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Ocean Calling

Ocean Atlas · Americas

Americas

Guyana

A rainforest country with one long shell beach where four kinds of sea turtle still nest.

Leatherback turtle
Leatherback turtle, found in the waters of the wider region · Photo: Max Gotts on Unsplash
Story only

Story only, for now. We love learning about this place and its ocean, so we share its story here and do not sell trips yet. Checked by Ocean Calling on 6 Oct 2026. Sources: Shell Beach remains closed until mid-July, Department of Public Information Guyana; The return of the ancient mariners, Caribbean Beat; Guyana Marine Conservation Society.

Why: Shell Beach Protected Area has been protected since 2011 under Guyana's Protected Areas Act and covers about 120 km of beach and mudflat in the north west. Leatherback, green, olive ridley and hawksbill turtles all nest there, mostly between about February and August, and the Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society works with local communities to protect them. A visit here would be a quiet guided turtle watch from a respectful distance, with no bright lights and no touching.

Turtles

Why Guyana

Most people come to Guyana for Kaieteur Falls, rainforest rivers and Georgetown, not for the ocean. Shell Beach Protected Area runs more than 120 km along the coast, and leatherback, green, hawksbill and olive ridley turtles nest there, mostly from February to August. Nest numbers are falling and some nests were poached in 2024, so this is a story about protection more than a trip.

Conservation-led. Ocean Calling guests never chase, touch or bait animals.

United States of AmericaHaitiDominican Rep.BahamasMexicoBrazilPeruColombiaPanamaCosta RicaNicaraguaHondurasEl SalvadorGuatemalaBelizeVenezuelaGuyanaSurinameFranceEcuadorPuerto RicoJamaicaCubaTrinidad and TobagoShell Beach, Guyana

When to go

Feb-Aug. Timing changes by place and by animal, so check each place below.

We share this place as a story so you can learn. There is no Ocean Calling trip.

Our ethics check

Can we travel here ethically?

Story only

We tell the story. We do not sell a trip here.

Checked 6 Oct 2026. Places change, so we look again every year.

Sources for this check
The story

Where in Guyana

We share these places as stories and research notes. We do not offer or sell trips here.

Shell Beach

Story only

A very long protected beach of shells where four turtle species nest, looked after by local communities.

Also seen: Sea turtle nesting (guided, no lights, no touching, story only for now)

When: Feb-Aug. Nesting is mostly from February to August. One year of nest counts in 2024 showed green turtle nests falling from 233 to 37, so we do not promise sightings.

Animals

Animals recorded in Guyana

Tap an animal to learn how it lives, where it travels and how to meet it respectfully.

Land animals
Leatherback hatchling crossing the sand toward the seaLeatherback turtleDermochelys coriaceaSeen in 76 countries in the AtlasVulnerableGreen turtle resting on the reef, shell and head pattern in sharp detailGreen turtleChelonia mydasSeen in 103 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHawksbill turtle swimming, pointed beak in profileHawksbill turtleEretmochelys imbricataSeen in 88 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredOlive ridley turtles nesting on Playa Ostional, Costa RicaOlive ridley turtleLepidochelys olivaceaSeen in 40 countries in the AtlasVulnerableGuiana dolphin catching a fish in the Mahury channel, French GuianaGuiana dolphinSotalia guianensisSeen in 2 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedScarlet ibis in flight against a pale blue sky, photographed in Georgetown, GuyanaScarlet ibisEudocimus ruberSeen in 22 countries in the AtlasLives on landLeast ConcernMale magnificent frigatebird perched on a mangrove branchMagnificent frigatebirdFregata magnificensSeen in 52 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernMasked booby on Ascension IslandMasked boobySula dactylatraSeen in 80 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernCrowd of brown pelicans packed together on a coastal roost, one adult with a pale head and coloured bill facing the cameraBrown pelicanPelecanus occidentalisSeen in 48 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernAmerican flamingo wading in shallow water with its head lowered toward the surface, Yucatán, MexicoAmerican flamingoPhoenicopterus ruberSeen in 47 countries in the AtlasLives on landLeast ConcernNeotropic cormorant perched among willow branches beside the waterNeotropic cormorantNannopterum brasilianumSeen in 29 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernAnhinga holding a fish in its long, pointed billAnhinga (American darter)Anhinga anhingaSeen in 24 countries in the AtlasLeast Concern
Curious?

Why this is a story, not a trip

Read our ethics check above. If you would like to talk about it, Rocío is happy to explain.

Ask RocíoBack to the Ocean Atlas

Also in Americas
AntarcticaArgentinaBermudaBrazilCanadaChileColombiaCosta RicaEcuadorEl SalvadorFalkland IslandsFrench GuianaGuatemalaMexicoNicaraguaPanamaPeruSurinameUnited StatesUruguay

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Based in Guyana?

We are always happy to hear from exceptional local operators, accommodation, conservation organisations and destination experts in Guyana. If your work fits responsible, small-group ocean travel, we would love to learn more.

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