Gumbo Limbo Nature Center

What to do when your Floridian friend and brother inform you that they are afraid of sharks, crocodiles, snakes and can’t drive well enough to get you to see the manatees? You scrap your lifetime dream of going to the Everglades. Thankfully, my friend wasn’t afflicted with chelanophobia and the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center was tops on my lists of things to do by Delray Beach.
Along with wolves, big cats, and pandas, turtles are way up on my list of favorite wild creatures. Here you will see turtles, as this important conservation and education center works with the city of Boca Raton and Florida Atlantic University to study and save this endangered animal, along with other plants and wildlife. The center has two large tanks, housing marine fish and two rescued turtles that were unable to be released back to the wild. My friend thought there was a small shark in with them and I was gratified to discover that the center takes its preservation edict seriously and didn’t have a shark, as those lovely animals don’t do well in tanks. Downstairs are the hatcheries and also the rehabilitation tanks, where turtles, that have been injured by shark bites, idiot humans and their boats, get nursed by to health. It’s a tough job, and the caring, enthusiastic, friendly and knowledgeable staff and volunteers do an amazing job at it. I learned much from the gentleman who spoke to us at the two main tanks.
The central office has small tanks, with snakes and fish and an interesting gift shop to peruse in. I found my soul mate in the fish world, the lionfish with the expanding stomach, in one of their tanks. You will find many fun facts here that aquariums don’t always post. There is also a butterfly garden, which we missed. When we went, the skies started crackling with lighting and thunder and we were all recalled back to the main office after a short time outside for safety reasons. My friend, who did not fear attack from butterflies, had seen it before, and wanted to show me. So we tried to sneak out to see it when the lighting subsided. Alas, the staff here are as diligent guarding turtle nests as they are in catching visitors trying to slip out during storms and we were warned politely, again, of the dangers of water and lightning. Save yourself the embarrassment and listen to the lighting warnings. The entire place has a rustic feel, with wooden walkways that take you around the center. One boardwalk was closed when we went.
Years ago, I was blessed to have gone on a business trip with a colleague who too loved nature and we raced off in the night to join a walk to see a huge loggerhead turtle egg laying during the night. She must have laid over 200 eggs the size of golf balls. The entire encounter, even with my bug bites, was magical, as if nature was giving us a chance to hear just one beat in the rhythm of her eternal cycle. I urge any visitor to this area to see if the center has those turtle walks still. I know they have hatchling releases. The fee is nominal for such an incredible experience.
The center is free, though they ask for a donation. You can also chose to buy something from the gift shop to support their worthwhile efforts to save the turtle. This is a place you can spend a few hours watching these benevolent sea creatures.

I love Gumbo Limbo and this is always a favorite place for me to visit while in S FL and a great cause. However, I was really disappointed that the boardwalk area and tower were closed for renovations until the summer. This place was super over-​crowded (like everywhere) on Mother’s day and their limited parking was scarce. The cutest, unique stuffed animals can be found in their gift shop. I really wanted an excuse to buy an octopus or a squid!

My wife and I enjoyed the walk, the atmosphere and the views. Great place to go to on a relaxing Sunday afternoon and just walk away your tension. Hey some exercise and enjoy the scenery. We bought t-​shirts as well

What a great place to visit. went with our grandkids loved the turtles and fish tanks… also great souvenir shop !!!

Visited «Carr» — «our» green sea turtle my now 11 year old adopted.
He is receiving excellent care and will live out his years here due to s boat-​related injury.
We just LOVE it at Gumbo Limbo.

My toddlers (2 years old) had so much fun and we didn’t even have a chance to explore the whole park because we arrived 1 hour before closing. They close pretty early at 4pm every day and they make sure to let you know as soon as you walk through the door. They suggested coming back another time. Ummmmm excuse me? I did not like that AT ALL which is one of the reasons I am giving it 3 stars. As I was preparing to load the car and leave, one of the employees on a golf cart reminded us that they were closing. Seriously? Make sure to arrive before 3pm or you will be harassed the whole time!

Having grown up in the area Gumbo Limbo was always one of those easy field trips that you typically went to once a year as a kid with school. It was always fun and great for the schools as there is no cost for admission. I loved gumbo limbo so much as a youngster I even went to gumbo limbo camp (die hard ocean lover here). As I got older I started to forget about gumbo limbo, always remembering it was there but not really making an effort to check it out as an adult.
Until I saw online they were having a sea turtle festival on March 5. I thought a visit down memory lane was warranted. They had additional vendors/charity’s there all themed around water/​animal/​ocean conservation. The parking was packed but they had a free shuttle driving from Spanish river park to gumbo limbo for peeps. I parked at red reef and walked across.
The places has grown CRAZY from what I remember. They have an outdoor butterfly garden, aquarium tanks, sea turtle rehab area, walking trails, and so much else. My favorite was the sea turtle rehab as they had little bios of each turtle stating where they were found, approx age, and prognosis.
Overall it’s a great spot to visit without hurting the purse strings (just a $ 5 donation) and all the money goes to an amazing cause. A great place to take kids or kids at heart :)

