The Best Places To Swim With Turtles In Sri Lanka

Last Updated: April 2 2023

Swimming with sea turtles has always been on our bucket list. They are such beautiful elegant creatures, and it was one of the things we wanted to cross off when we travelled through Asia. 

Luckily, we finally got to tick off this experience when we got to swim with turtles in Sri Lanka! 

If you’re travelling through Asia, you’re likely to come across turtles at some point. However, there’s just something about this country that makes it so special. 

During our month’s stay in Sri Lanka, we saw more turtles in four weeks than we did during the rest of our 8-month trip. 

If you’re heading to this beautiful country and are looking to swim with turtles, you’ve come to the right place! In this blog post, we’re going to go through where to see turtles in Sri Lanka, and our top tips to make your experience even more magical. 

So, let’s get right into it!

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Can You Swim with Turtles in Sri Lanka?

You can absolutely swim with turtles in Sri Lanka, but it needs to be done ethically! 

It’s one of the best things to do in this beautiful country, and there are so many great spots to do it.

If you want to go swimming with turtles in Sri Lanka, then you need to visit the three places we’re going to discuss in this article.

Where Can I See Turtles in Sri Lanka?

You have a great chance of seeing turtles in Sri Lanka, as they are found along the majority of the coastline. It’s just a case of keeping your eyes peeled wherever you go and keeping your snorkelling gear on you. 

However, we’re going to tell you about some of the best spots to visit, where you may have a higher chance of spotting them! 

When it comes to snorkelling with turtles in Sri Lanka, we had the most luck in Hikkaduwa, Mirissa, and Trincomalee.

These are the places where we had the best and most frequent sightings! Obviously, this isn’t guaranteed for everyone of course, but these are the areas where we had the greatest experiences.

1. Hikkaduwa

Hikkaduwa holds a special place in our hearts. It’s a small beach town located on the south coast of Sri Lanka and is a popular holiday destination for travellers. 

This experience was incredible, but there are a few things to note which we’ll talk about below!

Where to Find Sea Turtles in Hikkaduwa

As soon as you walk onto the beach in Hikkaduwa, you’ll easily be able to get a sense of where the turtles are just by looking at where the tourists are congregating. Make sure you head to the very left-hand side of the beach, and you’ll spot the turtles from the corner. 

Now, this is the unique part! 

You can see the turtles right from the shore, as they come in close to graze on seaweed. They come here regularly to feed, so of course, this area is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Sri Lanka.

On Google Maps it’s called Turtle Beach! 

How to Make the Most of this Experience

Finding sea turtles is one of the top things to do in Hikkaduwa, but the beach here can get pretty busy! Your best bet is to get to the beach as early as possible and avoid the area if it’s overcrowded. 

Whenever the area was crammed with tourists, we didn’t get into the water because we felt it was unfair on the turtles. 

The experience here is incredible, but only if done right! 

The turtles come right along the shore, and you can even pick some seaweed off the seafloor, and hold it out. They may even swim closer to grab it off you, which is pretty exciting and a beautiful moment. 

However, it’s a place where tourists often take advantage and use it as an excuse to touch the turtles or stroke them. Some people even tried to pick them up and pull at their flippers, which is inexcusable! 

Luckily, local volunteers patrol the beach and will shout at anyone who tries to touch them. 

For the best experience, it’s best to grab your goggles and swim well away from the other tourists. We snorkelled away from the main beach and ended up swimming with 2 or 3 turtles (at a distance). If you want an encounter all to yourself, then this is the way to do it.

2. Mirissa

The beautiful beach town of Mirissa is one of the best places to see turtles in Sri Lanka. 

With a scenic coastline, plenty of great viewpoints and crystal clear water, it’s the perfect place to search for these elusive creatures.

If you’re looking for other activities in this scenic town, you can take a look at our favourite things to do in Mirissa. 

Where to Find Sea Turtles in Mirissa

Swimming with turtles is relatively easy in Mirissa, as there are a few different places where you can spot them.

One of the best locations to spot them is the famous Coconut Hill, which is located at the very far end of Mirissa Beach. We wouldn’t recommend swimming in this area though, because the waves are pretty rough.

However, you can still spot them coming up for air and swimming under the waves! 

When it comes to swimming with turtles in Sri Lanka, one of the top locations is the bay located just before Coconut Hill. There is a restaurant here called ‘turtle bay’ so you’ll know exactly where you need to be. 

