Archive for May, 2009

La Cocotera Named One of MSNBC’s Top 10 Central American Beach Eco Resorts

Monday, May 18th, 2009

La Cocotera is a very secluded place, but it’s beautiful natural surroundings and charming accommodations cannot help but catch the eye of seasoned travelers. MSNBC.com recently published an article on  the Top 10 Central American Beach Escapes, and La Cocotera made the list! Here’s what they had to say:

With tourism so new here, visitors are often treated more like friends of the family. The country’s Balsam Coast is known as a surfers’ paradise, but those seeking solitude should check out the ultra-remote Barra de Santiago, on the northern Pacific coast, a national park with estuaries and mangroves on a broad, tawny sandbar. Inside the park, El Salvador’s first eco resort, La Cocotera Resort & Ecolodge, debuts in style with thatched-roof bungalows set in a stand of coconut palms. In August and September, guests can see thousands of endangered Olive Ridley turtles hatch in the park’s sanctuary and then help release them into the ocean. Getting there entails a complimentary 1.5-hour car transfer from San Salvador or, at an extra cost, a chartered plane or helicopter ride.

Read the full article here!

What is a Turtle Release Program?

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009
turtle release program in central america

Olive Ridley Turtles

Turtle Release programs are a type of wildlife conservation program in which participants can adopt a baby turtle and help release it into the ocean. These types of programs not only help preserve these animals, they’re also a great way to learn about the turtles and their habitat.

At La Cocotera Eco Lodge, guests have the opportunity to take part in this wonderful project. Our Turtle Release Program is for the Olive Ridley turtle, one of the smallest species of sea turtle. It is named for the olive-green color of its heart-shaped shell. Olive Ridley turtles are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

The turtles nest on the La Cocotera beach and instead of letting the eggs be eaten, we purchase them from locals and allow them to hatch, raise them and release them. This turtle release program in Central America allows La Cocotera to safely release thousands of Olive Ridley turtles each year. Come experience this wonderful event and set baby turtles free in the ocean!

olivebabies

Want to learn more? We are a proud sponsor of a variety of ecotourism activities including nature tours of local forests, kayak bird tours, and a Species Reintroduction Program for the Scarlet Macaw. Find out more on our Ecotourism page!