Turtle Island is Home to a Lone Olive Ridley Sea Turtle

TURTLE ISLAND

Photo from: http://tinarantado.com/travel-guide-to-guimaras-and-iloilo/

Guimaras is located southeast of Panay and northwest of Negros Islands in Western Visayas, Guimaras was a sub-province of Iloilo until it was made an independent province on May 22, 1992.

Tourists usually visit the island every summer and during Holy Week. One of the main attractions in this province is the Turtle Island in Lawi, Jordan, Guimaras. The island is popularly known as the sanctuary of pawikan or sea turtles. It is inhabited by a small population who will approach you once you dock on the beach where you register and pay a minimal fee that they use as budget for the maintenance of the island.

The Turtle Island can be reached either by water or by land. The island can be reached in a 30-minute boat ride from a nearby resort in Alubihod Bay, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras.

Since it’s only seasonal to find sea turtles of different species in the sanctuary, it is recommended to coordinate with the local government (032)524-1703 before visiting. Read More: http://www.choosephilippines.com/go/islands-and-beaches/4039/turtle-island-guimaras/

Photo from: http://www.pinoytravelfreak.com/2013/04/turtle-island-pawikan-guimaras.html

Turtle Island got its name – quite obviously – from its association with sea turtles. It used to be a sea turtle sanctuary but that has since been moved to the Sea Turtle Feeding and Caring Station also in Barangay Lawi, Jordan. Turtle Island has a wider beach front than Ave Maria Islet although the sand is not as fine. It is also possible to snorkel in its clear waters.

It might have lost its turtle sanctuary but Turtle Island is home to a lone Olive Ridley sea turtle. Our boatman took it from its holding tank and told us that we could hold it high for picture-taking, but noticing that it was stressing the poor creature, we politely declined. This turtle had been hatched and raised on the island. We also saw a small group of baby turtles in another holding tank; our boatman said that some turtles would still wade ashore to lay their eggs on the island. Read More: https://shoestringdiary.wordpress.com/2017/02/14/island-hopping-at-guimaras/

Photo from: https://www.choosephilippines.com/go/islands-and-beaches/4039/turtle-island-guimaras/

Turtle Island is part of a marine reserved area in Sitio Lusay, Lawi, Jordan, Guimaras. It is the municipality’s project for the preservation of endangered species. The sea turtles or pawikan, after being hatched, are cared for in aquarium-nursery and after few months are released in the sea. The fully grown turtles periodically return to the beach during mating seasons and lay their eggs in the sand.

Contact Person: c/o Municipality of Jordan Contact Number: 033-2381643 / 2381331 / 5813445. Read More: http://teddycaguioa.blogspot.com/2010/11/turtle-island-island-of-guimaras.html

Turtle Island

Address: Lawi, Jordan, Guimaras
Access: 30-minute boat ride from Alubihod Bay, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras
Contact: +63 335241703