How to Visit Coral Beach Nature Reserve in Eilat
Coral Beach Nature Reserve offers one of the best snorkeling experiences in Eilat, Israel. Our travel guide includes tips on what to expect, entrance fee, opening hours, safety, lockers, or rentals.
Snorkeling in Eilat is one of the most popular activities to do while in the city.
You can certainly find many good places for snorkeling on a 10-kilometer long stretch of the coast that goes all the way to the Egyptian border, but one place is often regarded as the best one.
Coral Beach Nature Reserve is a protected area boasting a beautiful coral reef and abundant marine life, and that's the place we decided to visit ourselves.
The Red Sea has a reputation for being one of the best snorkeling spots in the world, so we were pretty curious about what the experience will be like here.
However, we were also a bit skeptical as it's so accessible, and you can literally park your car like fifty meters from the reef, factors which can easily cause some damage to the site.
While visiting Coral Beach Nature Reserve is pretty easy and straightforward, there are still some things you should know about this place before you go.
Therefore, this is why we've put together this travel guide to make your visit easier.
Renting Snorkel Gear
We wanted to keep our trip to Israel very basic, so we traveled as light as possible and didn't bring any snorkel gear with us.
But that's fine because you can rent it in many places in Eilat.
Moreover, you can rent it even here at the kiosk in Coral Beach Nature Reserve.
While the rental fee (40 NIS for the set) is not exactly cheap, it's a perfect solution for people who only arrive with hand luggage.
However, if you have some spare space in your luggage, we recommend you bring your snorkeling mask and snorkel to save some money when visiting Israel on a budget.
Of course, there's also an alternative if you're staying in Eilat for a few days and don't want to rent gear; you can buy it directly in the city and bring it back home.
Don't forget that you need to leave some deposit at the counter for the snorkeling gear.
So it's better to bring some cash. In our case, we were asked to leave a deposit of a couple of hundred shekels or a credit card.
We didn't want to leave our credit card at the counter, but we didn't have enough shekels.
Luckily, we had some U.S. dollars with us, so the guy who worked there agreed that we could leave a deposit of $60.
Of course, once you return the rental gear, you will get your deposit back. Before you do, don't forget to rinse it in a freshwater sink that's directly in front of the office.
Lockers
If you're a solo traveler or a couple who don't want to leave their valuables on a beach unattended, you will find some lockers within the Coral Beach Nature Reserve grounds.
Lockers are not included in the ticket price, so be prepared that they will cost you a few extra shekels.
The lockers had an average size, and we could easily fit our small day pack there without any problems.
While they looked a bit rusty, they served their purpose, and we found all our things there once we returned.
Once you put everything in and lock it, you'll bring the key to the counter where they will keep it for you, so you don't need to swim with it.
Staying Safe
So you might be wondering how difficult is the swim at Coral Beach Nature Reserve. It was also one of the first questions we asked at the counter.
The guy made a joke and told us to look at the sea and take a guess. Then he suggested that we should rent fins as well as they will help you obviously with swimming.
As it was our first swimming experience in Eilat, we were not sure about the power of the current, so we rented them as well.
As the conditions for swimming were nearly perfect on that day, once in the water, we realized that we would do just fine without them.
We are always cautious about swimming in a new destination as we have already visited plenty of places with dangerous currents or undertows in countries such as Costa Rica or Panama.
It turned out it wasn't the issue here, but we would always ask at the counter as the swimming conditions may vary throughout the year.
Of course, if you're not a good swimmer, then the fins will help you either way. However, you can use the ropes to rest, so it's really nothing to worry about.
Lastly, you will be swimming in the direction of the current flow, which makes the activity even more effortless.
There is also a lifeguard on site that monitors the activity in the water.
Swimming in Coral Beach Nature Reserve is great for beginners, and we believe it's a perfect activity even for families with kids if the conditions are good.
There were also a couple of shallow areas for the youngest ones that might serve as an introduction to snorkeling.
Finally, if you're still worried that it might be too difficult, you can always take a snorkeling tour with one of the local guides.
While we believe it's unnecessary, an experienced guide can point out things in the water that you would probably miss otherwise, unless you have some more profound knowledge of the coral reefs.
Here you will find more tips on staying safe in Israel.
Snorkeling at Coral Beach Nature Reserve
The biggest advantage or disadvantage of Coral Beach, depending on the point of view, is that it's a protected area meaning that the whole zone is well-maintained, but you lose some of your freedom in exchange.
