La Coronilla and Cerro Verde
A quiet coastal stretch in northern Rocha, one of the country's main green turtle feeding grounds.
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The coast between La Coronilla and Cerro Verde is rocky rather than sandy in places, and the algae growing on those rocks feed juvenile green turtles that come here from nesting beaches thousands of kilometres away; it is one of the most important feeding areas for the species in the southwestern Atlantic. A conservation organisation works the site, and the coast is protected. La Coronilla itself is a small and quiet resort village.
What you actually see
- The green turtles - juveniles feeding on the algae-covered rocks through the summer.
- The rocky shore - the reef platform the turtles depend on.
- The conservation work - the monitoring programme run along this coast.
- La Coronilla village - a small quiet resort with a long beach.
When to go
December to March is when turtle numbers are highest. The village season is the same. Winter is very quiet with much closed.
Honest expectations
Turtles are in the water and are seen while snorkelling or from boats rather than on the beach; sightings are not guaranteed. Facilities in the village are basic and seasonal. Fishing nets remain a real threat to the turtles here.
Nearby
Santa Teresa is south, and Chuy is north.
What to pack for La Coronilla and Cerro Verde
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.