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Can you see turtles in Madeira?

The Loggerhead sea turtle is one of the seven living sea turtle species of the world and is the most commonly encountered sea turtle in the waters of Madeira.



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Calheta Beach is one of the island of Madeira's few yellow sandy beaches. A peaceful swimming experience is guaranteed by two piers, so you can exercise in the sea all year round. Ribeira do Natal Beach enjoys properties that make it one of the best places for swimming. The transparency of its waters is remarkable.

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Sharks are widely distributed around Madeira Island with the most abundant species being M. mustelus.

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The best time to go, however, is between May and September, when whales and dolphins are most plentiful. Several species, including bottlenose dolphins, pilot whales, and sperm whales, can be seen throughout the year. From April to October, Bryde's whales are common, as are Atlantic spotted dolphins.

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The largest green turtle nesting population is found at Tortuguero, on the coast of Costa Rica where about 22,500 green turtle females nest annually. Raine Island, on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, has the second largest nesting population of about 18,000 females per season.

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The Galápagos Islands are a chain of volcanic islands off the coast of Ecuador, in South America, most famous for being the home to many giant tortoises and sea turtle populations. The giant tortoises of the Galápagos are among the most famous of the unique fauna of the islands.

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Violent crime involving tourists is extremely rare in Madeira and so you have little to worry about with regard to personal safety. But as with any travel destination, it's important to take basic travel safety precautions such as keeping your valuables close by and/or hidden, especially at night.

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So you can swim all year round in Madeira if you are not cold. If you want to sunbathe and swim, the months of May to September are obviously the best. The island of Porto Santo and its 7 km long beach should interest you, even if the influence of tourists is impressive in high season!

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Fish that can be found in Madeira Archipelago undersea
  • Devil Rays. Manta Ray Manta birostris.
  • Eagle Rays. Eagle Ray Myliobatis aquila.
  • Stingrays. Round Stingray Taeniura grabata.
  • Butterfly Rays. Butterfly Ray Gymnura altavela.
  • Electic Rays. Marbled Electic Ray Torpedo marmorata.
  • Skates. ...
  • Lizard Fish. ...
  • Moray Eels.


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July to October is the peak nesting and hatching period for green sea turtles in locations such as Tortuguero National Park, whereas it's March to October for the hawksbill turtle, which prefers the Caribbean coast and can nest up to four times each season.

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Do not enter the water too close to a sea turtle. Maintain a distance of at least 10 metres. Approach slowly and keep your distance. Back off if they start to show signs of distress like swimming away quickly, and do not chase them.

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Most nesting sea turtle species come ashore at night, alone, and often during high tide. Some species, such as the Kemp's ridley, nest during the day and generally emerge from the ocean by the hundreds to lay their nests in a mass nesting event called an arribada or arrival.

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Sea Life You Can Spot The most common whale species you can expect to see include the Sperm Whale, Sei Whale, Pilot Whale, Humpback Whale, Bryde Whale, False Killer Whale, Fin Whale, and even Orcas.

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