Turtle-y transfixed: behind the scenes on Iberostar’s fam blending nature with nurture

I can hear the pitter patter of tiny feet. But no, I’m not about to announce an impending arrival (sorry mum). These are in fact tiny flippers and they belong to almost 200 baby sea turtles who mere hours ago were nestled in eggs on the shores of Mexico’s Riviera Maya. It’s almost midnight now and as I stand on the sandy beach at Iberostar Selection Paraiso Maya Suites with four TTG Sustainable Travel Ambassadors, the hatchlings are eager to escape their transportation box to begin their fight for survival in the Caribbean Sea. The Wave of Change team say these soft-shelled sweethearts will battle natural predators and fishing nets on their journey to adulthood; but thanks to Iberostar they’ve been given the best chance at life.

Any resort guest can pay the turtle nests a visit to learn about Iberostar’s conservation initiative. A protected enclosure sits on the seafront between Iberostar Selection Paraiso Maya Suites and Iberostar Selection Paraiso Lindo, which are two of the five all-inclusive, five-star hotels on the brand’s Paraiso complex (see box, below). Those willing to forgo an early night might be lucky enough to catch a nighttime release during peak hatching season (July-October), but if the stars don’t align, a snorkelling trip with resort-based dive shop Dressel Divers is an excellent turtle-spotting alternative.

Ocean adventure

For our Dressel Divers excursion we board a catamaran and sail south to a reef I soon see is thriving. Radiant purple corals as delicate as lace sit between marigold-yellow “fire” corals; the visibility is so impressive it’s like watching the underwater world in high definition. Friendly fish swim just centimetres from my mask, a shoal of sergeant major takes me by surprise as it sidles into sight – “they’re like bumble bees of the ocean”, I think to myself.

Charlotte Brown, Iberostar's manager of demand generation (UK), beckons me from afar – she’s on the other side of the reef and has spotted a hawksbill sea turtle surfacing for air. After a frantic but mindful splash across the surface I spot the creature too, which is now gliding effortlessly through the water, its surprisingly bright shell soon disappearing into the navy blue depths. I don’t realise how special this moment is until I learn all sea turtle species are classified vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Can you imagine, now, the importance of Iberostar’s protection programme here?

A few moments later I lay eyes on a coral nursery. But this isn’t the first I’ve seen of coral conservation along the Riviera Maya – Iberostar has a Coral Lab here, which is visited by groups from the Star Camp kids’ club three or four times a week and is always open for curious minds.

The agent Ambassadors, Charlotte, Aishling McLoughlin (business development director for Iberostar) and I piled into the lab earlier in the day to meet Ariadna Leon, who coordinates the brand’s reef restoration project in the Mexican Caribbean. She tells us her team looks after nine coral trees; they nurture and grow the animals (not plants, which is a common misconception) before replacing them in the nearby reef at Cozumel. 

“They have an 85% survival rate and they’re growing so fast,” she explains with an undeniably proud and passionate smile.

Ariadna also highlights how the hotels are allowing local mangroves to thrive, giving these carbon-absorbing plants space to grow on the shoreline and in the hotels’ public spaces. Not only is this beneficial to the ecosystem, it gives the resort a wild, jungle feel that means moving from beach to room to restaurant has guests feeling immersed in nature. However, guests keen to venture into the depths of the jungle can now choose an excursion created in partnership with Planeterra...

Into Mexico’s cenotes with Iberostar

The Iberostar Foundation is partnering with Planeterra to offer resort guests a range of community tourism projects benefitting more than 13,000 people. So far, seven projects have been implemented, one of which is Bejil Ha. This is a social enterprise that sees local families in the Yucatan Peninsula lead responsible cenote tours exploring Mexico’s magical jungle, caves and all the treasures that lie within.

 

 

Here are some top tips for selling the experience:

• Highlight how special this excursion is – it’s off the beaten path, led by locals and it showcases the true wonders of the underground world. Adventurers can expect to learn about stalagmites and stalactites, see bats in their natural habitat and meet Don Felipe, a stalwart who has spent more than 14 years living in the Mexican jungle.

• Suggest comfortable and sturdy shoes for the 20-minute jungle walk to the cenotes.

• Be prepared for mosquitos – tour leaders will ask customers to avoid repellent to preserve the cenotes, so long sleeves and trousers are recommended.

• The excursion involves a steep staircase, so ensure any clients booking are able to navigate steps.

• The tour visits three enclosed cenotes and features bat roosts, so do warn clients of this in case of phobias.

• Groups are accompanied by a photographer skilled in capturing these special underground scenes – tell clients they have the option to buy the photos for an additional fee on the day.

• On return to the Bejil Ha base, the community serves up a delicious, traditional Mexican feast of enchiladas with mole. Preferences are catered to, but clients with allergies might prefer to bring their own food.

Dining with a difference

Turtle protection, coral conservation and mangrove preservation are only a handful of the reasons Iberostar Hotels & Resorts was named Sustainable Travel Company of the Year at the Travel Industry Awards 2025. The use of Winnow technology to reduce food waste in more than 60 of its hotels’ kitchens is another.

We make it our mission to try as many of this single-use-plastic-free resort’s 15+ restaurants and bars during our six-night stay, and we’re able to dine safe in the knowledge that ingredients are seasonal, local and 100% of the seafood is responsibly sourced. While we know waste is effectively reduced and managed, there’s still very little left over at our table – the dishes are too tasty and easily devoured!

Our dinner at La Geisha Japanese Restaurant is no exception. We’re treated to a culinary show by a playful chef named Santiago who goes against everything we’re taught as a child when he juggles knives and plays with naked flames. Turns out though, this is highly entertaining. Our first taste of this teppanyaki meal is rice flung by Santiago from one side of the table to the other, with a few of us successfully catching the balled-up carbs between our mouths. The nigiri, fried seafood and meats that follow are served in the regular way – on plates – and we happily consume until we can consume no more.

Another culinary experience at Paraiso Maya Suites that has us as stuffed as burritos is a Mexican cooking class with Iberostar’s chefs, which can be organised for clients on request. Our set up beside Star Cafe and the Kukulkán bar is complete with coloured cloths, tropical flowers and sombreros that we swiftly don for our guacamole and ceviche tutorial. We combine avocado, onion, jalapeños and lime juice (I pass on the tomatoes) and finish with a sprinkle of salt. My guacamole is so spot on it’s almost gone before I’ve finished making it, and the ceviche we go on to assemble is soon washed down by a punchy margarita freshly poured by one of Iberostar's knowledgeable mixologists.

Before we know it, it’s time for lunch. One thing’s for sure: no one will ever go hungry at Iberostar Selection Paraiso Maya Suites. This is a place where guests can indulge, explore, learn and – most importantly – relax, confident that Iberostar keeps any unwanted impacts of their holiday to a minimum. For me, this feels like an all-inclusive hotel stay done right. 

I might not be a soon-to-be mother, but I do depart Mexico with one very large food baby – and a clearer conscience.

For more on how to find richer, responsible travel experiences, visit ttgmedia.com/sustainabletravelheroes.