Turtle Conservation Project Turtle Watch
Turtle Conservation Project Turtle Watch
Turtle Conservation Project Turtle Watch
3.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
Our Turtle Watch was founded by the Turtle Conservation Project (TCP), a NGO that started the nature tourism program in Rekawa. It involves ex turtle egg poachers working as turtle nest protectors and tour guides has won several global awards in the appreciation of services provided to the community, environment, economy, culture and tourism. For more information, visit their (old) website. Since 2010, TCP stopped its activities and handed the conservation & eco-tourism program over to the local community. Our Turtle Watch is nowadays a small scale community-run project by NFR (Nature Friends of Rekawa) and is dedicated to providing a safe and secure nesting environment on one of Sri Lanka's most important turtle beaches. The project employs previous turtle egg-poachers as 'nest protectors' who monitor the beach 24-hours a day to ensure all nests are safe from both natural and human predators. Providing "in situ" nest protection is the most effective form of turtle nest conservation, and will help ensure these wonderful creatures are protected for future generations. What to expect during a Turtle Watch? We will be waiting at our visitor centre (or on the beach) until a turtle is spotted by one of our nest protectors, who are patrolling the beach. They will sign our guide & volunteers. For all information, please visit our website Our project asks a donation of 1000 Rs. per person (500 Rs. for children). 100% of the proceeds goes to our conservation activities and and the local community. We will ask you to pay the fee before we enter the beach. A reservation is not required. Please kindly note that our Turtle watch is run by locals, of which many do not speak English. Please refer to the multilingual information in the Visitor Centre or proactively approach one of our guides or volunteers with your questions. They'll be happy to answer them!
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
3.5
599 reviews
Excellent
209
Very good
108
Average
65
Poor
70
Terrible
147
GHILDA C
Amman, Jordan20 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
Was there with my 5 year old. The guide was very helpful and the experience marvelous for the two of us. Guide made sure my kid got to be in front of the line to watch the turtle and stay there as he rotated the group (other adults were certainly less helpful).
It is a long wait for kids (turtle swims up shore, digs hole, lays eggs, covers them up then goes back to see... that’s a solid few hours) so be prepared to innovate during the wait (make up star stories, look for crab holes, watch out for sea creatures :)).
All in all a great experience for the young and older ones alike.
It is a long wait for kids (turtle swims up shore, digs hole, lays eggs, covers them up then goes back to see... that’s a solid few hours) so be prepared to innovate during the wait (make up star stories, look for crab holes, watch out for sea creatures :)).
All in all a great experience for the young and older ones alike.
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Natalie W
7 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Was amazing to see a turtle but there was about 50 of us down on the beach. There needed to be more than just one guide with this huge group as we also didn't know what was going on.
When we did spot a turtle, the infra red light was shown on it for 15 seconds and that was it. There was so many people, the turtle moved away from everyone to nest. Then just wait for another turtle to come onto the beach. We left after 90 mins when we realised we would only see the turtle for a few seconds and the overcrowding wasn't really good for the turtles. Bit of a shame.
When we did spot a turtle, the infra red light was shown on it for 15 seconds and that was it. There was so many people, the turtle moved away from everyone to nest. Then just wait for another turtle to come onto the beach. We left after 90 mins when we realised we would only see the turtle for a few seconds and the overcrowding wasn't really good for the turtles. Bit of a shame.
Written February 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GetBack2Basics
Port Douglas, Australia24 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
All the negative reviews are correct but crirically show little understanding of the purpose of the project. See the photos of the boards where it's all explained reasonably accurately.
Crowds really can't be avoided if people want to visit, it is far better than Bali or other sites. Visitors and the guides that recommended it should be clear about what to expect. Some visitors were wanting to touch and disturb the turtles and the local guides had to be quite stern with them to help protect the nesting turtle. This while unnerving is important to protect the turtle as much as possible while also allowing visitors to view the behaviour in small groups while others wait.
It would be great if the locals could be given some English and other language skills by volunteers.
Crowds really can't be avoided if people want to visit, it is far better than Bali or other sites. Visitors and the guides that recommended it should be clear about what to expect. Some visitors were wanting to touch and disturb the turtles and the local guides had to be quite stern with them to help protect the nesting turtle. This while unnerving is important to protect the turtle as much as possible while also allowing visitors to view the behaviour in small groups while others wait.
