İztuzu Beach

İztuzu Beach is located in the Ortaca district of Muğla Province, near Dalyan in southwestern Turkey. The beach forms a long, narrow strip of sand between the Mediterranean Sea and the freshwater and brackish environments of the Dalyan delta.

Its geography gives it a distinctive appearance. On one side lies the open Mediterranean, while the other side is connected with reeds, lagoons and the winding waterways that lead toward Köyceğiz Lake.

The beach extends for several kilometres and has a broad sandy shoreline. Unlike small rocky coves, İztuzu feels open and spacious, with uninterrupted views across the sea.

The sand is pale and fine in many sections, while the water close to shore often appears in shades of blue and turquoise.

İztuzu is also widely associated with the loggerhead sea turtle, known as Caretta caretta. The beach is an important nesting area, and the presence of turtles has become one of the defining natural features of the wider Dalyan region.

The surrounding landscape includes low hills, reed beds, channels and coastal vegetation. Together, these elements create a transition between beach, wetland and river environments.

The journey to the beach can also form part of the experience. The waterways around Dalyan pass through dense reed beds and open toward the sea near İztuzu.

Swimming, walking along the shore and observing the surrounding natural landscape are among the main reasons people spend time here.

The beach changes subtly through the seasons. Summer brings brighter colours and calmer coastal conditions on many days, while cooler periods give the shoreline a quieter and more open appearance.

İztuzu is distinctive because it is not only a Mediterranean beach. It is also part of a larger natural system that includes the Dalyan channels, wetlands, Köyceğiz Lake and surrounding hills.