Nacpan Sea Turtle Center is the largest private sea turtle conservation hub on Nacpan Beach, Palawan, dedicated to turtle conservation, rescue, and environmental education.
Loving Turtles, Loved by Turtles.
Hi, I'm Sylvia. My partner Henry and I moved to El Nido in 2014. We first arrived as backpackers—just passing through. But El Nido hooked us, especially Nacpan Beach. Its beauty is truly captivating.
With a lifelong dream of volunteering for animal conservation, I was shocked to learn that some locals were digging up turtle eggs to sell for extra income. My immediate reaction was to turn to Henry and say, "Let's buy the eggs back."
So we did—starting with 150 turtle eggs. We buried them back in the sand, but sadly, none of them hatched. We later learned that turtle eggs are incredibly fragile and cannot survive strong vibrations once moved incorrectly.
That failure sparked a mission. Together, we founded Nacpan Beach Turtle Hatchery—now the largest private sea turtle conservation center on Nacpan. We hope to gather every small contribution to protect these turtles together.
Every year, watching baby turtles crawl back to the sea — I'm moved to tears every single time.
Did you know?
998/1000
Human infant survival rate
1/1000
Sea turtle natural survival rate
Without dedicated conservation, only 1 in 1,000 sea turtle hatchlings survives to adulthood. Those that do will live for 12–30 years before returning to their exact birthplace—using their incredible biological "GPS"—to lay their own eggs and carry on the next generation.
Reading these numbers makes it clear why sea turtles are so critically endangered.
Our greatest hope is
to raise baby turtle survival rate to 1/200.
Every year we rescue more and more turtle hatchlings!
Since 2016, we have successfully hatched and released over
0baby turtles.
Rescued Turtles
Meet the turtles currently being cared for at our rescue center. Click a card to see details and photos.
01Mula
♀Green sea turtle
- Rescued
- 2026/2/12
- Released
- 2026/4/7
- Age
- 2–3 yrs
- Weight
- 7.29 kg
- Length
- 43 cm
- Width
- 41.5 cm
02Lolo
♂Green sea turtle
- Rescued
- 2026/3/31
- Passed away
- 2026/4/12
- Age
- 25–30+ yrs
- Weight
- —
- Length
- —
- Width
- —
03Rito
Green sea turtle
- Rescued
- 2026/4/12
- Outcome date
- —
- Age
- 1–2 yrs
- Weight
- 7.15 kg
- Length
- 43 cm
- Width
- 41 cm
The Story of Our Hatchery
From an empty patch of beach to the largest private turtle hatchery on Nacpan, where every step is fueled by love and grit.
There are 3 turtle species at Nacpan. The gray-blue is an olive ridley, the brown is a hawksbill, and the third is the green sea turtle.
Isn't survival just nature's balance?
Of the 7 sea turtle species in the world, 6 are endangered. The longer I lived in El Nido, the more I realized their decline is not natural selection - human activity is accelerating it.
Folk beliefs
People believe turtle eggs offer nourishment
Black market
Livelihoods are hard, and families need income.
Predators
Stray dogs, termites and sea birds.
We thought money alone could save them. We were wrong.
A nest averages 50-100 eggs. Locally, eggs are sold for 5 Pesos each. The first time, we paid 1,000 Peso for 150 eggs. dug a pit on the beach, and carefully buried them with our own hands. Our good intentions, of course, did not hatch a single turtle.
Experts mentored us.
The hatchery was born.
Sipadan turtle conservation expert
David McCann
Philippines ecology expert
Jamie Dichaves
When we realized the eggs we bought would not hatch, we started seeking help.
The first person we thought of was David, a sea turtle conservation expert we met while diving in Sipadan. We started exchanging frequent emails on November 25, 2016. That is how we learned—once eggs are strongly shaken, they stop developing. No wonder the eggs that rattled in the styrofoam boxes, and were then buried by us, never hatched.
In 2017, we had the fortune of meeting Jamie Dichaves, a local Philippines ecology expert. She was so enthusiastic that she flew to Nacpan to teach us subtle, essential conservation techniques. Thanks to them, we built the hatchery, piece by piece.
H wrote to David — and David replied immediately to check on us.
We opened a beach bar against all odds to give the baby turtles a home.