The ocean is pretty calm here, and we were lucky enough to snorkel with quite a few turtles. 

Unfortunately, our underwater camera was playing up during our time in Sri Lanka so we didn’t get many shots. What a bummer! 

How to Make the Most of this Experience

If you want to go swimming with turtles in Sri Lanka, then you need to visit Mirissa!

It’s an incredibly peaceful area to swim with turtles, and we were often the only ones in the water. The majority of the time, we were lucky enough to have this experience all to ourselves, which made it truly magical. 

However, it’s important to note that you’ll need to be patient for this amazing experience. You may not see any turtles straight away, as they aren’t as common here as in Hikkaduwa. 

If you don’t fancy getting in the water, then head to Coconut Hill and just sit there and relax. It does get incredibly busy, but it’s a great place to sit and watch the sea turtles in the ocean below.

3. Trincomalee

If you’re wondering where to see turtles in Sri Lanka, then Trincomalee is one of the best spots! 

Going on a snorkelling trip is one of the best things to do in this city, as it gives you a chance to see the country’s incredible marine life. 

So if you’re backpacking in Sri Lanka, make sure you add this experience to your list! 

Where to Find Sea Turtles in Trincomalee

There are several great reefs around Trincomalee. 

The most popular is Pigeon Island, but in all honesty, we recommend that you don’t go there. It’s the main tourist spot for snorkelling trips, so as you can imagine the reef surrounding the island gets incredibly crowded. 

If you want a more natural experience, book a boat tour that takes you to the quieter reefs. Trust us, you won’t regret it! 

The boat trip we chose took us out to some of the lesser-known reefs away from Pigeon island and it was only us there.

How to Make the Most out of this Experience 

There are plenty of companies in Trincomalee that offer snorkelling tours, so do your research before you book. 

Once we’d booked our tour we met at the company’s office the next day, and then headed out to sea!

There were only 4 of us on the trip, and the snorkelling locations were incredibly remote. 

After jumping out of the boat and snorkelling along the reef, we saw a couple of sea turtles as well as several black-tip reef sharks. 

There was something very special about seeing them out at sea which made this one of the best experiences in Sri Lanka for us.

So, Which Location is Best for Swimming with Sea Turtles in Sri Lanka?

It’s difficult to suggest which is the best location for swimming with turtles in Sri Lanka. Each one offers something unique, so we recommend visiting all three locations if you have the time! 

If your Sri Lanka itinerary is already jam-packed, think about what you want to get out of the experience. 

If your goal is just to see turtles, then we would head straight to Hikkaduwa. This is where you’ll have the best chance of spotting them! 

However, if you’re looking for a more natural encounter then Trincomalee or Mirissa are your best options. You’ll have a much quieter experience as there will be fewer tourists, which only adds to the moment.

More Information about the Turtles in Sri Lanka

Our Top Tips for Swimming with Sea Turtles 

• Make sure you keep your distance when snorkelling with turtles in Sri Lanka.
  
• Take an action camera with you, so you can film underwater and get some great images.
• DON’T touch the sea turtles – this one’s super important!
• If you head to each spot early, you’ll find it’s much quieter. This is especially the case if you’re staying in Hikkaduwa.
• Make sure you’re patient when trying to swim with sea turtles, as sometimes it can take a while for them to appear.
• There is no guarantee that you’ll see turtles because after all, they are wild creatures. It’s always a good idea to keep a day free, so you can stay somewhere an extra night if needs be. You’ll have a much better chance of spotting them this way! 

The Different Types of Turtles in Sri Lanka

There are seven known species of turtle, and five of these are found off the coast of Sri Lanka. These are the Green turtle, Hawksbill turtle, Leatherback turtle, Loggerhead turtle and the Olive Ridley turtle.

Unfortunately, many of these turtle species are critically endangered due to fishing nets, and plastic, where turtles can get stuck or even choke thinking it’s food. 

Another threat to sea turtles is poaching as people go to the beaches at night to steal their eggs. 

Sadly, only 1 in 1,000 baby sea turtles make it to adulthood, which is why we need to reduce our plastic waste and look after the oceans! 

How Does Sri Lanka Protect their Turtles?

Sri Lanka is big on turtle conservation and the country puts a lot of work into saving these beautiful creatures. 