I love this place! I’ve always been a fan of turtles and I fell head over heels with them even more today. It’s free. Yes, no cost. However, there is a suggested donation of 5 bucks a person. Feel free to donate more or less on what your heart desires. It all goes toward the rehabilitation of the live creatures that reside there and improvement of the nature center.
The FAU research facility, rehabilitation center, the aquariums, nature center, gift shop, and the tortoise habitat were the points of interest today. When I walked in the center, there were two sweet volunteers that were willing to answer any questions that I may have had. They gave me a map and explained to me where everything was. There are plenty of sea animals to observe, but the turtles are the highlight.
The rehabilitation «hospital» area is so cool. They had four large turtles that were in the process of being extra cared for here due to mishaps in the ocean prior to coming here. One of the turtles was attacked by a shark and one of the fins was severely damaged. Thanks to the incredible veterinarians that repaired its fin and is on the way to recovery. I was so touched by this! Also, there are some adorable baby turtles to check out in the same area. Ah, so cute!
My son and I are a huge fan of the outdoor marine aquariums. We saw stingrays, fishes, turtles, a shark, sea stars, lionfish, lobsters, and various sea creatures. You can observe the tanks behind several glasses and you are more than welcome to go upstairs to see it from the top where it’s all open for viewing. The top part has a cover for shade and to keep the inclement weather out of the tanks.
The FAU research facility is also a neat addition to the center. There are students that have various projects going on for the turtles. One of the projects they are studying are the effects of lighting on the behavior of sea turtles as well as the turtle behavior in their natural habitat. Another one is determining the effects of high salt levels on seagrasses. Every little thing makes a difference and the researchers are determined to find an answer.
The boardwalk trail is temporarily closed until the summer of 2016, so I wasn’t able to stroll on it. It will be neat to see what it has in store when it’s finished and opened back up for the customers to explore. I didn’t get a chance to go to the butterfly garden since we were short on time, but I will definitely check it out the next time I return.
It was a beautiful day outside and it was perfect to check out everything that was open for us to explore. I can imagine that it does get hot during the summer season, so stay hydrated and be prepared to wear some sunscreen if you plan to visit during that time. They are open everyday and there is no charge for parking. There is various events that go on throughout the year and more information can be found on their website (
). It’s worth checking out and spending the morning or afternoon here.

First off, all they ask is a suggested donation of $ 5 per person to check this place out, which is so nice of them. And seriously, give them at least $ 5 pp if you can. They do so much!
They had a butterfly garden you could walk around in. Then there are these huge tanks with plenty of fish, eels, and stingrays. If you climb up the stairs, you get to see them feed the fish also!
There is a little section with sea turtles in rehab. The volunteer was a wealth of information. He answered so many questions and knew every detail about each sea turtle that was there.
Everyone here was so nice, friendly, and polite.
I’d definitely want to return each time I’m in the area!

This was a great place to spend the afternoon with kids. There is parking and a suggested $ 5 donation. Kids get species checklists for their age group. A prize of a beaded bracelet is given if they complete it.
We really liked the main tank with different fish species, tortoises and sting rays. The tortoise tanks where the injured tortoises were healing were also great. The exhibit where it shows how long items take to decompose was very informative.
Cute gift shop with some beautiful items.

We wanted to do something interesting to fill in a little time with my 19 month old toddler and I’m so glad we went to this free (suggested donation of $ 5pp) nature center.
We saw a lot of fun things, the staff were friendly and knowledgable, they answered questions and took time to explain things. There was plenty to keep both adults and kids occupied. I loved watching the sea turtles, the teenie tiny sea horses were pretty cute too and my toddler went around shouting «fish» a lot.
Well worth a visit!

Really cute and awesome place as far as a nature center, they have a couple sea turtles in rehab and they have wonderful stories about how many they have been able to save.
There is no charge for entrance, they will take donations to be able to keep. doing what they do, they have 4 little aquariums so the kids can see some fishes and it’s really beautiful preserved, everybody there is extremely friendly!