It would be great if the locals could be given some English and other language skills by volunteers.
Written January 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LadyDav33
Swords, Ireland23 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
I just want to write about my experience here two nights ago: Jan 30th. I feel so guilty,disgusted and ashamed that I was there. My guide who does safaris suggested we go last minute as he had not seen it before and was curious as he is really into animals, nature and wildlife. There was only a couple of people there at the start which I thought was fine. You are given a briefing at the start about staying behind the turtle and no flash photography etc. They have someone down at the beach watching for a turtle and then they alert you. Gradually more and more people showed up and there was a crowd of at least 30 people. The guide reminded everyone to change their camera settings and that he did not want to here sorry after a flash went off as the damage would be done. Then we walked about 1km up the beach. Then everyone gathered right up around the turtle in the sand with no gap forming a circle around her while she panted laying her eggs. I stood far back as I thought we were to be at least 2 metres away and it seemed horrible on the turtle to be so close. Then out of nowhere a n extremely rude tourist couple arrived with children from a shortcut maybe as they were too mean to pay the costs to get in. The parents were really loud and the mother walked over with her 2 kids right bedside the turtle and immediately used her camera with flash to photograph the turtleneck . Even if I had not been told not to do this I would have known it was wrong. The kids were being very noisy too again not their fault they were probably over tired given the time of night. Very selfish of anyone to bring their children their at this time as it is the parents who do not want to miss out on this touristic experience. The children I saw were too young to appreciate it even if this was an okay thing to do. Then I witnessed the guide physically touching the turtle mother by patting her with his hands while she tried to lay the eggs and dig the sandpit,that was a complete disgrace. I said to my guide I wanted to go then as I was very upset and the whole thing was disgusting so we left . Apparently the group stays on for much longer while eggs are layed etc. I had enough. It really is a shocking thing to be happening especially with the world as it is today. We are destroying everything and nothing with nature is sacred anymore not even a mama turtle laying her hatchlings. Do not support this terrible organisation and I don't care if local people are making a living out of it, it's wrong. The sri lankan government needs to stop this immediately and anyone who goes after reading this should seriously question their judgement.
Written February 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Prudix
Prague, Czech Republic169 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
We got there to main building and we were suprised that its tourist machine. After speech of one guard that told the program we have been waiting one and half hour in this place with another 40 tourists. Sudenly we had to pay donation 1000Rs/person and we walked to the beach where we waited another 45min to see the turtle which was somewhere in bush. After the turtle came out we had to made two lines and the turtle walked betwen us to the see followed by crowd of tourist.
Same thing happend on the way back when we had to wait another half hour for turtle hidden in the somewhere in the bush.
Too many people there and its a pity that guide speak with hardcore indianenglish accent. With a donation that you have to pay it really looks like, that its tourist money machine.
Same thing happend on the way back when we had to wait another half hour for turtle hidden in the somewhere in the bush.
Too many people there and its a pity that guide speak with hardcore indianenglish accent. With a donation that you have to pay it really looks like, that its tourist money machine.
Written January 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Conrad Broadley
Norwich, UK15 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
Was a great experience and the guides did well, it was interesting to note the winges in a lot of the other reviews from the sort of people that go to a zoo and moan the animals are in cages. The fact that this funds the efforts to create a safe zone for breeding turtles is great, at the hotel I’m staying at in the past week there have been five sets of turtle tracks in and out of the sea and each set of tracks had a huge hole where the eggs had been taken. I know where I think the turtles are safer.
Written April 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stuart B
Ledbury, UK21 contributions
Jan 2020
We arrived at around 9pm with the expectation of seeing turtles, although this is never a certain. At around 1030 the very excellent guide said there were turtles on the beach. It was very dark but everyone was full of excitement. The first one we saw was on its way back to the sea, such a wonderful sight. The second one was the best, she was deep in the sand and laying her eggs. We stayed for about 2 hours and was just wonderful. The people who run the project are dedicated and care about the animals. It is good to support this project.
Written January 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
francesca m
Dublin, Ireland11 contributions
Apr 2023 • Family
Wonderful experience for us and our kids who range from age 8 to 17. They all loved it. The guides are very helpful and explain very well the process and everything about the turtles. We were there in April. We did not have to wait long at all before turtles were spotted and we moved to the breach where we managed to see a few turtles in the various the stages of the process - digging their hole, laying the eggs, covering and leaving. The moment they catch the wave and disappear is just magic. We were very lucky and the project is definitely worth the support and the entry donation.
