Nicaragua Real Estate: Sea Turtles

An enormous benefit of investing in Nicaragua real estate and choosing Nicaragua as a retirement destination is the opportunity to witness natural events that simply do not exist in North America. Nicaragua beaches, on both the Pacific and the Caribbean Coasts, are among the few beaches in the world where sea turtles arrive to lay their eggs. And when they arrive they come with friends. Sometimes up to one thousand arrive at once. This interesting event is called arribadas and occurs several times per year.

Along with sea turtles the Nicaragua real estate experience can give access to volcanoes, whale watching, exotic birds and monkeys, and world class surfing and sport fishing

Throughout the whole world, there are only seven species of sea turtles in existence. Five of those seven species are present in Nicaragua including the the Leatherback Turtle, the Loggerhead Turtle, Green Turtle, the Hawksbill Turtle, and the Olive Ridley Turtle. Each of these turtles has been placed on the endangered species list or the critically endangered species list. It is a real shame but positive steps to protect the turtles are getting traction. For example, it is now illegal to eat turtle eggs even though they were once considered a Nicaraguan delicacy.

The most common turtle on the Pacific beaches of Nicaragua is the Olive Ridley Turtle. The Leatherback Turtle and the Hawksbill Turtle can also be found here in much smaller numbers.

A significant problem threatening sea turtles on the Pacific Coast is the consumption of and commercial activitiy surrounding turtle eggs (as mentioned above) . The coastal dwellers have found an additional food source in the eggs and more significantly they found there was a very high demand for the eggs. The turtle eggs are easily sold to seafood restaurants or simply for people to eat on the street.

At the beaches of La Flor and Chacocente there is regulated protection of the turtles and turtle eggs. These protective services are managed by organizations like the Cocibolca Foundation and the Nicaraguan Army. At these sites agreements have been made with the local residents that allow the residents can take a certain number of eggs per season in exchange for their help regarding the protection of the sea turtle nests.

Environmentally sensitive tours to La Flor to watch the arribadas can be easily arranged in colourful and charming fishing village of San Juan del Sur. These tours will arrange transportation and a guide to take you to the nesting sites. Sea turtles are just one more reason that San Juan del Sur real estate is rapidly becoming the most ppopular Nicaragua real estate investment destination amongst retiring American baby boomers.