wildlife · Southern
Rekawa Turtle Beach — Hambantota
Cover photo: Wexor Tmg (Unsplash)
- District
- Hambantota
- Province
- Southern
- Best for
- Turtle lovers; night-time nesting watches with conservation guides
Protected nesting beach 10 km east of Tangalle visited by five turtle species. Night watches run in season (April-September peak) with visitors waiting from around 8 PM until a turtle is spotted; the project quotes a donation around LKR 1,000 per person. No lights or flash photography; book through the Turtle Conservation Project post and stay quiet on the sand.
About this place
Protected nesting beach 10 km east of Tangalle visited by five turtle species. Night watches run about 7 PM-midnight in season (April-September peak) for roughly LKR 2,000 per person. No lights or flash photography; book through the Turtle Conservation Project post and stay quiet on the sand.
Visitor brief
Good to know before you go
- Main nesting season April-September (peak egg-laying May-June, hatchings August-September).
- Watches assemble in the evening and go out only when scouts spot a turtle; waits can be long.
- Strictly no lights, torches or flash photography on the beach.
- Stay quiet and follow the guide's positions; do not touch turtles or hatchlings.
- Daytime swimming is discouraged here; currents are strong and the beach is a protected reserve.
How to travel there
About 10 km east of Tangalle; tuk-tuk from Tangalle in ~20 minutes. Go after dark for the watches.
Where to stay
Tangalle town (full range from budget guesthouses to luxury resorts, ~20 min by tuk-tuk) for night-watch access.
Nearby places
Tangalle Beach, Rekawa Lagoon birding and boat trips, Ussangoda National Park, Hummanaya Blowhole (Kudawella)
Scams to watch for
- Unlicensed 'turtle tour' sellers in Tangalle unconnected to the conservation project; go via the TCP post.
- Captive-hatchery style handling experiences elsewhere on the coast; Rekawa's project is observation-only.
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