Nicaragua

Two small Caribbean islands in a protected marine area, with quiet reefs and a car-free island for snorkelling and diving.

🤿 In the water: Reef fish and corals, Nurse sharks resting on the reef, Eagle rays, Turtles, Hammerhead sharks (rare, deeper sites)

⛵ From the boat or shore, never in the water: Bottlenose dolphins (occasional, from the boat)

When: Mar-May. Calmer, clearer water is most likely in April and May, and again from mid August to mid October, but that is hurricane season. From November to March the trade winds make the crossing rough.

A Pacific bay town near a small wildlife refuge where olive ridley turtles nest in large groups, with humpback whales passing offshore.

⛵ From the boat or shore, never in the water: Olive ridley turtles nesting at night (with refuge guides, red light only), Humpback whales (from the boat), Dolphins (from the boat)

When: Sep-Nov. Mass nesting can happen from about July to January, most often September to November, on a few nights around the moon. Humpbacks from the north pass January to April, and from the south July to October.

A dry forest refuge on the Pacific where thousands of olive ridley turtles come ashore to nest on the same few nights.

⛵ From the boat or shore, never in the water: Olive ridley turtles nesting at night (with refuge guides, red light only), Leatherback turtles (very rare, a few nests each year on this coast)

When: Aug-Nov. Mass nesting has been recorded from about July to December, with several events each season. The dates cannot be known in advance.