Florida's Best Spots To See Sea Turtles

Florida is the best place to see sea turtles in the United States. In fact, nearly 90% of sea turtle nesting in the US occurs in Florida from March through October each year. The best time to see wild sea turtles in Florida is during the summer, particularly during sea turtle nesting season, which lasts from roughly May to September.

There are several places in Florida where you can see sea turtles. Melbourne Beach is one of the most important places for sea turtle hatching. The Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, located on a 20.5-mile stretch of coastline spanning from Melbourne Beach to Wabasso, is a great place to see sea turtles. More loggerhead sea turtles come here for sea turtle nesting season than anywhere else in the Western Hemisphere. You can also see leatherback and green turtles nesting here.

Other places to see sea turtles in Florida include the Sea Turtle Preservation Society in Indialantic, Sebastian Inlet State Park in Vero Beach, Disney's Vero Beach Resort, Dry Tortugas National Park in the Florida Keys, and the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach.

If you're looking for a guided tour, many parks and environmental groups organize nighttime sea turtle walks in June and July. These walks typically include a presentation about sea turtles and their conservation, followed by a walk to the beach to observe nesting sea turtles. Remember to book in advance, as these walks are popular and fill up quickly!

Public turtle walks

Florida is the best place to see sea turtles in the United States, with nearly 90% of sea turtle nesting occurring in the state from March through October each year. The best time to see wild sea turtles in Florida is during the summer, particularly during sea turtle nesting season, which lasts from May to September.

Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, Melbourne Beach

The Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge is a 20.5-mile stretch of coastline spanning from Melbourne Beach to Wabasso. It is home to the largest concentration of loggerhead sea turtle nesting in the world, as well as a significant number of green turtle nestings. Guided turtle walks are offered in June and July and must be reserved in advance. The walks last about three hours and cost $15 per person.

Sea Turtle Preservation Society, Indialantic

The Sea Turtle Preservation Society is located just north of Melbourne Beach and offers sea turtle walks to the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge. While there is no guarantee that you will see turtles, the walks have a high success rate due to the efforts of the society and the refuge to preserve sea turtle habitats. The walks take place in June and July and reservations can be made online. The cost is a minimum donation of $18 per person.

Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach

The Loggerhead Marinelife Center is a modern sea turtle hospital located on the ocean in Juno Beach. Their mission is to rehabilitate injured and diseased sea turtles while also focusing on conservation and protection. Guided tours are offered year-round and must be booked in advance. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 8. After-hours evening tours are also available for $20 per person.

Coastal Connections, Vero Beach

This group, based in Vero Beach, offers free turtle walks, although a $20 refundable deposit is required to ensure participants show up. The walks take place on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights in June and July, starting at 9 pm. Reservations can be made online starting on May 1.

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, North Palm Beach

This state park, located in North Palm Beach, has a high concentration of turtle nests, with about 3,000 turtles nesting on its 1.6-mile beach each year. Turtle walks are offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from June 2 to July 15 and must be booked in advance online. The walks start at 8:15 pm and run until 11:30 pm or later, and participants must be 10 years or older and able to walk two miles on the beach. The cost is $25 per ticket.

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

The Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton offers nighttime sea turtle walks on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights from May 28 to July 3. The walks last from 8:45 pm to midnight (or until a nesting turtle is seen) and cost $20 per person. The center also offers daytime sea turtle hatchling releases, where visitors can watch tiny hatchlings scramble into the surf.

Public hatchling releases

• Registration and Fees: Most public hatchling release programs require advanced registration and have limited spots available, so be sure to plan ahead. Some programs offer discounted rates for residents or members. Fees typically range from $10 to $20 for adults, and some programs offer free participation for children under a certain age.
• Timing and Location: Public hatchling releases typically take place in the evenings, starting around 8:00 or 8:45 pm and lasting until midnight or later. Participants usually meet at a designated location, such as a nature center or park, before caravanning to the beach for the release.
• What to Expect: During the program, staff members will release rescued hatchlings back into the ocean under the cover of darkness. Participants will have the opportunity to watch as the tiny turtles make their way down to the waves and head off into the surf. It's important to note that these releases do not involve observing a nest hatch, as the timing of hatchings is unpredictable. Instead, the hatchlings released during the program will be recently hatched and excavated by trained personnel.
• What to Bring: It is recommended to wear medium or dark-colored clothing and sturdy shoes, such as sneakers or sandals, for walking on the sand. Bug spray and insect repellent are also suggested to protect against mosquitoes and other insects. Cameras without a flash are allowed, and video cameras without lights can produce good results, especially with infrared "night shot" capabilities. However, cell phone use is not permitted on the beach, as the light can disturb the turtles. Flashlights and other lights are also prohibited.
• Restrictions: It's important to note that these are hands-off programs, and only permitted individuals listed on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Marine Turtle Permit are allowed to handle or touch the sea turtles. Participants must also respect the federal and state laws regarding threatened and endangered species, maintaining a respectful distance and avoiding any actions that may disturb the turtles.
• Cancellations and Refunds: Most programs have a strict no-refund policy if a turtle is not spotted during the turtle walk portion of the program. However, if the program is cancelled in advance by the organizing entity, refunds may be issued.
• Locations: Various organizations and locations across Florida's Atlantic coast offer public hatchling release programs. Some popular locations include the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton, John D. MacArthur Beach State Park in North Palm Beach, and the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge in Melbourne Beach.