Written April 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anique
The Hague, The Netherlands9 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Horrible experience. We saw 2 turtles. But the group of people was way to big. At least 50 people: al surrounding the animal to be in front and make pictures with their phone (a lot of times with flash). If you have some love for animals do not support this! We are ashamed that we took part in this.
Also: soms information on posters but almost no explenation/information from the guide. This is also impossible because you are standing on a beach with really loud waves and 50 people with one guide.
Also: soms information on posters but almost no explenation/information from the guide. This is also impossible because you are standing on a beach with really loud waves and 50 people with one guide.
Written February 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
yohan l
5 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
If you want to bully a turtle nesting in the sand with a Group of 40 people taking pictures and a guide not gentle at all with the animal. The digs arround turtles during it’s making eggs on sand to let tourist take pictures of eggs. In my opinion, it’s just animal mistreatments.
Written January 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cardifftwo
cardiff21 contributions
I am concerned over these reviews - is there another option to see turtles with a more responsible organisation please?
teachingtravels15-17
Ottawa, Canada910 contributions
In this area, they are the best organization. There is a turtle egg hatchery on the road from Unawatuna to Tangalle, but there is some controversy about how they release, at a fee, the hatchlings.
I would continue to support this conservation effort and be honest and upfront about how they need to improve their conservation practices. I for one would like them to be more vigilant during the day, to protect the eggs.
Good luck.
nishim2017
Noida, India1 contribution
Hi, where is this located and where do I go from Mirrisa to watch them? How far from Mirissa. Timings? Who to contact?
bubai1982
Kolkata2 contributions
This place is near Tangalle. It would be a 1.5 hrs drive in the evening. The timing is late evening to midnight. We had arranged through out homestay, but local car or can providers can arrange the same I guess.
Lisarathke
Jena, Germany3 contributions
Wir waren heute tagsüber am Gebäude des Projekts und haben dann ein paar Stunden dort am Strand verbracht und sind an diesem auch viel entlang gelaufen. Wir haben nirgends jemanden gesehen der aufpassen würde. Das Einzige was wir sahen, war eine tote riesige Schildkröte die im Wasser trieb und jede Menge Warane. Als wir einen Anwohner danach fragte sagte er, niemand würde den Strand bewachen, stattdessen würden die Eier ausgegraben und an anderer Stelle, hinter einer Mauer wieder eingegraben. Er zeigte auch Bilder der ausgegrabenen Eier! Wie kann das sein? Auf der Website steht doch man würde die Eier dort belassen wo sie gelegt wurden und dann darauf 24h/Tag, 7 Tage die Woche darauf aufpassen!??
mohissa
Lüscherz, Switzerland150 contributions
Abends ab 19 Uhr ist immer jemand bei der Turtle Watch und mit Glück kann man dann auch anschliessend Schildkröten beobachten. Anscheinend werden die Eier in Sicherheit gebracht vor Räubern.
SG43
Exeter, UK69 contributions
Hi I thought Turtle watching was between April to September? We are visiting in December, are we likely to see any?
Many thanks
Martha S
London, UK743 contributions
Hiya, the way I understand it its that the main season is during your times specified but turtles come every day. The best thing is to call the project and they will tell you when a turtle comes to the beach. Personally I only saw one for few minutes and I would not do it againit. Please read reviews on trip advisor
Turtle Conservation Project Turtle Watch (Rekawa) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Turtle Conservation Project Turtle Watch
- Turtle Conservation Project Turtle Watch is open:
- Sun - Sat 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
- We recommend booking Turtle Conservation Project Turtle Watch tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 1 Turtle Conservation Project Turtle Watch tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Turtle Conservation Project Turtle Watch:
- (0.01 mi) Turtle Paradise
- (0.01 mi) Amour at Turtle Beach
- (0.03 mi) Green Turtle
- (0.10 mi) Buckingham Place
- (0.09 mi) Rekawa Turtle Gate
- Restaurants near Turtle Conservation Project Turtle Watch:
- (0.03 mi) Best One Family Restaurant
- (0.10 mi) Oceanfront @ Buckingham Place
- (0.08 mi) Hungry Dragon Restaurant
- (0.07 mi) Turtle Paradise Restaurant & Bar
- (0.12 mi) Ruwani Restaurant And Coffee Shop