I’ve been meaning to come here for so long… glad I finally made it!
The facility was stacked with kids on field trips and I’ll admit I was a little jealous I never got to come here as a kid.
They are basically a nature center, research facility and rehab center for injured turtles. You’ll see plenty of sea animals around, but the turtles are the main attraction.
There’s 2 large tanks where you can look at various fish and turtles swim around. Then there’s two smaller tanks where you can see various creatures like lobsters, fish, sea stars and a barracuda that looks mean, but the nice gentleman that volunteers there said is a very well behaved cuda lol
Then they have the rehab area. There’s a large turtle there with only three fins and various other younger turtles that have various ailments. This part also has my absolute favorite — a small tank full of baby turtles! They release these babies into the ocean every couple of nights I think. In this area they also have a window to look in on the vets giving the turtles check ups.
Last but not least is the research facility for FAU. Here students are running various projects — including one right now on how global warming effects the sex of sea turtles (their sex is determined by the heat they are incubated at). Because of Global Warming they are seeing nearly 2:1 females to male. Fascinating stuff.
The boardwalk is undergoing some maintenance, but from what I hear it’s going to be awesome when it’s all done.
So, you might be wondering how much? FREE.99. Yep! FREE.99!!! Well, kinda. They do ask for a suggested donation… but when I came in I didn’t feel pressured to pay… I tossed down some extra money though, cause I know they are fighting the good fight and deserve every dollar they can get. Perfect way to spend an afternoon — with the kids or a unique date.

I recently took a nature-​loving friend visiting from out of town here, as we were looking for something «meaningful» to do after a day of the usual touristy stuff. Living in Boca (less than 20 minutes away from the center), I must say it is great to have such a cool and interesting place like this in the area to check out! I had never been myself before this time, so I was looking forward to it.
Admission is technically free, but they do request a $ 5.00 donation to support the center, which I was happy to contribute. As soon as you walk in there is a welcome desk where you will be given information, directions, notice of daily events, etc. There are a couple fish and reptile tanks in this room which are worth seeing.
Outside here, there is a maze of boardwalks leading to various exhibits (some indoor under A/​C, and some exposed — bring a hat and a water bottle if it’s hot outside, as they don’t sell anything like that). You will see all kinds of marine life, including tanks with sea turtles, dozens of fish, stingrays, and more which is fascinating. There are some other displays as well throughout about topics like keeping the ocean clean, improving your environmental footprint, conserving energy, protecting vulnerable species, and more. All of the staff we encountered were very knowledgeable, friendly, and really seemed to enjoy what they are doing.
Beyond the marine life, they have walking trails which are beautiful, and lead to a thatch roof hut with seating where you can rest your legs. This backs up to a big lake, which had a small beach where you can watch the boat traffic go by. Coming back around, right at the exit of the trails is a gumbo limbo tree of which the center gets its name.
Overall, we had a great experience here (limited parking, and the tendency for large groups to visit at the same time are the only drawbacks). Even though it seems somewhat geared toward children, I highly recommend checking out the center regardless of age or interest, especially if you live nearby. It is worth supporting a kind of establishment like this working every day to protect the sea life here in South Florida.

Wonderful aquatic center. As a young adult I found this very informational as Mike, a volunteer, gave me not only interesting stories, but taught me quite a lot in a short time. The volunteers are very happy here and I can see why. These fish are in GREAT tanks that are very healthy. As a salt water tank owner and avid snorkel this was just a very cool experience to see some beautiful fish.
It took us 25 mins to go through everything. Nature trail is currently closed to renovation. $ 5 donation per person.
Red reef park across the street so make a day for the family and go snorkel after! Then learn about the fish after

If you have the time, and you are a nature lover — spend alllll day here. The birds, the gators, the fish… We did a lot of walking, so bring comfy shoes and something to keep you hydrated.
We spent quite a bit of time with the «tour guide» of the nature center (indoors). He strongly encouraged us to take some time inside before venturing out to the outdoors. I’m glad we did. Learning about how and why the wetlands are important was eye opening for both of us.
Spend some time (and money) in the gift shop or at the very least put some money in the donation box as you leave to explore the great outdoors. You can tell they put a lot of time and money into education.

This place is wonderful. They rescue turtles and have a wonderful staff of volunteers knowledgeable about all the aquatic life of Florida. This is a wonderful place to stroll with a family or as a couple. Walk through the butterfly gardens or down to the tiki hut by the water. You can also walk the boardwalk and climb up the tower and view all the way to the ocean.
The aquatic tanks are beautiful and you can watch them feed the various fish and discuss various aspects of the Florida horticulture and all things underwater.
I truly think this place is a gem and well worth the optional but strongly suggested $ 5 per person. Please pay it because they are all volunteer and depend on charitable contributions. Don’t forget to visit the turtle care area and see all the turtles currently being helped by them.

