Come Out of Your Shell at Tortuga del Sol

With an abundance of gay men’s resorts in Palm Springs, Tortuga del Sol offers a truly unique experience for the gay traveler. 

This boutique hotel located in the lovely Deep Well Estates area of Palm Springs features 12 nicely appointed rooms, some with Private Patios; the Pueblo and Hacienda suites include fully equipped kitchens or kitchenettes, perfect for your vacation in the Desert.  The location is just minutes from downtown Palm Springs and local gay clubs and restaurants.

The centerpiece of the resort is the Grand Pool Area where you can enjoy a nice swim (the pool is heated year-round) or just relax in the sun.  The 10-man Spa is the perfect place to make new friends and enjoy the beautiful star-studded sky.  In the winter months, guests gather around the fire-pit for lively conversation. 

What sets Tortuga del Sol apart from the many clothing optional gay men’s resorts in Palm Springs has much to do with the attitude of owners Ricardo and Robert and their family of “pets” - Turtles and Tortoises. 

There are a total of 6 adult turtles and 3 hatchlings. 

The patriarch is Big Daddy-- a 40 year old Salcata Tortoise whose origin is South African. At 90 pounds and 36 inches x 24 inches wide, Big Daddy is BIG. His life span is 90-100 years. He loves to be hand fed a variety of vegetables and fruits and will come running when he sees you’re there to feed him. Big Daddy was almost named Dozer because he has the strength of a bulldozer.   Zena is 8 years old and weighs in at 5 pounds. She is a Southern California Desert Tortoise. Very outgoing and would definitely beat a rabbit in a race. You’ll enjoy watching her break the turtle sound barrier.

Sowbona (which means “Greetings” in Zulu, the native language in South Africa) is a 7 year old Salcata Tortoise. When he arrived at the resort, he was a 3 month old hatchling. He weighs 15 pounds.

There are also 3 Red Ear Sliders; the mating pair had 5 babies last year that are doing very well. The Red Ear Sliders love to pose during the day in the middle of the pond on the rocks. Some guests have mistaken them for statues!

Ric and Rob want you to relax and enjoy the natural beauty and spirit of Palm Springs; they want you to stop and smell the roses – or in their case, stop and enjoy the turtles.