Alagadi Turtle Beach (Kyrenia)

If you type "Alagadi" into the map and look for a single strip of sand, you will end up in the wrong place. This is two separate coves divided by a rocky headland, which is why some guides list the second cove separately as "Alagadi Beach II". Both coves lie 15-16 kilometres east of Kyrenia, just below the coast road between Catalkoy and Esentepe. The whole area holds "Special Environmental Protection Area" status; its management plan was revised in 2023 and the site is run jointly by the Environmental Protection Department and SPOT (the Society for the Protection of Turtles). The most tangible consequence for visitors is that the beach is closed at night during the nesting season. There is no lifeguard and nobody renting out sunbeds. You carry your own shade and your own water, so for Alagadi Beach the bag has to be packed at home. Let's get into the details.

Two Coves East of Kyrenia

The distance from Kyrenia town centre varies between 15 and 19 kilometres depending on the source, but since most sources give 15-16 kilometres, it is fair to expect a 15-20 minute drive along the coast road. Bear in mind that this stretches to 25 minutes when traffic builds up. As we have mentioned before, there is no directly measured distance from Ercan Airport; still, given that Ercan to Kyrenia is 40-42 kilometres and Ercan to Esentepe is 47 kilometres, and Alagadi falls between the two, the trip from the airport can come to around 45-50 kilometres. So which cove should you settle on? If you are escaping the crowds, go for the smaller one; if you want a toilet and something to eat, stay at the larger one. The larger cove is the one with facilities, and that is where the cafe and restaurant are gathered. The smaller cove sits on the edge of the same village and is quieter. In midsummer the midday crowd piles up in the large cove while the small one stays relatively empty. The rocky headland dividing them can be crossed on foot in a few minutes, even in flip-flops. The map shows two separate pins and two separate ratings, yet they are two sides of the same beach.

Road and Parking

The final stretch down from the coast road to the sand is narrow, and its upkeep varies with the season. Depending on the source, the surface is described as dirt in places and narrow asphalt in others, so you will not get a definitive answer before you go. Let's say it plainly: after rain, and in a low car, it pays to take it slowly. There is parking at the entrance to the coves, and it is free. But since the car parks sit behind the dunes, getting down to the sand takes a few minutes' walk, so a heavy cool box will wear you out in the midday heat. There is no regular public transport running between Kyrenia and Alagadi, which leaves your own car or a taxi as the only practical option. If you come by taxi, agree the return time with the driver on the way in. Coming from the Kyrenia side, you pass Catalkoy and continue along the same coast road; coming from the Esentepe side, you join this road at the village entrance. Both directions lead to the same car parks below the village.

A Shallow Sea, Soft Sand

The sand is golden and soft, with stones and bits of rock here and there. The entry into the water is shallow, and the depth increases very gradually. That makes it well suited to going in with children; your feet stay on the bottom for a long way out. In the large cove the sand is more even, while in the small cove the rocky bottom becomes noticeable and sea shoes come in handy there. The water is clear; you can see the bottom before you get in. Since there is no umbrella or sunbed service, you set up your own shade, which is why bringing a sun shelter is a must. The dunes separate the beach from the road, and the turtle nests are dug precisely along this upper strip of sand. So choosing a spot away from the foot of the dunes and close to the wet sand is good for both the nests and for you.

The Beach That Closes at Eight

During the nesting season Alagadi Beach closes at 20.00 and reopens at 08.00. The reason lies under the sand: two species of sea turtle nest here, the green turtle Chelonia mydas and the Caretta caretta. The females start coming ashore in the last weeks of May and continue into August, while the hatchlings emerge from late July through September; August is the peak month. During the incubation months, flash and bright lights, lighting fires, loud music and leaving litter on the beach are all treated as prohibited, because light draws the hatchlings away from the sea and towards the road. There is absolutely no way to go down to the beach alone at night; observation is only possible through the programme organised by SPOT. The time restriction keeps not just light but also feet walking on the sand away from the nests, since stepping on a freshly covered nest crushes the eggs. Behind all these rules stands the management plan renewed by a scientific advisory board in 2023. Daytime hours, by contrast, are unrestricted; neither swimming nor crossing from one cove to the other runs into any additional limits.

Limited Services on the Shore

The cafe in the large cove is seasonal and runs during the day, but do not count on it opening its doors every day. Behind the dunes, within walking distance of the car park, there is a separate business: "Alagadi Restaurant", with a menu leaning towards meze and fish in the summer season. There is a toilet, and it is basic. As for showers, there is no clear information; it varies with the season. Since no source mentions a lifeguard, you swim at your own risk, and on a rough day the decision whether to go in is plainly yours. Because the restaurant is close to the car park, it is easy to stop by on the way out of the beach, but before pinning your dinner plans on it, it is worth phoning to confirm it is open. By the same logic, bringing water and snacks with you will save the day when the cafe turns out to be closed. Carry your rubbish back out too; litter left in a nesting area tops the list of prohibited things.

When to Go

Early morning or late afternoon spares you both the heat and the crowds, but the 20.00 limit cuts any evening plans short. Waiting for the sunset on the beach is simply not possible during the nesting season. April and early May, before nesting has begun, is the beach's emptiest period, though the water is still cold in those months. In July and August the large cove fills up by midday, while those who arrive early find a spot in the small one. What about September? The sea is still warm and the crowds have thinned, but the night closure continues. In the hatching weeks you may see rows of tiny tracks in the morning sand; walk past without touching them. Just west of Alagadi, a little closer to Kyrenia, lies Lara cove, which has no facilities. The simplest plan for Alagadi Beach is this: drive out in the morning, carry your own shade, and leave before eight. The closing time was set for the nests beneath the sand, and visitors abide by it.

Alagadi Turtle Beach at a Glance

For the nesting calendar and the details of the night-watch programme, see our Alagadi turtle watching season guide; if you are driving out yourself, the Kyrenia car rental guide will help, and for the island's other shores there is our North Cyprus beaches roundup.