Olive Ridley Sea Turtles of St. Martin's Island

Protect the darkness—the beach is a nursery, not a stage.

Olive Ridley sea turtles use beaches in Bangladesh for nesting, and St. Martin's Island is part of a sensitive marine landscape where turtles and other wildlife face intense pressure. A turtle encounter must never be promised. Nesting is seasonal, unpredictable and easily disrupted by light, noise, crowds, vehicles and handling. The responsible adventure is to visit only when the island is officially open and to place habitat protection above the hope of seeing an animal.

As of August 2026, St. Martin's is closed to tourists until the seasonal reopening planned for November. Under the most recently published rules, November permits day trips only, December and January allow regulated overnight stays, and February is closed. Official QR-coded travel passes are required, daily visitor numbers are capped, and access rules can be revised. Travellers must verify the Bangladesh Tourism Board portal and government notices before purchasing transport or accommodation.

On the island, night lighting, loud noise, beach barbecues and motorised vehicles are restricted. Visitors must not enter Keya forest, disturb marine life or collect coral, shells, starfish, eggs or hatchlings. If a turtle or nest is encountered, keep well away, use no flash or white torch, do not touch or block the route and follow authorised conservation staff. Never share a precise nest location publicly.

The journey to St. Martin's should be low-waste and self-disciplined: carry a reusable bottle, avoid single-use plastics and take non-biodegradable waste back to the mainland. Rough seas can cancel vessels, and authorised schedules must be respected. A turtle-focused visit succeeds even without a sighting when the beach remains dark, quiet and undamaged. In a place this fragile, restraint is the most adventurous and meaningful form of participation.

If authorised interpretation is unavailable, enjoy the island's seascape without searching nesting areas. Conservation succeeds when turtles can reach and leave the beach without becoming the centre of a crowd.