World’s top 10 sea turtle nesting beaches

Tiny turtles travel thousands of miles across the oceans, guided only and only by their instinct, to return to the same place they once began their lives. Sea turtles, one of nature’s most ancient and graceful creatures, have inspired generations, offering fleeting glimpses of a ritual dating back millions of years. If you are someone who loves more than just the beach, sun, and sand, witnessing sea turtle nesting is a profound experience that one should have once.

Let us explore the best places and beaches across the globe where you can watch this magical event unfold.

On a secluded stretch of Queensland's coast is one of the South Pacific's best-kept secrets. Mon Repos is more than a beach; it's a lifesaving haven where loggerhead turtles crawl onto the shore by the thousands and where you can watch the miracle of life take place under the light of the moon.

Best time to visit: November to March (nesting), January to March (hatchlings)

Few natural spectacles compare with Ostional Beach's "arribadas." With darkened skies, waves of olive ridley turtles crawl out of the sea in unison to nest simultaneously—a thrilling spectacle that feels almost mythical in its scale and timing.
Peak season to visit: July to November (highest between August and October)

Coveted by both locals and tourists alike for its scenery, İztuzu Beach is also a vital spot. Every summer, it serves as a natural habitat for loggerhead turtles, tended by vigilant conservationists and inquisitive tourists alike.
When to visit: May to October (peak nesting occurs in June–August)

This distant heaven is not only for postcard snaps, Anse Intendance's white sands harbor the hardy hawksbill turtle, whose early morning strolls could result in enchanting experiences with tiny hatchlings making their way to the sea.
Best time to visit: September to March (hatchlings hatch October to January)

If the moon is full at Escobilla, the beach sparkles with life. Famous for its breathtaking arribadas, Escobilla welcomes thousands of olive ridley turtles in waves—a ritual older than the stars shining above.
Best time to visit: July to September (during full moons)

Isolated and untamed, Raine Island is a stronghold of nature. This coral beach is the globe's most populous green turtle rookery in the nesting season, with thousands of females descending in a coordinated, stunning spectacle.
Optimal time to go: November to March (dependent on El Niño years)

Unspoiled, remote, and filled with environmental mission, Tetiaroa is where sea turtles nest in solitude. Formerly Marlon Brando's island, it is now home to some of the South Pacific's most prolific hatchling conservation programs.
Optimal time to travel: November to January (dawn hatchling sightings)

Called "Place of the Turtles" by the ancient Mayan people, Akumal makes its name proud. Green and loggerhead turtles nest and swim in shallow, reef-sheltered waters here that welcome visitors to see them close-up.

Best time to visit: May to October (nesting), July to December (hatchlings)

Where evolution once redefined biology, nature now offers another wonder. These Galápagos beaches are vital nesting grounds for green turtles, whose fragile eggs are guarded under the volcanic sands of Santa Cruz and Isabela.
Best time to visit: January to May (peak nesting and hatchling activity)