Tambor Bay Turtle Program

Welcome to Tambor Bay! A beautiful, horseshoe shaped piece of paradise along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The warm tropical sands of this 7 kilometer beach once sustained a vibrant nesting population of sea turtles and we need your help to bring them back!

We are looking to raise money to fund a pilot project to assess the status of the nesting sea turtle population in Tambor Bay and determine what type of project is necessary to protect the turtles currently nesting at the beach and to increase this population to historical levels.

Not only are sea turtles a beautiful animal deserving of protection, they are also an important part of the marine ecosystem and contribute to the stability and productivity of our coastal waters. Nesting populations are a major draw for tourists in Costa Rica, bringing economic benefits to rural areas. The project will also provide a means of teaching environmental stewardship to the local community through education outreach and school programs. Any and all donations to this important project are greatly appreciated!

The money raised will go towards funding four components of the pilot program:

Communication  (getting information out about the project and informing/educating the public and school children, information brochures, signage on the beach etc.) 

Science (gathering information about our turtle population - how many, what species, their habits, etc. for the purpose of  determining the best long term strategy for protecting the remaining turtles that come to Tambor Beach)

Recruitment (developing a program of volunteers, as well as the expertise we need to carry out the project in both the short and long term) 

Action (doing what we can in the short term to protect the turtles and increase their rate of survival – protecting nests, moving nests, monitoring, protecting hatchlings, etc.) This component should include enforcement of Costa Rican laws that are aimed at protecting the turtles.