Turtle Island Bali: Turtle Conservation Centre

Turtle Island, also known as Serangan Island, is a tiny island located off the coast of Bali, Indonesia. Turtle Island is well-known for its conservation efforts to safeguard the endangered sea turtles that nest on its beaches. Today, the island is a popular site for travellers looking to know about conservation efforts, engage with sea turtles and discover interesting facts about them. 

The island has a distinct history; it was earlier used to be a breeding place for saltwater crocodiles. However, due to the island’s development, the crocodiles have gone. 

The island is home to a traditional fishing village that has been there for generations. Explore more Indonesian villages on the Bali Tour Packages that still rely on traditional ways. Locals on the island continue to use traditional fishing methods, and tourists may explore their methods of fishing and spend quality time in the village experiencing their day-to-day life and activities. 

The experience at the turtle island Bali is meaningful as well as educational with the interaction with the wildlife and knowing about their importance in the natural cycle. It offers a unique and impactful experience about the conservation of endangered animals. So as and when you plan your Bali itinerary, include a visit to Turtle Island to learn the importance of wildlife conservation. 

Things to do in Turtle Island Bali

One of the exciting things to do at Turtle Island Bali is to go for a Glass Boat ride. These boats are specifically designed for visitors so that they can enjoy the coral reefs and marine life while on the way to Turtle Island.  

From the glass bottom boat, you can enjoy the beautiful underwater scenery without having to dive. Coral reefs, a variety of ornamental fish, marine plants and other marine animals are visible. An easy way to engage the kids during the tour is to carry a few bread crumbs, so the kids can feed the fish while on the boat. 

Turtle Conservation centre

This place is more than a tourist attraction and more of a group of people who work tirelessly to conserve and protect the endangered turtles. Turtle Island is home to a sea turtle conservation centre, which works to conserve and preserve the endangered sea turtles that nest on the island’s beaches. 

Visitors may learn about conservation initiatives and even help release young turtles into the ocean and this is the best educational thing to do in Bali. They can even gain insights into the life cycles, breeding, how they are being taken care of and the threats that the turtles face. There are other wildlife animals that are on the Turtle Conservation Centre like civet cats, pythons, coloured parrots and Iguana. 

Water Sports

Tanjung Benoa Beach which is the starting point of Turtle Island is popular for water sports activities. There is not much to do here except for the ultimate water adventure activities in Bali Tanjung Benoa Beach. Because of the sports, there is a huge crowd at this beach and relaxing at the beach might become difficult. So it’s better to enjoy the water spots at Tanjung Beach and Turtle Island. A few of the activities to enjoy at the beach are snorkelling, scuba diving, kids-friendly swimming, Jet Ski, parasailing, wakeboarding and water skiing.

The best time to visit Turtle Island Bali

November to March is monsoon season in Bali and this season is only viable if you wish to experience Turtle Island in peace and without much crowd. The weather during this season is cooler with occasional rain showers. However, before heading out for the island trip make sure to check on the weather conditions as it might be quite risky as the waves are at high altitudes. 

How to reach Turtle Island Bali

1. By private boat

Visitors can rent a private boat from Sanur Beach or Tanjung Beach to transport them to Turtle Island. The trip takes around 15 minutes. 

1. Public boat

Visitors also have the option to take a public boat from Sanur Beach and Tanjung Beach to Turtle Island. The public boat leaves every 30 minutes, and the journey takes around 30 minutes. This option is a budget-friendly option to get to the island.

1. By tour

Many tour companies provide day trips to Turtle Island that include transportation, guided tours to the Turtle conservation centre and water sports activities on the island.

Places to visit near Turtle Island Bali

Tanjaung Beach, like any other beach of Bali, is a tourist destination. This beach is surrounded by sprawling resorts, hotels,  Bali restaurants , cafes and water sports activities. The beach is located 15 km from the airport and very close to the Nusa Dua area,  Tanjung Beach is well known for water sports activities. Tourists who wish to enjoy water sports flock to this beach for the fun. The beach is also the boarding point for Turtle Island to visit the turtle conservation centre. 

Traditional Fishing Village

The island’s population is mostly involved in the fishing industry. The village is far from the modern techniques of fishing and still relies on the ancient methods passed down to them through generations. The wooden boats for fishing too are built within the village. It will be an intriguing experience to discover their style of fishing and learn about their lives on the island. 

Sakenan Temple

The temple is situated in the westernmost part of the Island. It is a significant place to visit on Turtle Island.  The temples of Bali hold huge religious significance to the inhabitants of the island and thousands attend temple festivities over multiple days twice a year, coinciding with the Kuningan Day celebrations.

 Important things to carry 

Tips to follow in theTurtle Island Bali

Certain tips to follow when visiting Turtle Island Bali.

• This is a wildlife zone and hence try to maintain the ecological balance of the region.
• There are certain guidelines that are set by the Turtle Conservation Centre when interacting with the turtles for your and the turtle’s safety. 
• Do not fall for the high prices asked by the tour groups and their fake promises. 
• There are a number of accommodations to stay near Turtle Island. The hotels and resorts can be booked near Tanjung Beach which is the boarding point to reach Turtle Island. 

Turtle Island Tour

The tour starts with the pick up from the hotel with a private vehicle and drop off at Tanjung Benoa Beach which is the starting point of the tour. From here you will board the bottom glass boat which will take around 15-20 minutes to reach the turtle island. During your tour of Turtle Island, you will be able to experience the splendour of the underwater world from your glass bottom boat. You will observe coral reefs, seaweed, and various fish. 

On arrival at Turtle Island you visit the turtle conservation centre where the team of experts will give you a tour around the park and will give information about the turtle’s eggs, hatching and growing up. 

Trip cost: USD 25/person (Approximate)

Time: 60 minutes