Sea turtles nest on the beaches of north-west Bali, but for many years their eggs were collected and eaten or sold. In the 1990s a Pemuteran dive centre started a simple turtle project on the beach: buy the eggs from local collectors at a fair price instead, bury them safely, and release the hatchlings into the sea.
The project is small and informal, but it has released many thousands of young turtles and helped change attitudes in the village. You can visit the tanks, see young turtles and learn about the species of the Bali Sea — and, for a donation, release a hatchling yourself.
Top things to do at Turtle Hatchery
Release a hatchling
When hatchlings are ready, visitors can sponsor one and release it on the beach, usually in the late afternoon. It is a lovely moment, especially for children.
Learn about the species
Staff explain the differences between green and hawksbill turtles, their nesting cycle, and why so few hatchlings survive to adulthood.
Look for turtles on the reef
Adult turtles are seen regularly at Menjangan Island — a good reason to book the snorkelling trip.
How to get to Turtle Hatchery
- Where: on the beach in Pemuteran village, a short walk along the sand from most hotels.
- When: open during the day; ask at your hotel about release times.
- Cost: free to look; releasing a hatchling is by donation.
Insider tips
- Do not handle the turtles unless staff invite you to; follow their instructions for the release.
- Avoid flash photography around hatchlings.
- Keep your donation modest but real — it pays for eggs, tanks and staff.
Best tours & tickets for Turtle Hatchery
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Turtle Hatchery from Pemuteran:
Snorkelling from $26 Pemuteran: Menjangan Island Snorkeling Trip with Lunch
The best-reviewed Menjangan trip on the market. A boat takes you into West Bali National Park to snorkel the island’s famous reef walls, where the coral drops away into deep blue just metres from the surface. Lunch is on the beach, often watched by the island’s tame Javan deer.
- Two snorkel stops on Menjangan’s coral gardens and walls
- Picnic lunch on the island, with wild deer nearby
- Hotel pickup in Pemuteran, gear included
Food & culture from $26 Pemuteran: Cooking Class — 3 Courses of Balinese Dishes
A relaxed, hands-on class in Pemuteran covering the building blocks of Balinese cooking — spice paste, sate and sambal. Highly rated, short and a good way to spend a hot afternoon or a rainy morning.
- Cook three Balinese dishes with local chefs
- Learn to make base genep, the island’s spice paste
- Eat everything you make
