About
Turtle Love is a nonprofit conservation organization protecting wildlife along Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast through community involvement, applied research, and collaboration with environmental agencies. Its community-based conservation project protects sea turtles nesting along Playa Tres, a five-kilometer stretch immediately south of Tortuguero National Park. Beyond sea turtle conservation, Turtle Love conducts research on freshwater turtles and jaguars, generating valuable data to better understand local wildlife while engaging communities in the long-term protection of Tortuguero’s ecosystems.
Impact
5,000+
Sea Turtle Nests
Protected
500,000+
Hatchlings Saved
70%
Reduction in
Nest Poaching
Since 2018
Programs
Sea Turtle Conservation
Protects nesting beaches, monitors sea turtle populations, and reduces illegal egg harvesting through community-based conservation.
Freshwater Turtle Research
Studies understudied turtle populations through field monitoring, surveys, captures, and tracking to strengthen scientific knowledge.
Jaguar Research Center
Uses camera traps and field research to monitor jaguars and advance wildlife research, education, and conservation in Tortuguero.
Current Need
Building on years of conservation work, Turtle Love aims to protect 1,000+ additional sea turtle nests, strengthen population monitoring, and further reduce poaching along Playa Tres. The organization also plans to expand freshwater turtle surveys and tracking while developing the Jaguar Research Center as a hub for wildlife research, education, and community engagement in Tortuguero. Donations, partnerships, volunteers, and increased visibility will help protect vulnerable species and expand long-term conservation efforts across the region.
Growing Stronger Every Year
We’re proud to participate in Amigos of Costa Rica’s Transparency Badge System, which evaluates organizations across three key areas: financial stewardship, governance, and community impact.
Organizations are recognized at four levels of growth: Seed, Sprout, Sapling, and Tree, helping donors better understand each organization’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
The badges displayed below reflect our current achievements and our ongoing commitment to strengthening our organization and maximizing our impact.
Finance
Governance
Impact
Ready to Join Our Mission?
Support this organization using the donation method that works best for you. Online giving is available through credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal, with additional options including wire transfers, stock gifts, checks, Zelle, and cryptocurrency donations.