Things to do in Tangalle: Turtle Watching

If you love nature and are looking for things to do in Tangalle, watching a turtle lay her eggs is a wonderful activity that you will remember for a long time to come. It’s affordable, nearby and such a special experience. 

The turtles can be seen at Rekawa where there is a dedicated conservation site that aims to protect the sea turtles that come to visit. 5 out of the 7 endangered turtle species visit Sri Lanka’s coastlines and the country has focused on safeguarding the nesting sites to conserve the species for generations to come. The main species that visit that are under conservation are the Loggerhead, Green, Hawksbill, Olive Ridley and Leatherback turtles. Turtle sightings are year-round, with 1 to 2 turtles spotted per night during quieter months, but chances are higher April to July with 5 to 15 turtles visiting per night.

From Yoga Tangalle, you can ride a tuk tuk for around 25 minutes to the conservation site. The best time to arrive to see an adult turtle laying her eggs is between 7:45-8:30 pm. When you get there, you will learn a bit about turtles and the egg-laying from one of the guides and you will wait a while in a waiting area until one is spotted. Remember, sightings are likely but not guaranteed and you may wait 5 minutes or 1 hour! If one is spotted, you then pay an entrance fee of 1500 LKR and head to the beach. 

To respect the turtles, tourists must remain quiet, use only red light, and keep their voices quiet. The guide will instruct you and ensure that you keep an appropriate distance at all times. By listening to the guide and doing as they say, you ensure that the turtle isn’t disrupted whilst laying her eggs. 

On the beach, you can see the mother turtle’s tracks from the sea moving onto land and appreciate the long journey she has made! You will start by hearing the turtle digging her nest, then seeing her lay eggs into the nest she has built, and burying the eggs under a layer of sand. The process is very tiring for her, so she has to do everything very slowly, so the group of tourists quietly waits for a couple of hours while she goes through this important process. While you wait you can see fireflies glowing against the dark backdrop and the spectacular array of stars – if you’re lucky you  may even see a shooting star!  

You may see the guides going close to the turtle if they need to replace her tracker or to help her in non-invasive ways such as clearing branches out of her way. Finally, you will gather round to watch her moving along the sand with the last of her energy so that she can head back to her home – the sea!  

After seeing the turtle head home, now it’s your turn. Find your tuk tuk driver waiting outside and journey back. Soak up the feeling after watching one of nature’s most beautiful creatures go through such a magnificent process.