Eclectic Kim Review: The Eco Center and Turtle Feeding at The Westin Bora Bora Resort

When I booked my stay at the Westin Bora Bora, I honestly did not know that the property also held a turtle sanctuary, called The Eco Center.

I knew that turtles were an important part of French Polynesian culture. But, it was after reserving a space and sitting in the Eco Center’s learning center that I learned exactly how much.

With a request to summon a cart for transport, I shortly arrived at the Eco Center.

Turtles are remarkable creatures with a rich cultural history. The presentation explored how turtles were once served as ceremonial dishes for royalty, establishing turtle soup as a traditional delicacy in certain cultures. While Polynesian governments have prohibited turtle consumption, illegal harvesting for black market trade continues to threaten these animals.

The Eco Center addresses this challenge through educational programs that teach children about turtle conservation and the importance of protecting these species. One particularly engaging element of the lecture was a paper mache turtle model that revealed the fascinating anatomy and internal structure of these ancient reptiles, providing visitors with an up-close look at their biological complexity.

Something that really struck me was the visual representation of what the center has found inside turtles. The main challenge to healthy turtles? Plastics. It was uncomfortable to hold a jar with a shockingly high amount of plastic that the center had removed from one turtle.

When a turtle eats plastic, it gets stuck in their stomach. This leads the turtle to think that they are full – when they are not. It’s just shitty plastics stuck in their stomach. As such, they starve to death.

I found the educational experiences fascinating and emotional.

Next, we were guided to the turtle feeding area where we encountered the four turtles currently under the center’s care. Observing these rehabilitating animals up close was truly inspiring.

Witnessing the direct impact of spear fishing was deeply moving – seeing a turtle with bandaged wounds served as a stark reminder of human interference with marine life. The staff explained important behavioral indicators: when turtles actively eat and dive, it signals recovery, while human-avoidant behavior indicates they’re ready for release back to their natural habitat.

A memorable moment occurred when staff transferred a turtle from its rehabilitation pen to the large lagoon for supervised swimming. Despite ongoing buoyancy issues from its injuries, the turtle’s obvious excitement and graceful movement among the fish and marine plants demonstrated remarkable resilience. Watching this small but significant step in its recovery process was deeply encouraging.

The turtle rehabilitation experience at The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa’s Eco Center created lasting memories that highlighted both the vulnerability of these ancient creatures and their capacity for healing. The encounter underscored how greater empathy and awareness toward wildlife can make a meaningful difference in conservation efforts.