In 2016, when we started buying turtle eggs, we covered every cost ourselves. In 2017, looking out at the ocean that made us fall in love with Nacpan, H and I decided to step into an unfamiliar industry: food and beverage. We opened a beach restaurant and bar, using the profits to fund the hatchery and all the countless details that come with it.
COVID-19 wiped everything out.
No tourists, no funding — what now?
Tourists and friends often saw what we were doing and wanted to donate. I always declined. Some people suggested letting guests pay to hold baby turtles for photos. And I never wanted our good intentions twisted into 'a business.'
But I never imagined 2019 would hand us a challenge this big. COVID-19 locked the world down. Our funding depended on tourists visiting the beach bar — suddenly, there were neither. With no tourists, there was no income, which meant no budget. But mother turtles do not pause for pandemics. When the season comes, they come to El Nido to lay their eggs. What now? I was terrified five years of work would end here.
COVID-19 shut El Nido down completely. The beach bar income went to zero — a massive blow for us.
Turtle adoption fundraiser — a huge success!
Thank you to every adoptive parent.
Since moving to El Nido, I have run a Facebook page documenting our life here and our conservation journey. After much reflection, I finally listened to Henry and launched our first "Baby Turtle Adoption" campaign.
At first, I was nervous about being criticized or whether it would even work—but it was our only option to keep going. The response moved me to my core. In that moment, I felt deeply that we were not walking this road alone. So many people supported us from the heart, and in a very short time, we raised the funds needed to save the baby turtles of the season.
Life doesn't follow plans—
'Turtle Rescue' became our new frontier.
In January 2026, El Nido's only marine animal medical rescue center suddenly shut down without warning. Seeing injured turtles with nowhere to go broke my heart. I decided right then: "I cannot stand by. We must carry this responsibility."
While medical rescue was part of our long-term plan, we were suddenly pushed years ahead of schedule. The pressure was overwhelming, but lives could not wait. We immediately began coordinating with sea turtle medical teams and the government, preparing equipment and undergoing intensive training.
Since February 2026, we have evolved into a full-spectrum hatchery and rescue shelter. No turtle, big or small, will be turned away.
Because love needs to be passed on.
After living in El Nido for ten years, I’ve realized that many people don't destroy the environment on purpose—they simply don't know the impact of their actions. When ignorance causes harm, the regret cuts deep. Education is the only real cure. We are building an "Ocean Classroom," partnering with local schools to empower local children to become "little sea turtle guides." We also want every traveler who visits Nacpan to leave with more than just pretty photos—we want them to carry home life-changing knowledge of the sea.
Honestly, I often think: every life has an end, and one day I too will be gone. But death should not be the end of this mission. Through this classroom, I hope to pass on this kindness toward all living things—like a baton handed to the next generation.
With the support of H Hospitality Group and our community, this dream is becoming real — the Ocean Classroom is scheduled to open in late 2026. Funded and built with the Group's support, this mission has finally moved from a wish to a reality.
If visitors leave here no longer just skimming the surface, but learning how to truly love this earth, then real change is happening. Even after I am gone, this spark of love will keep lighting up the ocean. It is the most tender gift I hope to leave behind for the future of our planet.
Where Your Funds Go
Every contribution is spent where it truly matters.
Professional training
Certifications and ongoing training for our 8 dedicated conservation staff.
Turtle egg buy-back
We pay locals 3,000 Pesos per nest reported—protecting eggs at the source.
Facility construction
Building and maintaining secure wooden and concrete hatchery nests.
Annual maintenance
Termite prevention, facility repairs, and daily upkeep of the center.
24-hour monitoring staff
Round-the-clock watchkeeping during the critical two-month incubation period.
Education outreach
Conservation programs designed for local fishermen and schools.
Medical equipment & supplies
Specialized gear and medicines for rescuing and treating injured turtles.
Rehab pool maintenance
Upkeep of rehabilitation pools to give injured turtles a safe, stable place to recover.
Veterinary care
Professional vets and medical staff treating injured turtles to raise rescue and survival rates.
Every life deserves protection.
Every turtle egg is a life waiting to be protected. Your support helps more baby turtles make it safely back to the sea.
You can join us in your own way:
- Adopt a turtle — link your name to this beach forever.
- Shop our charity store — every item carries our love for the ocean.
- Join a guided tour — step into the world of sea turtles and witness the miracle of life.
Whichever path you choose, you are an irreplaceable guardian of this beach.
