The Bali Sea Turtle Society is one of a number of small projects in Bali dedicated to preserving endangered sea turtle species for future generations.
They are involved in hatching programs that ensure that baby turtles are hatched and are then released into the ocean.
This is better than leaving eggs in their nests in the sand on the beaches where their survival is threatened by predators, tourists and poachers.
If you’d like to visit the Bali Sea Turtle Society and, perhaps, participate in their next release of sea turtle babies into the sea, this is what you need to know before you visit.
Where Is The Bali Sea Turtle Society?
The Bali Sea Turtle Society is based on Kuta Beach one of the most popular beaches in Bali.
It’s easy to find on Google Maps and the area is home to many hotels, restaurants and other attractions.
Address: 75G9+MWV, Jl. Pantai Kuta, Kuta, Kec. Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Online: BSTS
How To Get To Bali Sea Turtle Society?
You may have to endure some heavy traffic as the path along the ocean is always very busy but it’s a short drive from Canggu, Seminyak and Legian and not too far from Ubud, Uluwatu, Denpasar or Nusa Dua.
So, we’d recommend taking a Grab or Gojek to visit the Bali Sea Turtle Society as it’s easy to get to and there are guaranteed to be Grab and Gojek drivers in the area to take you home after you’ve spent some time with the baby sea turtles.
If you can’t find it on Kuta Beach, just pull up Google Maps and you should be able to get directions easily enough.
When Is The Best Time To Go To Bali Sea Turtle Society?
If you want to release baby sea turtles then it’s important to visit Bali Sea Turtle Society in the hatching season and that’s from April to October.
If you just want to support the Bali Sea Turtle Society and its sea turtle conservation efforts, there’s no bad time of year to visit the Bali Sea Turtle Society and your support will be very welcome.
What To Expect At Bali Sea Turtle Society?
The Bali Sea Turtle Society is a non-profit organization that protects vulnerable sea turtle eggs during the nesting season in order to release the animals into the ocean where they have some hope of reaching adulthood.
They are also an education organization and if you visit the Bali Sea Turtle Society you can learn about the life cycle of the sea turtle species that live in the waters of Bali and how to protect sea turtles and their eggs.
Things can get very busy at the Bali Sea Turtle Society during the high season when the eggs hatch and if you want to participate in a release, we strongly recommend sponsoring a baby turtle before the scheduled release time.
The Bali Sea Turtle Society works on a donation basis and there’s no fixed fee for taking part.
A staff member will talk you through the whole process of how turtles nest in nature, and how the nests at the turtle society are cared for to the hatching process.
They will also ensure you release the turtle from the beach here on the island to maximize its chances of survival.
Where To Stay Near Bali Sea Turtle Society?
There are plenty of nice places to stay around Kuta Beach and the Bali Sea Turtle Society including:
Hard Rock Hotel Bali – a surprisingly affordable offering from the global brand famous for rock music and a party vibe. The hotel faces the beach and is a short walk from most of the neighbourhood amenities.
Mercure Kuta Bali – a decent 5-star resort close to the beach. The view out over the ocean from here is amazing from the infinity pool area. There’s a real emphasis on traditional hospitality here.
Truntum Kuta (Formerly Grand Inna Kuta) – this 5-star has recently been rebadged and upgraded. The Balinese menu in their kitchen is excellent and the pool area is super comfy.
Kuta Paradiso Hotel – this hotel has seen better days but if you want a cheap 5-star hotel in Kuta, it’s very good value for money.
The Anvaya Beach Resort Bali – a first-class 5-star hotel directly on the beach with an amazing pool area and top-notch staff.
Where To Eat Near Bali Sea Turtle Society?
You can also find plenty of decent restaurants in the area near the Bali Sea Turtle Society and they include:
Hard Rock Cafe – this place can often be crowded during the high season and it’s popular with families and expats at night. However, if you’re prepared to get there early or wait in line, this location offers good food and excellent live music.
Yulia’s Kitchen – we’re big fans of Yulia’s which makes great use of Balinese recipes and fresh local catch to deliver don’t miss dishes that are so tasty!
Dulang Kafe Kuta Square – if you want a soto ayam that’s absolutely authentic this is the place to be in Kuta.
The Seven Rooftop Bar (Kutabex Beach Front Hotel) – this rooftop bar is a great place for cocktails but we regularly head there for their steaks, which are great and not too expensive.
Stadium Cafe – this popular sports bar is a great place for a cold beer after you’ve visited the turtle society and learned the importance of turtles in the wild.
Things To Do Near Bali Sea Turtle Society
There are quite a few things to do in the area around the Bali Sea Turtle Society too and some highlights include:
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Kuta Beach – Bali’s most infamous beach isn’t as bad as it’s sometimes portrayed in the media and it’s absolutely stunning at sunset.
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Kuta Art Market – A popular spot for picking up souvenirs and enjoying some authentic Balinese haggling over t-shirts, thongs and the like.
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Pantai Segara – a busy part of the beach further down from Kuta and still one of the busiest beaches in Bali. Expect to be hassled to buy stuff from local vendors, but it’s worth the hassle for an amazing sunset view.
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Discovery Mall Bali – one of Bali’s bigger malls with a huge collection of shops selling pretty much anything you could need.
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Beachwalk Mall Bali – another big mall with plenty of local and international brands to keep any shopaholic happy.
FAQs
Where Can I Release A Turtle In Bali?
There are many places to release baby sea turtles in Bali, and this includes the Bali Sea Turtle Society in Kuta Beach.
What Time Of Year Do Turtles Hatch In Bali?
Turtles hatch in the dry season in Bali and that means sea turtle hatching season is from April to October.
So, if you want to make a day trip to the Bali Sea Turtle Society to participate in their next release, it’s a good idea to come when the animals are hatching or there wil be no hatchlings to release.
Is Releasing Turtles In Bali Ethical?
Is it ethical to release baby sea turtles? Well, it’s certainly more ethical than holding on to the baby turtles or the sea turtle eggs.
However, there’s no doubt that more needs to be done to protect sea turtles in Bali and that sea turtle conservation is in its infancy and doesn’t always match up to the standards for baby turtle release set elsewhere in the world.
However, the Bali Sea Turtle Society at Kuta Beach has one of the best reputations for ensuring that eggs hatch in safety and that each baby turtle is released into the wild properly.
Yes! In fact, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s fine to visit any part of the island where sea turtles swim and enjoy swimming alongside them.
However, you should be aware that you are swimming with a protected species and thus, you should not interfere with any sea turtles that you swim with.
That is, it’s fine to swim with them and look at them, but you shouldn’t touch a sea turtle (unless you see one trapped in a plastic container or something similar, then you can help to release it).
Final Thoughts On The Bali Sea Turtle Society
The Bali Sea Turtle Society does valuable work to protect sea turtles in Bali and without environmental protection for the baby turtles, it’s likely that the turtles would be even more endangered than they are now.
That’s not to say that the Bali Sea Turtle Society is a perfect organization, but it is one of the places with the best ethical record for caring for the Bali Seat Turtle and its babies and for that, we think they deserve some support.
Read more about turtles in Bali here.
