Shell Beach is one of Guyana's most remarkable protected areas — roughly 145 kilometres of undeveloped Atlantic coastline running northeast from the Waini River mouth, designated a protected area to safeguard nesting sea turtles. Leatherback, hawksbill, green, and olive ridley turtles all come ashore between March and August to lay eggs, with leatherbacks arriving in the greatest numbers from April to July.
Getting there from Mabaruma requires a boat journey of several hours through mangrove creeks and open coast, typically arranged through local guesthouses or tour operators in Georgetown. There are no facilities on the beach itself; visitors camp on the sand and patrol with trained rangers after dark to watch nesting females. Conditions are basic and insects are fierce, but watching a two-metre leatherback haul itself up the beach by moonlight is an experience that stays with you.