for the volunteer-driven project and includes record counts for both Olive Ridley and leatherback turtles.
According to the camp’s final report, the tally breaks down to 1,546 Olive Ridley nests, an unprecedented eight leatherback nests, and 20 green turtle nests. Conservationists also released more than 105,000 hatchlings into the Pacific, while over 180 volunteers and 600 students and corporate partners took part in environmental education programs during the season.
Mayto beach sits roughly two hours south of Puerto Vallarta via Highway 200 and the mountain road through El Tuito, making it one of the most important yet least crowded nesting sites in Jalisco. The camp’s success highlights the value of community-based conservation along the southern shoreline, where undeveloped beaches continue to attract nesting females in growing numbers.
Despite the milestone, challenges remain. The report noted that 31 nests were lost to natural predation and 246 were poached by humans, underscoring the need for continued vigilance. Visitors interested in supporting the effort can learn more through the baby sea turtle release programs closer to the city, or plan a day trip to the Cabo Corrientes area via El Tuito to see the southern coastline firsthand.
Sources: Vallarta Independiente, Quadratín Jalisco
