for at least five out of seven sea turtle species worldwide.

Between the months of May to September,

in the popular vacation towns of Tulum and Cancun,

endangered turtles, like the loggerhead

and green turtles, are setting up nests on the beach.

Volunteers like the one in our next film,

Aurora (Dawn), patrol the nest to make sure

every baby turtle makes it to safety.

Their sanctuary is one of the largest in the country.

So come along to see what it takes

to help protect a species at the brink of extinction.

This is Aurora (Dawn) from filmmakers

Emilio Alvarez and Daniel Mendoza.

(waves crashing)

- [Narrator] In the afternoon, we count the eggshells

and rescue the turtles that get stuck

at the bottom of the nests.

Most of them have barely a few hours outside of the egg

and getting them out to safety until nightfall

is their only chance to ever reach the sea.

Sometimes we have to dig

around three feet deep to find them.

And even though a lot of them don't make it,

it's worth the effort.

At the camp, we patrol the beaches every night

in the search of sea turtles that come to nest

so we can have an accurate record

of all the specimens that come to Xcacel each year.

You can be burned out, but being surrounded

by everyone getting ready, somehow lifts your spirits up.

(people chatting and laughing)

You walk through the beach,

feeling the sand on your feet,

the wind in your face, hoping for it to be a windy night

that keeps the mosquitoes away.

You feel connected to the sea, the stars.

And wait for the first sea turtles of the night to appear.

Loggerhead and green sea turtles

come to the shores of Xcacel to nest,

both endangered species.

Some can take over two hours nesting,

and can lay more than 120 eggs.

The immense effort forces them to stop constantly,

but only to take a deep breath

and carry on with determination.

We don't just take measurements.

We also protect them from any adverse situation

that could happen along the way.

To witness how they end in these beaches,

such a long and rough journey always leaves me in awe.

They're completely free.

They go wherever they want through the vast ocean.

However, they always come back.

They never forget their home.

(waves crashing)

To be part of this program,

you have to be able to adapt.

Sleep little, have odd schedules,

but it's easier when you're accompanied.

We're volunteers of all ages and all parts of Mexico

who have come together to put all our energy

in the protection of this natural sanctuary.

Xcacel is a very attractive place for tourism.

And even though it's a natural protected area,

it is constantly in danger by resorts and real estate firms.

That's why this conservation project is so important.

At dusk, when frigatebirds leave,

the newborn sea turtles can hatch safely.

On one side, the immensity.

On the other, the tenderness of the newborn sea turtles,

going towards the sea.

It's incredible to see how it all coexists

in the same space.

For every thousand sea turtles that cross the beach,

only one will come back as an adult.

But that doesn't stop them.

They just hatched, they're new in this world,

and they go straight to adventure,

to the toughest and longest journey of their lives.

(intense inspirational music)

The sea rolls them over,

but they keep fighting to get to their destination,

guided by the moonlight.

That perseverance is inspiring.

(waves crashing gently)

The nights are always long and exhausting,

but all this tiredness disappears with dawn

and you feel part of the landscape.

You can't stop up thinking

about the little sea turtles

and the journey they just started.

Deep down, you feel very happy for them

and you feel proud for the work you've done.

(waves crash)

And your day begins and you know,

you're doing the right thing.

(light, inspirational music)