Top 20 most popular beach towns for swimming with turtles in the world

Swimming with turtles in their natural habitat is a unique and magical experience, and several beach towns around the world are known for offering fantastic opportunities to do so. Here’s a list of the top 20 most popular beach towns for swimming with turtles:

1. Akumal, Mexico

• Located on the Riviera Maya, Akumal is famous for its calm waters and high likelihood of swimming with green and loggerhead sea turtles.

2. Gili Trawangan, Indonesia

• Part of the Gili Islands, Gili Trawangan is known for its resident sea turtles, particularly green and hawksbill turtles, and clear waters ideal for snorkeling.

3. Barbados (Carlisle Bay)

• Carlisle Bay is a hotspot for swimming with turtles, where you can encounter green and hawksbill turtles in shallow, clear waters.

4. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

• Tortuga Bay and Concha de Perla are two famous spots in the Galápagos for swimming with sea turtles, known for their biodiversity and rich marine life.

5. Maui, Hawaii, USA

• Honokeana Bay and Maluaka Beach are prime locations for snorkeling with green sea turtles, known locally as “honu,” in the beautiful waters of Maui.

6. Zanzibar, Tanzania

• The waters around Mnemba Atoll and Nungwi Beach are great for spotting green and hawksbill turtles while snorkeling in the Indian Ocean.

7. Lady Elliot Island, Australia

• Located on the southern Great Barrier Reef, Lady Elliot Island offers some of the best opportunities to swim with loggerhead and green turtles.

8. Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

• Seven Mile Beach and nearby reefs are popular for encounters with green sea turtles, making it a top snorkeling destination in the Caribbean.

9. Tulum, Mexico

• Known for its eco-friendly retreats and beautiful beaches, Tulum offers tours to swim with turtles in nearby lagoons, cenotes, and reefs.

10. Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean

• Klein Bonaire, an uninhabited island off the coast of Bonaire, offers pristine waters where you can snorkel with green and hawksbill turtles.

11. Praslin Island, Seychelles

• Anse Lazio on Praslin Island is renowned for its beautiful beaches and frequent turtle sightings, especially green and hawksbill turtles.

12. Tortuguero, Costa Rica

• Famous for its turtle conservation, Tortuguero is a major nesting ground for green and leatherback turtles. While swimming is limited, nearby areas offer snorkeling opportunities with turtles.

13. Hanauma Bay, Oahu, Hawaii, USA

• A nature preserve known for its rich marine life, including a resident population of green sea turtles, Hanauma Bay is perfect for snorkeling.

14. Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

• This UNESCO World Heritage Site offers clear waters and thriving marine life, including green and hawksbill turtles, in one of the world’s most biodiverse marine ecosystems.

15. Ras Al Jinz, Oman

• Famous for its turtle reserve, Ras Al Jinz is a prime location for observing green turtles during their nesting season, though nearby beaches allow swimming with them.

16. Exmouth, Australia

• Ningaloo Reef, off the coast of Exmouth, is a world-class snorkeling destination where you can swim with green, hawksbill, and loggerhead turtles.

17. Apo Island, Philippines

• Known for its marine sanctuary, Apo Island offers numerous opportunities to swim with green sea turtles, making it a top destination in the Philippines.

18. Pangkor Island, Malaysia

• Pangkor Island is a lesser-known gem where you can swim with green and hawksbill turtles around the island’s coral reefs.

19. Baa Atoll, Maldives

• A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Baa Atoll in the Maldives is famous for its abundant marine life, including sea turtles, which can be easily spotted while snorkeling.

20. Lara Beach, Cyprus

• Known for turtle conservation, Lara Beach is a nesting site for loggerhead and green turtles. Swimming nearby gives you the chance to see them in the wild.

These beach towns offer unparalleled experiences for swimming with turtles in natural, often protected environments, providing both excitement and a sense of connection with marine wildlife.