Make your South Padre Island vacation fun AND educational when you select some of our most popular ecotourism activities to fill your time. If you’re looking for some of the best things to do in South Padre Island, Sea Turtle, Inc. gives its guests an up-close look into sea turtle conservation.
Sea Turtle, Inc. is open year-round for visitors to explore their various sea turtle exhibits including, Rehabilitation, Education, and Resident centers. Take a self-guided tour through their facilities and learn about the varieties of sea turtles right in the Gulf of Mexico!
The entry price for Sea Turtle, Inc. is reasonable, ranging from free for children 4 and under to $10 for adults. Please note that Sea Turtle, Inc. does not accept cash, only credit and debit cards. Admission grants you access to the three parts of their facility and the opportunity to observe feedings and educational lessons. There are no time restraints, so your $10 entry fee, which acts as a donation to the facility, allows you to spend as much or as little time exploring all there is to know about the resident turtles.
As guests enter you will see several tanks set up in the Rehabilitation center. Sea turtles who are under care are placed in the rehabilitation area to allow for closer monitoring. You can see information about the turtles under supervision via Sea Turtle Inc.’s website. You can read up on what the turtle is being treated for, their forms of treatment, and options on how to help. From rehabilitation, there is a 90% release rate. If you hang around the Rehabilitation center long enough, you might even get to see one of the team members feeding or treating the turtles, making for an up-close and personal experience!
From the Rehabilitation area, you can take the outdoor walkway to the Residence section of the facility. Turtles in the Residence area are unable to be fully rehabilitated and spend their lives at Sea Turtle, Inc. The reason that these turtles remain permanently with Sea Turtle Inc., is typically due to the risks they would face if turned back into the wild. Each turtle is given a name and their individual stories can typically be found on the exterior of their tanks. The staff is highly knowledgeable and can answer any questions you may have about the turtles. They can also give you the times of the next daily feeding if you’d like to watch. Feedings occur in both the Residence and Rehabilitation sections.
The Education section is full of fun information about sea turtles that’s appropriate for the whole family. Turtle Talks and presentations start at 11:30 am. Outside lessons and concerts are performed from the outdoor amphitheater. There is also a gift shop where you can buy any number of sea turtle and marine life souvenirs.
Tourist Tip: Sea Turtle, Inc. allows friendly dogs and cats on leashes or in strollers. If you’re staying in one of our South Padre Island pet-friendly rentals, feel free to bring your furry friend along for the fun! Everyone could use a little more sea turtle education in their lives!
By: Lisa M. Lopez
