Green Turtle Arribada (Aves Island) — Hutchinson Island

About this spectacle

On the beaches of Hutchinson Island along Florida's Treasure Coast, green turtles emerge from the Atlantic under cover of darkness during the summer nesting season. Females haul themselves above the tide line, excavate deep nests in the sand, and deposit clutches of eggs before returning to the sea. Visitors who join permitted nighttime beach walks may witness the laborious crawl, the rhythmic digging, and the quiet departure — all accompanied by the sound of breaking surf. Hatchlings emerge weeks later, tumbling toward the water in the pre-dawn darkness. The experience is intimate and hushed: flashlights are forbidden, voices drop to whispers, and the sheer size of an adult green turtle — often exceeding a metre in length — commands awe at close quarters.

When to go

May — Oct, peak Jun — Aug

Getting there

Nearest airport: VRB. Nearest city: Fort Pierce.

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