Tucked away from everything, among some apartment and condo buildings across from Red Reef Park’s beach, you’d find it hard to believe there is a nature center. You have probably driven past and thought nothing of it. Gumbo Limbo is a great place to support, as they do a lot for the environment. Your suggested $ 5 donation will go a long way, as you will learn below. The Gumbo Limbo Nature Center was founded in 1984, and includes 20 acres of protected barrier islands. Here are a few things they do:
–School Programs–
They instruct more than 10,000 school students in coastal and marine ecology every year.
Programs are constructed to meet the Sunshine State Standards Requirement in science education.
–Sea Turtle Conservation–
They monitor more than 600 nests a year within a five mile span of beaches.
They rescue injured turtles and release more than 6000 stranded hatchlings each nesting season
–Public Programs–
They offer a variety of programs for children, adults, and families facilitated by qualified naturalists and biologist.
–Research–
The Florida Atlantic University lab conducts valuable scientific research which enhances our understanding of sea turtle behavior, physiology, and ecology
The research creates practical applications in the conservation of sea turtles and other marine life
Your money helps support all that, and the place is run by volunteers. There are tanks on site that contain turtles and sting rays, some of which were injured, and are safely kept here. There are also freshwater and saltwater tanks with different kinds of fish. You will see some sharks in the saltwater tank, for example. The biggest thing, especially for turtle lovers, is the sea turtle rehabilitation. A lot of these turtles at the facility were mangled, or had tumors, and they are treated and kept here, until they are ready to be released. The loggerhead sea turtles seem to greet you with a wave as they splash in the tank.
In addition to the tanks and rehab facilities is a ¼ mile nature boardwalk through the hammock, with several native tree species. Be sure to pick up the free plant guide as you start on the boardwalk, and see how many of the plants you can identify while on the boardwalk. You’ll see plenty of strangler figs and of course, the gumbo limbo tree, after which the park is named, and which is common in our state of Florida. Along the mangroves, you will see crabs. Keep your eyes open or you may miss them, as they blend in with the colors of the mangrove root system! There is also a 40 foot observation tower to climb that will provide you with some great views of the Altantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. This is probably something a lot of kids would look forward to, so apart from telling them about the sea turtles, this would also be a great way to «sell them» the idea of a visit to Gumbo Limbo Nature Center.
Once you have explored these areas of the nature center, take the pathway toward the butterfly garden. On the pathway, you will see such plants as bonsais and other plants that are there for conservation purposes. As the walkway winds through, you will arrive at the butterfly garden. The best time to go and see some butterflies is at the end of spring and beginning of summer. I came closer to the middle of summer, yet was able to observe some beautiful monarch butterflies that were mating. You can sit on the bench and relax, while looking at the butterflies and plants. Overall, a great visit, fun, relaxing, educational, and at the same time, you’ll feel like you are doing your part in supporting a local organization that does so much for the local wildlife.

die schildkröten-​aufpäppelstation mit seinen weiteren einrichtungen wie aquarien, mangroven-​walk und schmetterlingsgarten ist eine tolle, sehens– und unterstützenswerte einrichtung mit unheimlich vielen netten informationsfreudigen volunteers und mitarbeitern, die sich dort ehrenamtlich engagieren! der freiwillige eintrittsbetrag liegt bei 5 $ pro person.

How can anyone not give this place 5 Stars?
It is run entirely by donations & all the people working there are volunteers. To any snobs expecting the place to be like some sort of amusement park like Seaworld or Miami Seaquarium wake up, this is a rehab center for injured Sea Turtles. The suggested donation is just $ 5 per person. We gave $ 10 each since it is a great cause. They do take credit cards if you don’t have cash with you.
Gumbo Limbo has quite a few
educational exhibits to look at & some cool aquarium tanks on display. The staff is extremely friendly & knowledgable. It takes about one hour to see the whole place and there is a small gift shop located in the visitors center.

This is the best place ever.
I love turtles. My husband does too. We both got the sea turtle plates moving to Florida. We decided to do a ‘Florida day’ and something Florida-​y and this was perfect.
We came Sunday at noon right as it opened which was perfect! It gets crowded fast and parking is limited, so coming early is best. Parking is free and admission is a suggested $ 5, so really cheap.
I’ve been to a lot of aquariums — The National Aquarium in Baltimore and Monterey Bay Aquarium for instance. I know this isn’t an Aquarium. It’s better. I would come here 100 times before I would go back to those other places. It is just such a cool place here.
This place is small, but has plenty of room to view. It doesn’t feel crowded. The volunteers are amazing — knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly beyond belief. They truly made the place shine. I loved hearing the turtles’ stories and how they were being rehabbed. It is crazy, amazing, and fairly sad but inspiring to hear the tales. I won’t spoil them for you, you should go hear them yourself! The FAU lab is a pretty cool sight too — its inside in a door off to the side so don’t miss it! Seeing the turtles up close is just awesome too. They have a lot to see, and a lot of stories to hear. We easily spent a few hours here.
There is an amazing butterfly garden with tons of butterflies as well as huge spiders. There is a beautiful walking trail with a 40 foot tower to see the views of the ocean and innercoastal. Its got a lot to do for being a fairly small operation.
This place is worth coming and spending some time at. It does get really hot since it’s pretty much all outdoors, so beware of that and keep hydrated