There are turtle hatcheries up and down the country that help to protect, rehabilitate and release them back into the wild. 

Usually, the turtle eggs are taken from the beach to remove any risk of poachers stealing them. Once the baby turtles have hatched they are monitored, until they are old enough to be released. 

Unfortunately, we don’t recommend visiting any hatcheries in Sri Lanka as it’s impossible to know whether they‘re simply tourist traps until you’ve already paid your entrance fee. 

Some do a fabulous job, but unless you know for sure that they’re a good organisation, it’s not worth visiting! 

Other Types of Marine Life in Sri Lanka

If you’re keen to see other types of marine life in Sri Lanka, then whale watching in Mirissa is a must! 

Taking a whale watching tour out into the Indian ocean gives you the chance to spot dolphins, whales, sharks, and of course, turtles among many other species. 

We were incredibly lucky during our trip, as we got to see two blue whales, a pod of pilot whales, and plenty of dolphins. You can read about our whale watching experience here.

If you’re a wildlife lover, then you may also want to head out on a safari! You can find our Udawalawe Safari Guide here, and read about our experience. 

Where to Stay in Hikkaduwa, Mirissa & Trincomalee

Here are a couple of recommendations when it comes to accommodation in these locations! 

Hikkaduwa

Luxury: Riff Hikkaduwa 

Riff Hikkaduwa is situated a 1-minute walk from the beach and has a variety of amenities on-site. This includes an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centre, and a restaurant. 

Guests also have access to the bar, garden area, and wellness area which includes a sauna. 

Mid-budget: Hotel Refresh Blue 

Hotel Refresh Blue is a 15-minute walk from Turtle Beach, so it’s in a great location for an early morning snorkelling trip. 

However, the best part? Every room in the hotel comes with a balcony and stunning views of the sea.

Budget: Navora Home Stay 

This is where we stayed during our trip to Sri Lanka! Navora Home Stay is the ultimate option for budget travellers and is only a 3-minute walk to the beach.

The property is also situated in a secluded forest, and if you’re lucky you might be able to see monkeys swinging from the treetops above. We did during our stay, and it was awesome! 

Mirissa

Luxury: The Beach House by Reveal

The Beach House by Reveal is situated in a stunning location, with striking views of the ocean. The pool is also right on the beachfront, so you can relax and enjoy the views in style. 

A continental breakfast is available daily for guests, and some rooms even have their own private balcony and patio area. 

Mid-budget: Ballena Regency

Ballena Regency is a 1-minute walk from Mirissa beach and has a rooftop restaurant that offers stunning sea views. 

The hotel also has an outdoor swimming pool, water sports facilities, and bike/car hire available. 

Budget: Sun Hopes

As we love to travel on a budget, we stayed at Sun Hopes during our trip to this beautiful beach town. It’s only a 2-minute walk from the beach and is in the perfect location to go whale watching in Mirissa. 

Although the rooms are simple in their design, they are very cosy and have air conditioning which is a must! 

Trincomalee

Luxury: Amaranthe Bay Resort & Spa

The Amaranthe Bay Resort & Spa is situated in a great part of Trincomalee, with an array of activities available on-site. 

With a restaurant serving both local and international cuisine, a pool-side bar, and a spa – what else could you need?

Mid-budget: Anantamaa Hotel 

The Anantamaa Hotel is just a stone’s throw away from the beach and has an outdoor pool to relax in. 

There is also an on-site spa and wellness centre, where you can enjoy calming spa treatments. 

Budget: Hilton Cottage

Hilton Cottage is located around 180m (200 yards) from Uppuveli Beach and is a great budget option. 

There is a garden area for guests to enjoy, as well as a private beach area. 

Booking.com

Final Thoughts on Swimming with Turtles in Sri Lanka

So where can you see turtles in Sri Lanka?

The answer is pretty much anywhere along the coastline, however, Hikkaduwa, Mirissa, and Trincomalee are three of the top spots for not only spotting but swimming with the turtles too!

Each one offers a unique experience, and a chance to tick this awesome encounter off your Sri Lanka bucket list!

We hope this guide has given you all the information you need on how to have the best experience snorkelling with turtles. 

If you want the best chance to spot turtles, make sure you add these destinations to your Sri Lanka backpacking route. 

If you have any further questions about swimming with turtles in Sri Lanka, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. You can contact us via social media platforms, or leave a comment below!

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