{"id":1761,"date":"2020-08-02T07:00:21","date_gmt":"2020-08-02T07:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?p=1761"},"modified":"2022-04-05T18:21:23","modified_gmt":"2022-04-05T18:21:23","slug":"releasing-turtles-at-playa-la-flor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?p=1761","title":{"rendered":"Releasing Turtles at Playa La Flor"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>We ventured 30 minutes south of San Juan Del Sur to Playa La Flor. It is a natural wildlife reserve where Olive Ridley sea turtles come to lay eggs between July and January every year. It is a beautiful white sand beach that is not marred by hotels and restaurants.<\/p>\n<p>The area is protected by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. There are guards there 24 hours\/day. It cost C$600 (USD 18) for our family of four to enter the beach.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-1761 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=1775'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2016\" height=\"1512\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_8048.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_8048.jpg 2016w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_8048-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_8048-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_8048-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_8048-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2016px) 100vw, 2016px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=1777'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2016\" height=\"1512\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_8050.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_8050.jpg 2016w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_8050-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_8050-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_8050-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_8050-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2016px) 100vw, 2016px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>The turtles are not laying eggs yet, but a guide took us out to the beach with a laundry basket full of baby Olive Ridley sea turtles. We got to place the turtles in the sand and watch them make their journey to the ocean.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-1761 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=1763'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2796-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2796-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2796-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2796-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2796-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2796-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2796-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=1767'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2809-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2809-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2809-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2809-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2809-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2809-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2809-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=1765'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2800-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2800-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2800-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2800-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2800-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2800-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2800-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=1770'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2819-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2819-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2819-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2819-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2819-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2819-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2819-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=1766'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2802-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2802-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2802-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2802-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2802-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2802-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2802-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>Lucas and Henry are worried about the turtles. Many of them would get close to the ocean and then a wave would carry them back to where they started. Also, we learned that very few turtles survive to adulthood.\u00a0 These turtles have a lot of predators in and out of the water.<\/p>\n<p>We arrived at 5:00 and stayed until it got dark at 7:00.\u00a0 We brought dinner with us and ate on the beach after we released the turtles. We also played frisbee on the large, pristine beach.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery galleryid-1761 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=1774'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2832-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2832-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2832-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2832-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2832-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2832-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2832-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=1773'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2831-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2831-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2831-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2831-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2831-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2831-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2831-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><strong>Getting There<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There are often tours that go to Playa La Flor. We have a car, so we drove. It is an easy 40-minute drive from San Juan Del Sur to Playa La Flor. The entrance to Playa La Flor is just after you pass Playa Del Coco.\u00a0 It is well marked.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1786 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/This-map-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"580\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/This-map-1.png 720w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/This-map-1-300x242.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Driving home at night is challenging. The road is winding and dark. On our way home we encountered dogs, horses, cats, people walking and riding bikes. Driving slowly is a must because these obstacles come at you seemingly out of nowhere.<\/p>\n<p>If we are still here in September, we will go back and see the turtles laying eggs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We ventured 30 minutes south of San Juan Del Sur to Playa La Flor. It is a natural wildlife reserve where Olive Ridley sea turtles come to lay eggs between July and January every year. It is a beautiful white sand beach that is not marred by hotels and restaurants. The area is protected by [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1788,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[119,5],"tags":[16,23,43,26,7,15],"class_list":["post-1761","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-central-america","category-travel","tag-family-travel","tag-nicaragua","tag-playa-la-flor","tag-san-juan-del-sur","tag-world-travel","tag-worldschooling"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1761","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1761"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1761\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1789,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1761\/revisions\/1789"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1788"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1761"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1761"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1761"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}