The Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) is one of the most impressive and widely recognized sea turtle species in the world — and a regular visitor to the warm, nutrient-rich waters surrounding Madeira Island.
Thanks to responsible wildlife watching, you can often spot these fascinating animals on OnTales whale watching tours. Their presence here highlights the island’s healthy marine ecosystem and makes every wildlife excursion truly memorable.
This guide covers everything about Loggerheads in Madeira: biology, behavior, migration, conservation status, threats, and how to see one in the wild.
Fun fact:
A newborn Loggerhead hatchling is about the size of your hand — but during its life it may travel thousands of kilometers across entire oceans before returning to the same beach where it was born!
Their oversized head — the reason for the name “loggerhead” — houses incredibly strong jaw muscles. This allows Loggerheads to crush hard prey such as clams, mussels and crabs.
Loggerhead turtles vary in size depending on age:
The individuals seen around Madeira are typically adolescents that have crossed significant distances across the Atlantic.
Loggerheads spend most of their lives offshore but surface frequently to breathe, warm themselves in the sun, or rest near calm waters. They are strong swimmers and capable of extraordinary long migrations.
Loggerhead turtles are distributed globally across:
Hatchlings drift with warm ocean currents and rely on floating seaweed mats for shelter and food. As adults, females return to their birth beaches to lay eggs — a behavior called philopatry, meaning “love of home.”
Some Loggerheads sighted in Madeira likely began life on beaches in Florida, Cape Verde, or the Caribbean before crossing the ocean.
Loggerheads are omnivores, but they specialize in hard-shelled prey:
Their powerful beak makes them one of the few sea turtle species able to crush heavy shells.
Unfortunately, Loggerheads are classified as Vulnerable and face major threats:
Accidental capture in fishing gear is one of the most common dangers.
Plastic bags resemble jellyfish, a favorite food, leading to accidental ingestion. Lost fishing gear also poses entanglement risks.
Tourism and construction near beaches disrupt nesting habitats.
Loggerheads surface often, making collisions with vessels a significant threat around coastal areas.
Rising sand temperatures affect hatchling sex ratios and threaten future populations.
The waters around Madeira Island offer ideal conditions for juvenile Loggerheads. Warm currents, abundant food sources and low predator pressure make these waters an important developmental habitat. This makes Madeira one of the best places in the Atlantic to observe Loggerhead turtles responsibly and sustainably. Loggerhead Sea Turtles live in Madeira for 15 to 30 years. The Loggerhead Sea Turtle is one of the most extraordinary marine animals found in Madeira’s waters. Whether resting near the surface or gliding gracefully below, these turtles offer moments of real connection with nature. These lovely animals are marine reptiles. When they reach Madeira Island, we know that they have crossed the Atlantic Ocean from the coast of the American continent. They were born either in Florida or on the coast of Mexico. They swim to Madeira when they reach 1 year old. Only when over 15 to 30 years old do they decide to go back to the american coastline to spend their last days. Juvenile turtles usually range from 15.5 cm to 72.2 cm. Adult ones can grow to more than one meter long ! The head is large in relation to the size of the body. They stay in the water for long periods to warm up with the sunlight.
Hatching is the process when a baby animal emerges from its egg. Hatchlings usually emerge from the sand 50–70 days after eggs are laid, depending on temperature:
Warmer sand = faster incubation
Cooler sand = slower development
Most hatching occurs at night to avoid predators.
If you have ever wondered: what does a loggerhead sea turtle look like? Join us on one of our Tours. During OnTales whale watching tours in Madeira, Loggerhead turtles are one of the most frequently sighted marine species.
OnTales follows strict ethical guidelines to ensure wildlife is observed respectfully — keeping animals safe while allowing guests unforgettable close-to-nature experiences.
Seeing a Loggerhead glide peacefully through crystal-clear waters is often a highlight for visitors.
Madeira’s waters are rich in biodiversity. Here are more marine species you may encounter (all linking to OnTales species pages):
These species make Madeira one of the most exciting wildlife regions in Europe.
No. They are gentle and not aggressive toward humans.
Swimming is not recommended. Responsible observation from a boat keeps turtles safe and stress-free.
Loggerheads can be seen year-round, but sightings increase during warmer months.
Madeira’s waters offer ideal feeding grounds and safe environments for young turtles to grow.
They typically cruise at 1–2 km/h but can burst up to 30 km/h when threatened.
No — turtles are air-breathing reptiles and must surface for oxygen. Some aquatic turtles can absorb small amounts of oxygen through their skin or cloaca, which helps them stay underwater longer, but they do not have gills like fish. So
It depends on the species and age:
Healthy adult turtles: 6–12 weeks
Wild turtles during hibernation: several months
Baby turtles: only a few days
Pet turtles should never be deliberately starved, and clean water must always be available.
Turtles are long-lived creatures:
Sea turtles: 50–100+ years
Tortoises: 80–150+ years (some even 200+)
Freshwater turtles: 20–40 years (up to 60 for some species)
Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) often live 70+ years.
