Discover The Palm Beaches has named Palm Beach County the Sea Turtle Capital of Florida, recognising the destination’s leading role in sea turtle nesting, conservation, and responsible coastal tourism.

From March through October each year, The Palm Beaches’ 47-mile coastline becomes one of the most significant sea turtle nesting habitats in the world. With more loggerhead sea turtle nests per mile than anywhere else in the United States, the destination’s beaches support approximately 2 million hatchlings annually.

The coastline offers ideal nesting conditions for several sea turtle species, including loggerhead, green, and leatherback turtles. Its eastward-jutting shoreline and proximity to the Gulf Stream create a warm, protected corridor that draws turtles to nest here year after year, with many spending their lives in nearby waters.

As the Sea Turtle Capital of Florida, The Palm Beaches invite visitors and residents to experience the conservation, care, and consideration provided for its bountiful marine residents. Visitors and locals alike can take part in several meaningful ways throughout the destination:

  • Visit Loggerhead Marinelife Center – named the No. 1 ‘Best Free Attraction’ in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for 2024 and 2025 – for an up-close look at sea turtles in rehabilitation and how they are cared for before returning to the ocean.
  • Join a guided nighttime turtle walk or seasonal hatchling release through Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, and Loggerhead Marinelife Center for a rare glimpse of nesting season in action. In addition, Gumbo Limbo’s Resident Sea Turtle Talks occur daily at 1 p.m., giving visitors the opportunity to meet the resident sea turtles on site, whose injuries prevent them from ever returning to the ocean.
  • Participate in one of five free sea turtle walks hosted by Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management in Jupiter this June – the only free turtle walks in The Palm Beaches. Follow @pbcerm on social media to see upcoming walk dates.
  • Watch episodes about sea turtle conservation on The Palm Beaches TV, including A Wild Connection and a feature on Loggerhead Marinelife Center.
  • Support nesting turtles by keeping beaches flat, dark, and calm at night and following local beach and boating guidance throughout the season.
  • Learn more about sea turtle nesting season in The Palm Beaches at ThePalmBeaches.com/Sea-Turtle-Capital.

“Sea turtles are an integral part of our identity and environmental legacy in The Palm Beaches,” said Milton Segarra, CDME, president and CEO of DTPB. “The Sea Turtle Capital™ designation highlights the importance of our nesting beaches and our responsibility to protect them. We invite visitors to experience our beaches responsibly so these habitats can be preserved for generations to come.”

Local conservation partners work year-round to monitor nests, protect hatchlings, and educate the public on how to minimize human impact during nesting season. The Palm Beaches have extensive sea turtle protections, including beach patrols, lighting regulations, boating guidance, oversight of beach furniture, and legal prohibitions against disturbing nests and hatchlings.