The town of Monterrico is situated on the Pacific

Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...

 coast of Guatemala

Guatemala

Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...

 in the departament of Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa (Guatemalan department)

Santa Rosa is a department in Guatemala. The capital is Cuilapa.- Municipalities :# Barberena# Casillas# Chiquimulilla# Cuilapa# Guazacapán# Nueva Santa Rosa# Oratorio# Pueblo Nuevo Viñas# San Juan Tecuaco# San Rafael Las Flores...

. Known for its volcanic black sand beaches and annual influx of sea turtle

Sea turtle

Sea turtles are marine reptiles that inhabit all of the world's oceans except the Arctic.-Distribution:...

s, the town also serves as a major weekend beach resort for citizens of Guatemala City

Guatemala City

Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...

. The town is growing more popular with foreign tourists largely because of the local sea turtle conservation efforts as well as the laid-back atmosphere of the area.

Sea turtle conservation

A few turtle conservation organizations operate in the Monterrico area because the long stretch of beach serves as a breeding ground for 4 species of sea turtles. Although some locals who hunt for sea turtle eggs during the August-November season do donate a percentage of their catch to the "tortugarios" (sea turtle hatcheries), the majority of eggs laid on the beach are harvested and eaten.