Rekawa Night Turtle Watching

Rekawa Beach is the most important sea turtle nesting site in Sri Lanka, where five species of sea turtle — green, loggerhead, leatherback, hawksbill, and olive ridley — nest along a 3-kilometre stretch of undeveloped beach on the south coast near Tangalle. Evening and night visits are guided by trained conservation monitors from the Rekawa Lagoon Conservation Project, who radio for guests only when a turtle has chosen her nesting site and begun digging — minimising disturbance and maximising the chance of witnessing egg-laying.

Guests typically wait in a small beach shelter until called, then approach the nesting female silently without torches to witness the extraordinary process at close range.

Shorta Tours arranges Rekawa Night Turtle Watching as part of a tailored private itinerary, providing expert guides, comfortable private transfers, and hand-picked operators to ensure a seamless and truly memorable experience.

Rekawa beach was a significant turtle egg collection site for local communities for generations, with eggs sold in local markets as a protein source. The Rekawa Lagoon Conservation Project was established in 1996 with support from IUCN and the Government of Sri Lanka, training former egg collectors as monitors and creating an economic incentive for turtle protection rather than exploitation.

The community-based model became a globally cited example of successful sea turtle conservation and community development, and nesting numbers at Rekawa have increased significantly in the three decades since.

Today, Rekawa Night Turtle Watching remains one of the highlights of visiting Southern Province, drawing guests from around the world who seek its unique combination of history, nature, and authentic Sri Lankan character.

Visits are strictly managed by the conservation project; arrival time is flexible (guests are called by radio when a turtle is ready). No torches, no noise, no touching; the project's etiquette briefing is thorough.

Shorta Tours books directly with the Rekawa conservation community, ensuring full benefit reaches the monitors.

Essential items to pack: Dark, quiet clothing, red-filter torch (provided by project), insect repellent, camera with no flash..