Tourist Traps in Bali: What Lies Behind the Turtle Centres
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We went into Bali's tourist traps. It's worse than we thought.
In Bali, we visited centres that present themselves as rescues for endangered sea turtles. Instead of protection, we often found a business built on tourists' good intentions. That is the story of the new VAKOVAKO podcast episode.
Every year, thousands of people come to Bali wanting to help nature in some way. Turtle centres offer exactly that: a chance to see endangered turtles up close, contribute to their protection and leave feeling good. We wanted to find out what really lies behind it. So we visited the centres with Eva Bílková, a science communicator and sea turtle conservationist.
Rescue or attraction?
At first glance, they look like places that care for turtles. In reality, many can operate mainly as tourist attractions, where money matters more than the animals.
What we saw shocked us. Turtles kept in small pools. Practices passed off as conservation. And a system that, based on what we found, exploits the most valuable thing tourists bring: the wish to help.
Why it puts turtles at risk
A sea turtle is built for the open ocean. A small pool can never replace the sea. In the episode, we talk with Eva about what life in these conditions means for the turtles, and why "rescue" as some tourist centres practise it can be a threat rather than help.
We didn't just film
We tried to help several of the turtles on the spot. Listen to the new episode to find out how it went.
We want more than to raise awareness. We want change.
Together with Save Turtles, we have launched a fundraiser. Its goal is to change how turtle centres in Bali operate and to support real protection of these endangered animals.
Red flags
Be cautious if a centre:
- keeps hatchlings in pools "for their safety"
- lets tourists hold or handle turtles
- offers photos with turtles as an attraction
- releases hatchlings during the day, for example to get better photos
What you can do
- Listen to the podcast.
- Support the fundraiser and give the turtles real protection in Bali.
- Watch the film In the Shadow of Bali (Ve stínu Bali): premiere on 25 November 2026 at Kino Přítomnost in Prague and online. More at www.vestinubali.cz
