IZTUZU BEACH

Iztuzu Beach is located in Dalyan, a town in the Ortaca district of Muğla. The 4.5-kilometer-long beach is also known as Turtle Beach. It is one of the areas where loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) lay their eggs. The sandy area stretches from the foothills of Radar Hill to the front of Delik Island. Iztuzu Beach can be reached by road from Dalyan. The asphalt road from Dalyan follows the delta and the Sülüngür coast, passing through villages before reaching the beach. As you approach the beach, the road rises, offering clearings suitable for photography. This provides a panoramic view encompassing the entire delta and the beach. Minibus boats departing from Dalyan take you to Dalyan Mouth Beach. Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) come to Iztuzu beach to lay their eggs.

Behind the main beach, at the İztuzu and Dalyanağzı Beach facilities, there are changing cabins, kiosks where you can get a cold drink, and umbrellas are available for rent. However, precautions are taken to prevent umbrellas from damaging the eggs. You can also reach İztuzu Dalyanağzı Beach by motorboats that run regularly along the canal. A small natural canal connecting the lake water to the sea divides the beach from end to end. After swimming and sunbathing on the beach, you can shower with the freshwater of the lake on the other side. Swimming in both saltwater and freshwater is very enjoyable.

Iztuzu is a natural wonder beyond just the Caretta Caretta turtles. It has a breathtaking appearance, like something out of a puzzle labyrinth. It's as if a 5,400-meter-long arrow of sand stretches into the sea, winding its way through the reeds. By the way, let's reiterate; you can see turtles reaching up to 1 meter in length in the Dalyan canals almost every season. This species, known as Nile Turtles, is not related to Caretta Caretta turtles. They have claws on their feet and feed on fish.

All these efforts undertaken since the 1990s have been appreciated by both domestic and foreign visitors, and Dalyan, Iztuzu Beach, was awarded the title of "Europe's Best Open Space" by the readers of the British newspaper "The Times" in 2008.