Who doesn’t love turtles? This gentle marine animal is surely adorable! Now, there are seven species of sea turtles in the world. Sadly, all of them are endangered as a result of climate change and ocean acidification. For that reason, turtle conservation programs are gaining attention and popularity. That’s a good news because we can easily find places to see sea turtles!
Turtles can be found almost everywhere in the world, but some places are particularly impressive. So, you might ask – Where is the best place to see sea turtles? Then, you stumbled upon the right blog! We’ll take you on a journey in the footsteps of these reptiles and have compiled the 10 best places to see turtles for you.
Where are the Best Places to See Turtles?
- Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
- Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica
- Masirah Island, Oman
- Hikkaduwa Beach, Sri Lanka
- Turtle Village, Madagascar
- Laniakea Beach, Hawaii
- Coral Coast, Western Australia
- Gili Islands, Indonesia
- Sipadan Island, Malaysia
- Great Barrier Reef, Australia
10. Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Raine Island National Park on the northern Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest nesting site for green sea turtles. Thus, November and March is the breeding season of the turtles here and you can help the small, newly hatched offspring on their way to the sea. As sea turtles become a usual scene in Raine Island, it is considered one of the best places to see turtles.
When diving at the Great Barrier Reef, you may be lucky enough to spot an Australian green turtle. Moreover, the Great Barrier Reef is also one of the best diving spots in the world. So, a trip to this beautiful reef zone will guarantee you an adventure you won’t ever forgot!
9. Sipadan, Malaysia
Sipadan is a small island in the Celebes Sea, which belongs to Borneo and is about 36 km off the Malaysian coast. The beautiful island is a famous diving area for sharks, barracuda, and turtles. Furthermore, it is home to the world famous Turtle Cavern. It is a unique dive spot which includes a 18 meters-deep cavern. Inside the cave, you can see fascinating geological structures and lots of turtles’ skeletons. However, you need to be a certified diver to explore the outstanding spot.
Not an experienced diver or just want to see the turtles? No worries! You can still see sea turtles on the beach or shallow waters. Thus, there are two main species of sea turtles you can see in Sipadan, which are the green and hawkbill sea turtle.
8. Gili Islands, Indonesia
Where can you see turtles in Indonesia? Even better – where can you swim with them? The Gili Islands in Bali’s neighboring island Lombok are famous for its wild sea turtles. The beautiful animals live peacefully in the protected and pristine waters. If you are going snorkeling near the biggest island of Gili Trawangan, you are most likely to see turtles.
Turtle conservation is an important matter in the Gili Islands. Although travelers can swim along the turtles, they are prohibited to touch the animals. Strict laws against hunting are applied within the area. Besides that, the Gili Islands have turtle conservation centers. You can see baby turtles are being taken care of before released to the wild. Therefore, it is one of the best places to see turtles in the world.
7. Coral Coast, Western Australia
Coral Coast is an exquisite coastline that is tucked away two hours from Perth. The coast stretches to over 1100km long, offering sandy beaches and beautiful reefs. Some of the best reef spots to see along Coral Coast are Ningaloo Reef and Shark Bay, which are also considered as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Thus, the reefs of Coral Coast boasts a diverse underwater species, including turtles.
You can see three of the world’s turtles species in Western Australia. They are swimming gracefully around the coral reefs. Thus, the sea turtles also lay their eggs on the beach of Ningaloo Reef. For that reason, Western Australia’s Coral Coast is on the list of the best places to see turtles.
6. Laniakea Beach, Hawaii
Where to see turtles in Oahu? – You might ask. Head to Laniakea Beach and get ready to be stunned! This beautiful beach in Oahu is often called ‘Turtle Beach’ for a reason. As you arrived on the beach, you can see a large group of sea turtles dozing under the sun. It’s not surprising that Laniakea Beach in Oahu is considered one of the best places to see turtles in the world.
Of course, the turtles look so adorable! However, be mindful to not touch them as they can be aggressive when feel threatened. Besides that, avoid littering in the area so the turtles well. Furthermore, the best time to see the sea turtles are from 11 AM to 1 PM.
5. Turtle Village, Madagascar
Step away from the beach and head to the lush jungles of Madagascar to see insanely adorable turtles. Other than sea turtles, Madagascar has endangered Madagascan big-headed turtles and radiated tortoises. You can see these unbelievable species in Turtle Village, a conservation center in the Renalia Nature Reserve. With these unique turtle species and conservation centers, Madagascar is considered one of the best places to see turtles.
Turtles are strictly protected in Madagascar as their species keeps declining. It is due to over hunting in the country. Thus, turtles are considered as delicacies and have healing properties. For that reason, visiting the turtle reserves in Madagascar can contribute to wildlife conservation.Thus, it is a good approach if you want to start traveling sustainably.
4. Hikkaduwa Beach, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is home to five of the seven species of sea turtles. Then, Hikkaduwa Beach is one of the best places to see turtles in the country. In the beach, you can find turtle conservation centers and hatchery. Additionally, there is a part of the beach where you can swim with the turtles.
Another interesting thing about seeing turtles in Hikkaduwa Beach is the hatching program. You can help the volunteers take care of baby turtles and release them to the wild.
3. Masirah Island, Oman
Masirah Island on the east coast of Oman is a well-known nesting site for loggerhead and green sea turtles. As it is still unheard by tourists, turtle conservation in Masirah Island is unbothered. Thus, you can see turtles lazing under the sun and swimming gracefully in the waters.
Masirah Island was just recently opened for tourism. The palm-lined pristine island offers a lot of interesting things to do, including turtle-watching. Thus, it is one of the best places to see turtles in their natural habitat.
2. Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica
In Tortuguero National Park in Costa Rica, you will find untouched rainforests, incredible biodiversity, and black, almost deserted beaches. The name of the park means ‘place where the turtles come’. Thus, the name is well deserved because every year between March and October many green sea turtles and leatherback turtles come here to dig their eggs into the sand.
The park is located in the northeast of Costa Rica, on the Caribbean coast, and is also called the ‘Amazon of Costa Rica. During the breeding season, you can take guided tours along the beach and learn about turtle conservation. Besides that, you can also release baby turtles to the sea!
1. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
If we are talking about the best place to see turtles, we won’t leave out Galapagos Islands. The islands are considered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is home to the famous giant Galapagos turtle, as well as several species of sea turtles. The diverse and remarkable species in the Galapagos Island will make a nature lover go crazy.
When visiting the Galapagos Islands, you will need a guide to lead you around the island. A visit to the Galapagos Islands is a real adventure where you can learn a lot about nature and the environment.
Encountering sea turtles can be put into your bucket list. These 10 best places to see sea turtles are for you to visit if you are into nature or simply want to see the majestic animal.
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