Sea Turtles Return to Crete: A Shared Victory for Nature and Sustainable Travel
The loggerhead nesting season has “officially’ begun onnon-profitwell-known Crete, with sea turtle nests occurrence confirmed in all three of ARCHELON’s project areas: Rethymno, Messara, and Chania. These first nests mark the start to a challenging season where the commitment of beach users and hotel owners to protecting the loggerhead sea turtles will be put to the test.
The return of the adult female turtles to lay their eggs on these unique beaches of Crete is a reminder of the island’s ecological importance and the delicate balance between natural preservation and tourism. Through a growing network of volunteers, researchers, local businesses, and international partners, ARCHELON, a well known, non profit environmental NGO, is not only safeguarding the nesting sites but also building awareness about the role each of us plays in preserving them.
One of the main initiatives supporting ARCHELON’s work on the beaches of northern Crete in 2025 is the TUI Turtle Aid Greece project, carried out in collaboration with the TUI Care Foundation. This partnership reflects a coordinated approach to destination management, bringing together conservation teams, hotel staff, local communities, and tourists to help protect the beaches where sea turtles nest. By involving everyone, the project promotes shared responsibility and shows how different groups can successfully work together to care for a destination.
With nests already recorded and protected, the work now continues on the monitoring beaches, informing the public, and helping hatchlings safely reach the sea in the months ahead. Every protected nest is a small triumph, and together, they represent a broader success: a model of tourism that respects and protects the natural world.
Learn more about the TUI Turtle Aid Project: https://archelon.gr/en/what-we-do/projects-and-collaborations
World Environment Day: Keeping Sea Turtle Nesting Beaches Safe from Plastics and Bulldozers
Amvrakikos Project 2025: Special Call for a Field Leader
RECENT NEWS
- OUR NEWS22/06/2026
ARCHELON expresses its sorrow at the loss of Mona Khalil
- OUR NEWS19/06/2026
The world of marine megafauna: New Photo Exhibition at Agiannakis Environmental Station
The Exhibition is part of the LIFE MareNatura Project and is open to the public every Saturday 18:00 - 21:00.
- OUR NEWS16/06/2026
New data reveals that sea turtles follow much more complex migration strategies
World Sea Turtle Day is an opportunity to celebrate our achievements, but also to remember why we continue to research and protect these ancient ocean travellers.
- OUR NEWS16/06/2026
Coordinated action in Greece, Cyprus and Italy to protect sea turtles against the climate crisis
Today, June 16, the world celebrates World Sea Turtle Day. In the Mediterranean, this celebration comes at a critical turning point.
- OUR NEWS15/06/2026
Turtle Festival: Diving into Deep Waters at ARCHELON’s Sea Turtle Rescue Centre!
On the occasion of World Sea Turtle Day (June 16), last Saturday the ARCHELON Sea Turtle Rescue Centre opened its doors to the public for this year’s Turtle Festival, themed “Into Deep Waters.”
- OUR NEWS09/06/2026
Celebrating World Environment Day with Sea Turtles in Rethymno
Last Friday, ARCHELON's team in Rethymno took part in a special awareness-raising event, co-organized by the Municipality and the 2nd Experimental Primary School of Rethymno.
- OUR NEWS02/06/2026
Clean beaches, safe turtles: Our guide to responsible action
See some simple but crucial rules that must be followed for clean nesting beaches!
- OUR NEWS29/05/2026
Eight Hotels in northern Crete Receive “Turtle-Friendly” Certification from the TUI Care Foundation.
The eight hotel establishments in Northern Crete are among the first businesses worldwide to receive the new “Turtle-Friendly” certification from the TUI Care Foundation, developed in collaboration with ARCHELON. This distinction recognizes their commitment to protecting the nesting beaches of the loggerhead sea turtle and highlights the importance of cooperation between the tourism sector and nature conservation initiatives.
- OUR NEWS25/05/2026
Greek beaches stand out with 624 "Blue Flags"
On May 14th we met at Paleo Faliro for the official announcement of the 2026 awards of the International Blue Flag Program, organized by the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature.
- OUR NEWS18/05/2026
The nesting season has started in Greece: The first sea turtle nests for 2026 are spotted!
The first nests of the loggerhead sea turtle for 2026 have been found in Kyparissia Bay and in Zakynthos.
- OUR NEWS07/05/2026
ARCHELON’s Sea Turtle Tours presented in a Japanese Seminar for Sustainable Tourism
ur Sea Turtle Tours recently featured as a highlight in the Sustainable Tourism International Talk Sessions, organized by the Japan Alliance of Responsible Travel Agencies.
- OUR NEWS04/05/2026
Kids Turtle Festival 2026 "In Deep Water"
The ARCHELON Sea Turtle Rescue Centre opens its doors on World Turtle Day, June 13, and invites young and old to this year’s Kids Turtle Festival 2026 “In Deep Water”.
- OUR NEWS30/04/2026
Sea Turtle Beach Walk in Crete: A unique eco-tourism experience
The Sea Turtle Beach Walk is an organized activity that allows participants to get to know the natural environment of the sea turtle nesting site up close. Book your place now!
- OUR NEWS18/04/2026
How a sea turtle illuminated the unknown paths of the Aegean
Helen Jane was not just another dead sea turtle found on the Greek coastline. For ARCHELON researchers, she was a living beacon of information
- OUR NEWS17/04/2026
Is it Really 1 in 1,000? New Science Challenges the Iconic Sea Turtle Statistic
For decades, one quote has defined the struggle of sea turtle conservation: 1 in 1,000. This statistical information suggests that for every thousand hatchlings that enter the sea, only one will survive the long journey to adulthood.