This is one of the most special things you can see in your life, especially if you care about wildlife.
Check out our guide to the top destinations to see baby turtles hatching and the best times of year to visit.
Please note the places and dates are a general rough guide and we can't 100% guarantee if you visit during this period you will get to see turtles.
We have also included some useful links if you would either like to see the turtles up close on an organised experience or if you would like to contribute to volunteer abroad and help conservation initiatives.
Check our sea turtle volunteer programs worldwide for a more hands on experience.
1. Melbourne Beach, Florida
Florida is one of the most beautiful US states and each year hundreds of loggerhead, leatherback, and green turtles arrive on Melbourne beach to lay their eggs.
Guided walks are available with organisations like the Florida-based Sea Turtle Conservancy that takes you into Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge.
A 20 mile section of the beach has been designated to protect habitat for the Western Hemisphere's most significant area for loggerhead sea turtle nesting and the most significant area for green turtle nesting in North America.
The guided walks are offered Monday through Friday in June and July.
2. Tofo Beach, Mozambique
One of the more off the beaten track destinations but a country you will fall in love with.
Tofo beach has long been a popular hatching beach for sea turtles and several local organisations offer you the chance to volunteer with sea turtles here.
Mozambique is beautiful with friends locals and tasty food. It is one of the most underestimated places to volunteer in Africa.
Hatching season: December to March.
3. Turtle Islands Park, Borneo
Located in Sabah, North Borneo, Turtle Islands, are spectacular islands and home to several sea turtle conservation projects.
Selingan, the largest of the islands, houses the park's headquarters, a turtle hatchery, tourist accommodation and basic facilities.
Tourists can visit to see the amazing work being done here or do help search volunteer opportunities in Borneo.
4. Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica
Located north of Limon, the spectacular Tortuguero National Park will leave you speechless.
Expect pristine beaches, palm trees and stunning scenery. Costa Rica is one of the best places to see turtles due to the amount of nesting sites for giant hawksbill, leatherback and loggerhead turtles located here.
You can also cross to the other Pacific side of Costa Rica for more hatching sightings. View volunteer programs in Costa Rica for hands on programs.
Hatching seasons: Caribbean coast: July to October & March to May / Pacific coast: October to February & July to November.
5. Kosgoda, Sri Lanka
If you would like to volunteer in Asia there are so many reasons to choose Sri Lanka as your destinations.
Green sea turtles are the most common species on the sandy shores of Sri Lanka. Four other species of turtle nest here as well, but due to their dwindling numbers are, sadly, a rare find.
The Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project has run a rustic but vital hatchery in the area since 1988, and has been especially hard at work to protect nesting grounds since the devastation of the tsunami in 2004.
Hatching season: November to May. Find volunteer programs in Sri Lanka.
6. Greek Islands
Thousands of people book tours of Greece every year and go island hopping in the Greek Islands but not many realise this area is a popular turtle breeding ground.
Several local and international organisations are working to protect the ever developed Greek coasts and you can play a small role in helping by applying to volunteer in Greece.
One top rated organisation, Archelon, work to ensure the conservation of turtles at numerous sites of coastal Greece and its islands, graciously offering a less-intensive conservation work to sunbathing ratio for a variety of volunteers (part-time, full-time, individuals, families and large groups).
Hatching season: August to October. Find volunteer opportunities in Greece.
7. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Puerto Vallarta is a popular destination with international tourists and the area is being more developed every year.
Lots of organisations are now working in this region to help protect nesting turtles and their eggs, you can go independently or book a tour of Mexico to see baby turtles up close.
Hatching season: July to September. Apply to volunteer in Mexico.
8. Iztuzu, Turkey
Iztuzu Beach is located near Dalyan, in Province of Muğla in southwestern Turkey.
The area is very peaceful and the beach at 4.5km long is really impressive and also one of the best places to see turtles hatching in Europe.
If you like the idea of volunteering in Europe and would like to help turtles this experience can be arranged in Turkey.
Hatching season: May to June.
9. Port Barton, Philippines
The Philippines is one of the most natually beautiful countries in the world with some of the most popular islands in Asia with international tourists.
If you would like to visit a true paradise and give back there are several ways to get involved including helping sea turtle and marine conservation efforts.
Hatching season: December to May. Search volunteer programs in Philippines.
10. Palau Tioman, Malaysia
The situation of turtles in Malaysia has been dire for quite some time, particularly on the paradisiacal-looking island of Pulau Tioman.
Despite this, the dedicated volunteers at the Juara Turtle Project have done an exceptional job at improving their numbers through nest protection, working with local communities, research, education and outreach. But they’re still fighting the good fight every day, especially against beach development by resorts.
An easy drive and ferry ride from both Singapore and Johor Bahru, the Juara Turtle Project offers affordable and accessible single and group Malaysia volunteer experiences for turtle hatching and conservation.
Hatching season: March to October.
11. Ras Al Jinz, Oman
Near the authentic fishing village of Ras Al Jinz, this area of the Arabian Sea is world-renowned for its endangered green turtle nesting grounds.
Oman’s eco-tourism project at Ras Al Hadd Turtle Reserve, does its best to help tourists witness a hatching, while ensuring that human induced threats are controlled. The centre also offers visitors guided night trips in hopes of witnessing a nesting.
Hatching season: Year-round, usually peaking in July.
If you are a nature lover and would like to be more than just a tourist check out our inspiring volunteering programs with animals abroad.
