Female sea turtles return to the same beach where they hatched to lay their own eggs — even if that beach is thousands of kilometres away. Scientists think they use Earth's magnetic field like an internal compass to find their way across the whole ocean. Nobody is entirely sure how they navigate so accurately, and it remains one of nature's great mysteries.
At certain beaches in Guatemala, hundreds of turtles come ashore on the same night in a huge group called an 'arribada', which is the Spanish word for arrival. Watching hundreds of turtles all digging their nests on a moonlit beach together is one of nature's most spectacular sights.
Baby turtles hatch about six to eight weeks after the eggs are laid. They break out of their shells using a special temporary tooth and then all scramble towards the sea together. The moonlight reflecting on the water usually guides them in the right direction. The whole dash from nest to sea takes only a few minutes.
Guatemala has turtle conservation programmes where people patrol beaches to protect the nests from predators and make sure the eggs hatch safely. Local communities are involved in protecting the turtles, and in some places tourists can watch hatchlings being released. It is a completely memorable experience — watching tiny turtles no bigger than your hand disappear into the waves.