A Sea of Hope: The Hotel Guests Helping Save Mexico's Turtles

Between May and October each year, an ancient ritual plays out beneath the stars in Xpu Há. Guided by instincts as old as time, Hawksbill, Green and Loggerhead sea turtles return to the beach where they were born, to dig a nest and lay their eggs in the soft sand. For Hotel Esencia guests who witness it, the experience is transformative.

Poised along the white shores of the Riviera Maya, a stay at Hotel Esencia feels like being hosted at the home of a dear, effortlessly stylish friend. Here, guests experience an extraordinary connection to nature – and never more so than during sea turtle nesting season.

“It is a truly special moment to gather our hotel guests at night, talk to them about the turtles and, together, watch them join the sea as they begin their life’s adventure,” says Lea Gibert, Director of Sales and Operations at Hotel Esencia. “Children in particular are delighted to see these animals that have survived through many years of evolution.”

 

Protected Beginnings

To safeguard these fragile lives, Hotel Esencia has built a dedicated turtle camp with capacity for more than 100 nests, each marked and shielded with anti-predator mesh. Once the hatchlings are ready, they are released under the cover of night, where they can safely embark on their very first journey – the dash to the sea.

Unfortunately, the odds are stacked against them. Just one in a hundred turtles typically reaches adulthood. But here, supported by Esencia’s dedication to protecting them from predators and storms, young turtles can thrive. “With the construction of our turtle camp, we help more turtles survive predators – at least while on land,” explains Lea.

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Shared Wonder

For guests who participate in this humbling ritual, the experience is unforgettable. Families stand barefoot in the sand, lanterns dimmed, as hundreds of tiny flippers carry hatchlings toward the waves. A soul-nourishing moment. Observing these creatures’ resilience and vulnerability, there is both joy and perspective in the recognition of our role in nature’s balance.

Lea shares that one guest described it as “watching hope in motion”. Another family left with children vowing to protect the oceans back home. The effect is both immediate and lasting.

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Challenges and Commitments

Nature doesn’t always make fulfilling this mission easy for the hotel’s conservation team. Each year, they contend with storms, predators including birds and raccoons, and the broader effects of climate change. But the programme adapts and strengthens, with reinforced enclosures, biologists on call, and hotel staff fully trained to protect wildlife.

Hotel Esencia’s commitment is wholehearted. Lea explains: “In order to give a little back to nature– in return for what it has given us–we carry out campaigns to protect wildlife and marine life.” Lights are turned off near nesting zones, beach furniture is cleared, and electrical cleaning devices are avoided. These small but significant adjustments ensure turtles can nest freely and without stress. Gladly attuned to the hotel’s nature-led setting, guests delight in the grounding rewards of living in harmony with such a sensitive and accommodating environment.

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Legacy in Motion

Looking ahead, Hotel Esencia’s vision is ambitious. The plan includes larger enclosures, expanded training for the team, and a ripple effect of inspiration across the Riviera Maya. “The success we have had with this program, with hundreds of turtles being born every week during the season, shows our staffand guests alike that human conservation efforts can have incredibly positive and visible effects,” says Lea.

Watching a hatchling fight its way toward the surf is a reminder of the fragile beauty of our relationship with the sea. In fact, Xpu Há means ‘water sunrise’ in Mayan, reflecting the profound connection this beautiful part of Mexico has with the sea. The lesson is deeply enriching. For every turtle that reaches the waves at Xpu Há, a new story begins – with guests as honoured observers and protectors.

 

Get closer to nature with an enriching stay at Hotel Esencia.