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The newborn turtle wiggles its flippers in Mexico and takes off running across the sand. It reaches the water and starts swimming, disappearing into the waves.
Under a pastel sky that is swirling with the pearly sea, the beach is empty.
Bahía de Banderas in Mexico
A huge bay on the Pacific coast of Mexico stretches out around me.
Its waters certainly teem with wildlife, while the more than 150 kilometers of coastline..,
Divided between the states of Jalisco and Nayarit, they are full of energy, offering something for everyone and every taste.
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There are resorts there that offer plenty of activities for families, but also sleepy fishing villages
They leave the Sierra Madre forest and land in a jumble of coconut palms and disorganized beach restaurants.
The region's appeal is obvious
But until very recently this part of Mexico was mainly preserved for American tourists.
Now, direct flights from London and Manchester are starting to change that
However, it took the British 11 hours to reach Puerto Vallarta, the capital of Jalisco.
Puerto Vallarta
If you were to imagine a typical Mexican city, the bustling town of Puerto Vallarta would certainly fit the bill.
The old town certainly has cobbled streets, bright buildings and a colonial square
A long promenade by the sea and colorful bougainvillea flowers everywhere.
It was voted the friendliest place in the world and it's easy to see why:
Everyone I meet is friendly and clearly here for a long time.
Puerto Vallarta became famous when it was used to film Night of the Iguana in 1963, starring Richard Burton.
He moved to what was then a small seaside town with Elizabeth Taylor
And the world watched their growing romance with fascination.
Casa Kimberly, Taylor's home at the time, is now a boutique hotel with restaurants offering views of the city, the bay and the mountains beyond.
The city has grown rapidly, with resorts and hotels
Sprouting like tropical plants in fertile soil, there is an option for every budget.
I stay at Casa Velas, a quiet, shady oasis with peacocks roaming the gardens.
Its striking yellow villas are a 10-minute walk from the beach and from Velas Vallarta, its much larger, family-run sister hotel.
When I come down early on the first morning and see my turtle
It's hard to imagine that the deserted beach is full of sun loungers, families, water sports stations and people selling pineapples and coconuts.
But I don't have time to stay because I'm going to look for humpback whales.
Bahía de Banderas in Mexico
Biologist Maria Eugenia Rodríguez in the port of Puerto Vallarta
It wouldn't look out of place in Malibu with its pastel-colored seaside houses, palm trees and rows of yachts.
She puts on a windbreaker and a big sun hat and we head out into the bay in our little boat.
Eugenia, it's normal for Mexicans to use their middle name
He stands at the bow like a figurehead, scanning the water for signs of movement.
The waves increase as we move away from the shore and the boat falls over each one.
