El Salvador

El Salvador is the smallest smallest country in Central America.  Its coastline sits on the Pacific Ocean with four species of sea turtles with hawksbills, olive ridleys, leatherbacks, and greens nesting on its beaches or foraging in its waters.  Of particular importance is Jiquilisco Bay, a nesting area for the critically endangered hawksbill, one of only two major beaches in the entire Eastern Pacific.  The other is in Nicaragua, El Salvador's neighbor to the south.

El Salvador Sea Turtle Species

Hawksbill: El Salvador is an important area for the critically endangered Eastern Pacific hawksbill.  They nest here between the months of May and October.

Olive Ridley: This species is the most abundant in El Salvador, nesting widely year round on El Salvador's beaches.  The peak nesting season for olive ridleys is July-December.

Green: This country is an important foraging area for green sea turtles.  They also nest in small numbers here on a handful of beaches between June and December.

Leatherback: This species nests in small numbers on a handful of beaches between the months of October and January.

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How Conservation Tourism Helps

• Tour guiding provides an alternative to fishing, which accidentally catches thousands of turtles every year in the region.  It also provides an alternative to poaching of turtles and their eggs. 
• Supporting conservation efforts here will build support to protect important habitat from unsustainable coastal development.
• Income from visits will help to fund important research and conservation efforts.