Public hatch success evaluations

The Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, spanning 20.5 miles of coastline from Melbourne Beach to Wabasso, is a key location for these evaluations. It is the most popular site for loggerhead sea turtles during the nesting season, and in recent years, it has also seen increasing numbers of leatherback and green turtles. The Sea Turtle Preservation Society, located just north of Melbourne Beach, offers sea turtle walks to the Wildlife Refuge, with a high success rate of spotting turtles.

Sebastian Inlet State Park in Melbourne Beach is another site for public hatch success evaluations, where loggerhead turtles are the most abundant, followed by green turtles, and occasionally, leatherback nests. Vero Beach, located less than an hour south of Melbourne, is another popular site for these evaluations, with Coastal Connections offering various opportunities to encounter wild sea turtles. Disney's Vero Beach Resort offers a Sea Turtle Night Walk, where participants are guaranteed to see turtles as scouts locate nests during a presentation.

The Florida Keys is another prime location to spot sea turtles, with five out of the seven species found in this area. Dry Tortugas National Park, accessible only by boat or plane, is one of the best places to see sea turtles in the Florida Keys. Loggerhead, hawksbill, and green sea turtles nest here, and they can also be spotted swimming in the surrounding waters throughout the year. Key West Reef, also known as "The Great Florida Reef," is the only living coral barrier reef in the United States and the third largest in the world. It is a popular spot for snorkelling and offers the chance to see adult sea turtles migrating to and from the reef.

Visit a rehabilitation centre

If you're looking to see sea turtles in Florida, one option is to visit a rehabilitation centre. Here are some options for rehabilitation centres to visit:

The Turtle Hospital, Marathon

The Turtle Hospital in Marathon is a non-profit rehabilitation centre that cares for sick and injured sea turtles. The hospital offers tours that allow visitors to see sea turtles up close. It is located at 2396 Overseas Highway at mile marker 48.5 on the bay side. The phone number is 305-743-2552, and the fee for adults is $27, $13 for ages 4-12, and free for under 4. Reservations are recommended.

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, Sarasota

This world-renowned facility provides education and interaction with sea turtles and other marine life. Visitors can view sea turtles, sharks, manatees, and more. The fee for adults (13 and over) is $24, and $18 for ages 3-12. Members get in free.

Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center, Navarre Beach

The Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center is a mostly volunteer-run conservation and education centre open to the public. Their mission is to protect and conserve threatened and endangered sea turtles through community education and research. The facility is open to the public year-round, including a 15,000-gallon saltwater pool where you can see Sweet Pea, a Green sea turtle. The fee is $5 per person, $4 for military and seniors (65+), and free for children 2 and under.

Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach

The Loggerhead Marinelife Center is a modern sea turtle hospital located right on the ocean. Their mission is to rehabilitate injured and diseased sea turtles while promoting conservation and protection. They offer guided tours that are educational and worthwhile. The fee for public guided tours is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 8. They also offer after-hours evening tours for ages 8 and up for $20 per person.

Archie Carr National Wildlife Rescue, Melbourne

The Archie Carr National Wildlife Rescue spans a 20.5-mile stretch of beach between Melbourne Beach and Wabasso Beach, protecting the habitat for loggerhead sea turtle nesting. It is also the site of a significant number of green turtle nestings. Guided tours are offered in June and July from 9 pm to 1 am and are conducted by state-permitted guides. The fee is $15 per person in advance, and reservations are required.

Visit a beach at sunrise to see hatchlings

Florida's beaches are the top spot for sea turtle nests in North America, with nearly 90% of sea turtle nesting in the US occurring in the state. The best time to see hatchlings is during the summer, from May to October, when sea turtles migrate to the beaches to lay their eggs.

If you want to see hatchlings, it's best to visit a beach at sunrise. When you get there, scan the waterline and the sandy areas towards the dunes for signs of emerging life. Many beachside towns have a volunteer-led sea turtle patrol service that scans the beach in the mornings for signs of newly laid nests or hatching sea turtles. If you see birds, like seagulls, dive-bombing the sand, it may be a sign that hatching sea turtles are near.

Remember that it is against the law to touch or disturb sea turtles, hatchlings, or their nests. The animals are protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act and the Florida Marine Protection Act.

• Cocoa Beach: I had a personal experience here, seeing newly-hatched sea turtles making their way to the ocean.
• Melbourne Beach: This beach is known for its high concentration of sea turtle nests.
• Vero Beach: This beach has a volunteer-led sea turtle patrol service that scans the beach for signs of newly laid nests or hatching sea turtles.
• Canaveral National Seashore: This beach offers sea turtle walks during the summer months, providing an opportunity to see nesting sea turtles.
• Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge: Located in Melbourne Beach, this refuge is home to one of the largest concentrations of loggerhead sea turtle nesting in the world.
• Sebastian Inlet State Park: This park is another great spot in Melbourne Beach to see sea turtles.

Frequently asked questions