Bali Sea Turtle Release In Kuta (Bali Sea Turtle Society)
Are you looking for an activity that’s fun and free, lets you interact with animals, and benefits conservation?
You can release baby sea turtles with the Bali Sea Turtle Society (BSTS) as a volunteer! This is a conservation project that was founded by a Balinese local, Wayan Wiradnyana, in 2001.
The busy coast of Bali (and especially Kuta) is a popular place for turtles to lay their eggs, so BSTS rescues the eggs and protects them until the turtles are hatched and ready to be released into the wild.
There are several organizations working with turtle conservation in Bali, but BSTS is the best known and seems to have the best management.
Today, it draws crowds of people wanting to release baby sea turtles in Bali.
How To Release Baby Sea Turtles In Bali
The Kuta sea turtle release is a free volunteer activity open to anyone, including tourists.
Donations are welcome, but it’s completely free — you don’t have to pay anything to release a turtle.
The only thing you have to do is get in line early enough to get a ticket, because there is a limited number of turtles and lots of people want to release them.
There was a huge group of Chinese tourists when we went in July, so we almost didn’t get a spot in line.
After you turn in your ticket at the front, they will give you your baby sea turtle in a lidless plastic container with some water in it.
My turtle was VERY determined to climb out of the container, and almost fell out, so just keep an eye on this and make sure your turtle doesn’t escape the container.
When everyone has their turtles, BSTS will gather everyone together at Kuta Beach (it’s less than 50 meters away) and then you’ll stop behind a blue rope on the sand.
When they give the signal, everyone can release their turtles and watch them run to the ocean. Freedom!
When Does It Happen?
The sea turtle nesting and hatching season in Bali is from approximately April to October each year. It’s possible to release turtles with BSTS outside of these months, but it’s less common.
During these busy months, there are turtle releases almost every day of the week.
Follow the Bali Sea Turtle Society Facebook page and monitor the announcements for each turtle release (generally it’s announced 6 to 24 hours in advance).
The turtle release happens at 4:30 PM, and tickets generally start being handed out at 4 PM, although this can vary (the Facebook announcements will tell).
I would recommend being there at least an hour early, so you can be sure to get a good place in line. There was a huge crowd when we went in July, and we almost didn’t get a spot in line.
Where Is It?
Bali Sea Turtle Society is located at Kuta Beach in south Bali.
You can use the Google map below to find their location in Bali. Just look for the big turtle statue by the sidewalk. The turtle release happens right there on the beach.
It’s possible to do this as a day trip from any part of the island, but if you’re staying outside of Kuta just be sure to leave early to account for the very real possibility of traffic jams in some parts of the island. There was a ton of traffic in Kuta when we did this in July.
One of the bonuses of doing the turtle release is that you get to see the sunset at Kuta Beach
Sanur Sea Turtle Release
If you’re staying outside of Kuta and still want to release baby sea turtles, another option is Sanur Bali.
This activity comes from the Turtle Conservation and Education Center (TCEC) on nearby Serangan island, which is supported by the WWF and has been working on sea turtle repopulation and education in Bali since 2006.
The turtle release in Sanur doesn’t happen as often as in Kuta, and it’s not very publicized, but there are usually batches of baby sea turtles released somewhere on Sanur Beach at least once or twice a month.
If you get in touch with Genius Cafe or Byrdhouse in Sanur, they can probably tell you when the next turtle release is happening on the beach.
Bali Private Driver & Motorbike Rental
If you want to explore Bali in the comfort and safety of a private car with an English speaking driver, my top recommendation would be GetYourGuide.
Their price is 650k Rupiah ($45 USD) for a full day of driving and sightseeing in Bali (up to 10 hours) for 1-5 passengers. That’s the total price for the whole car + driver + petrol! It’s a great deal. They also offer affordable hotel transfers from the airport.
If you’d rather travel by motorbike, they have that too. Their scooter rentals start at 140k Rupiah (~$9) and include a helmet, rain coat, and free delivery in the south Bali area.
We’ve used GetYourGuide for lots of tours and activities around the world, and they’re great! Highly recommended.
