One of the reasons we were keen to head to this part of the Pacific Ocean (apart from the sea and beach of course) was that this time of year the giant Pacific Turtles come up to lay their eggs.

So a guide was arranged with us and a bunch of American friends at our hostal and off we went at 10pm to see if the turtle would come out to meet us.

This involved a long walk down a very dark beach, with the tide coming in, constantly making us run away to keep dry. Then a rowing boat across a lagoon by two local kids (who turned out could not swim!), to eventually arrive on an island where the turtes come to give birth to their little ones.

Once on the island we started to walk along the dark beach for a good hour or two looking out for any signs, but all we saw were discarded beer bottles and some rubbish scattered about.

After this long long walk we all sat down to wait and see. After half an hour our guide decided we should start walking back and see if we get lucky. Of course nothing appears apart from some more discarded beer bottles, some seaweed, a few sweet wrappers and some dog poo.

We rowed back across the lagoon, and then back to the hostel, by now it is 1.30am. So we did our best but in the end paid 15 pound for a long walk on a dark beach!

We suspect the turtles were hiding when they saw us and then thousands came out once they saw we had left. Im sure if you were planning to give birth you wouldnt be to keen on lots of tourists paying to come and watch. A bit of privacy is probably all the turtles want.

One saving aspect was the amazing night sky, we were very isolated and there was very little light pollution so we were treated to a rather spectacular astrological sight.

(Discaimer. Dave does not have a tripod or remote shutter release with him, it was windy and he was tired. So apologies for the blurry photo but we think it highlights our lonely waiting effort in hope of seeing the non existent turtles!!)