Take in the wonder of the vibrant and diverse animal life throughout Rivera Nayarit and participate in ecotourism! Just a walk down the beach from the resort there is a Mexican Sea turtle protection preserve. Out of the seven species of sea turtles in the world, six of them arrive in Mexico each year between May and November to nest and lay their eggs. The sea turtle release program in Riviera Nayarit helps many of the endangered species increase their population numbers. The nesting season for sea turtles in Nayarit is from May to September and the incubation period is about 6 to 8 weeks. Baby sea turtle releases at La Penita Beach usually begins in August and continues though November. Come be a part of this interactive, educational, and emotional experience while helping increase the survival rate of new turtle hatchlings.

Swim with whale sharks, the largest fish on the planet, measuring 40 feet or more. They are large, slow moving, filter-feeding fish that eat mostly plankton, crustaceans, and small fish, therefore they pose no threat to humans. Whale sharks migrate to Riviera Nayarit from May through September which is the ideal time to take an unforgettable swim with them.

On many adventurer’s bucket lists is the sighting of Blue-footed Boobies. There are tours to Marietas Islands National Park, Isla Lobos, Isla Isabel, San Blas mangrove eco region just to name a few of the local areas you can enjoy watching these incredible birds at all the different stages of their development. The best time to see blue-footed boobies in Nayarit, Mexico is between October and March though the birds mate on land in the region throughout the year.

Dolphin spotting and whale watching is best during the winter months and absoltely breathtaking to view from the Villas and the resort grounds.

The El Cora Crocodile Sanctuary is located in the heart of the mangroves of the El Quelele Estuary in neighboring Bucerías. The sanctuary is run by a government organization that handles their protection and conservation as well as environmental education and ecotourism. There are guided tours for groups up to 20 people starting every 20 minutes and lasting approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. During the tour you’ll have the chance to learn from specialized biologists and veterinarians, interact with crocodiles and if the time is right, you can even feed them (the crocodiles are on a controlled diet, so it’s not always possible to do this).