The Tyre Coast Nature Reserve covers about 4 square kilometres of coastline southeast of the city, established in 1998 to protect one of the last remaining sea turtle nesting sites on the Lebanese coast. Loggerhead and green turtles nest here between May and September. The reserve also protects dune vegetation and provides a buffer against the coastal development that has consumed most of Lebanon's shoreline.
Visiting is straightforward — the beach is accessible on foot from the southern end of town. The reserve is managed by the Lebanese Ministry of Environment, and during nesting season local conservation volunteers monitor the beach at night. Outside of nesting season the beach is simply a pleasant, uncrowded stretch of sand. It is also the cleanest section of the Tyre coastline. If you are visiting in summer, be aware of nesting markers and avoid disturbing the upper beach above the tide line.