RAS AL JINZ SCIENTIFIC & VISITOR CENTER

The turtle reserve covers a land and sea area of 120 km², including 45 km of coastline. The two guided tours, organized around 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., last around two hours each, including some scientific information, safety instructions, the 20-minute round-trip walk in the dark to reach the nesting area, and the observation time itself, in groups of no more than 20 people (which is already a lot, especially as other groups criss-cross the same beach, moving from one scene to another). These visits are the same as those included in the accommodation package for those who have booked a room on site, who benefit from priority over other guests and a shorter waiting time. This is an advantage, particularly for the early-morning outing, as in the latter case, the guides only wake visitors if turtles have been spotted. Guests staying outside the reserve must arrive at the center 30 minutes beforehand and register in advance.

The best season is from May to September, during the warmer months. But turtles can be seen all year round, several hundred at a time in July - the month favoured by true enthusiasts - and sometimes just one or two a day in the off-season.

Whether you're a wildlife enthusiast or not, the sight of these sacred monsters is an unforgettable spectacle. A lesson in eternity which, when the site isn't packed with groups (which is unfortunately increasingly the case), is heightened by the slightly strange atmosphere of the place and the experience. Maybe it's because you're going to the beach at night, the waves are lapping against ghostly-looking rocks, and you have to be quiet and walk with care, as if entering a sacred place. And when the phosphorescent plankton is hatching, each wave deposits thousands of fireflies on the sand, and the turtles use this path of light to return to the ocean, then, frankly, it's an emotional experience!

To complete the visit, we recommend a visit to the small museum set up in the visitor center, which is well designed and interactive for children. It is divided into 2 sections: one dedicated to the different species of turtle in the region and the fight against their extinction; the other to the archaeological explorations undertaken in the area since 1982, following the accidental discovery of a fragment of pottery dating from the Bronze Age - you can see copper and ceramic objects, jewelry, maps, models...

During the day, free, unguided access to the beach is only permitted from 8am to 1.30pm and only on foot, not to contemplate the turtles that remain in the sea, but to see the holes dug by them, and the traces left by their fins in the sand. Rest assured: the risk of stepping on eggs is reduced to a minimum, as they are sunk at least 50 centimetres into the ground. But digging is of course forbidden, as is picnicking. Beyond its scientific interest, the beach is a pleasant place to stroll and relax. You can go for a swim, taking care not to stray too far from the shore, as currents can be strong. In midsummer, it is not advisable to venture out to sea because of the swell.