Playa Escobilla

Playa Escobilla is one of the most important sea turtle nesting beaches in the world, located about 25 kilometers southeast of Puerto Escondido. This long, wild beach is the site of the "arribada" — a spectacular mass nesting event where hundreds of thousands of olive ridley sea turtles come ashore simultaneously to lay their eggs. The arribada at Escobilla is one of nature's most extraordinary phenomena. Over the course of a few nights, as many as 500,000 turtles can arrive on a single stretch of beach. They emerge from the surf under cover of darkness, dig their nests, lay their eggs, and return to the ocean. The sight of thousands of turtles moving across the sand is genuinely awe-inspiring. Arribadas occur primarily between June and December, with peaks in August, September, and November. The exact timing is unpredictable — it depends on moon phases, ocean temperature, and other environmental factors. When an arribada happens, word spreads quickly through Puerto Escondido. The beach is protected by the Mexican government and access is controlled. Visits must be arranged through authorized guides, typically departing from Puerto Escondido in the late evening and arriving at the beach around midnight. Strict rules are enforced: no flash photography, no touching the turtles, and visitors must stay in designated areas. Outside of arribada events, individual turtles nest on Escobilla nightly during the season. Baby turtle releases are also organized, where visitors can help release newly hatched turtles into the ocean at sunset. Escobilla is not a typical tourist beach — there are no restaurants, hotels, or facilities. It exists purely for the turtles. But witnessing the arribada is one of the most profound wildlife experiences available anywhere in the world.