What it means, in reality, is that in order to protect it, the coral reef is roped off, which might not seem ideal at first.
The floating barrier is mostly very close to the reef, so you don't need to worry about not being able to see it from a short distance.
If you accept this fact, you can still enjoy the snorkeling experience here.
While it might lack the raw experience of some other popular snorkeling (and diving) spots around the world, it's not that bad.
There are two piers you can use to enter the water, and we suggest you use the left one for a better experience.
At the time of our visit, the right pier was under maintenance, and you couldn't use it for accessing the water.
It also meant that we needed to swim the entire stretch without a chance to split the snorkeling into two halves (not that we needed it).
Once in the water, we swam a bit to the left to explore this area first. Then we turned around and continued towards the designated exit, which we found in a few hundred meters.
According to the Coral Beach map, the stretch between the two main peers is 130 meters long, and the section between the right peer and the next exit is 250 meters long.
The coral reef was not disappointing, but it was also not the best one we've ever seen.
Still, it's incredibly accessible (for example, you don't need a boat to get there), we've seen plenty of colorful fish, plants, and corals, and there was even a Moses Rock deeper in the sea, which was worth exploring too.
The overall experience will vary on your previous snorkeling adventures, so it's better to keep your expectations low to avoid disappointment if you're a seasoned snorkeler.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
When to Go
We visited Coral Beach in mid-November, and the water temperature in Eilat was still acceptable, but after spending roughly an hour in the sea, I felt a bit cold.
As we were more floating than swimming along the coral reef, it might be a good idea not to use fins to stay a bit more active in the water and keep your body warmer.
The water temperature in Eilat stays above 20 Celsius even in winter, so you can definitely swim here year-round.
However, the summer temperatures of 27 Celsius are a completely different story.
Here you will find more information on the best time to visit Israel.
Facilities
While some people claim that you will find better snorkeling places in Eilat, they lack facilities such as rentals, lockers, guides, lifeguards, shaded areas, showers, or chairs.
Again, that could be a huge advantage for you or something you might want to avoid.
How to Get There
Coral Beach Nature Reserve is located about seven kilometers south of Eilat on Highway 90.
Car
The easiest way to get there is by rental car. Eilat is a top tourist destination, so it's very easy to rent a car there.
And it will also allow you to visit places such as Red Canyon or Timna Park in the Negev Desert comfortably.
Moreover, driving in Israel is easy.
Bus
However, it's also possible to take a bus from Eilat to Coral Beach, which is cheap and runs frequently.
If this is your preferred way of travel, take Egged bus line 15 or 30 from Eilat Central Station to Coral Beach Nature Reserve.
By the way, this is a bus that connects Ramon Aiport with Taba Border Crossing, and you might find this information useful later on.
The bus ride costs 5 NIS (less than $2).
Here you will find more information on how to get around Israel.
Taxi
The next option is to take a taxi, but it's a bit more expensive alternative.
However, as the beach is quite close to the city, it's not that bad, especially if you travel in a group.
On Foot
Lastly, there are a few accommodation options around, so you can get there on foot if you're staying in one of those hotels near Coral Beach.
Parking
Two paid parking lots in Coral Beach are directly next to the entrance, but they have limited spaces.
Luckily, there's a huge unpaved parking lot just across the street where you can leave your car for free.
That's also the place where we parked our car, as parking fees in Israel are usually expensive.
Entrance Fee
The entrance fee to Coral Beach Nature Reserve is 35 NIS for an adult, but you can use here your Israel Pass if you have it.
The entrance fee is not exactly cheap, but we believe you won't regret paying for it afterward.
We talk about Israel Pass in almost every blog post about Israel and recommend you to take a look at it, as it can save you some money.
Opening Hours
Coral Beach Nature Reserve is open year round; only the opening time differs.
In the summer, the park is open from 9 AM to 6 PM between Saturday to Thursday, and 9 AM to 5 PM on Friday and holiday eves in summer.
In winter, Coral Beach is open from 9 AM to 5 PM from Saturday to Thursday and 9 AM to 4 PM on Friday and holiday eves.
Crowds
We arrived just a few minutes before the 9 AM to avoid the crowds, and it paid off, as about thirty or forty minutes later, at least a hundred kids flocked in the site.
However, while there were roughly four or five full buses of kids at the site, it seemed that only a fraction dared to swim in the sea.
So even though the area near the entrance was packed, the waters were still pretty much empty.
We don't even want to imagine how the scene would look like if all the kids went to sea at the same time.
We also decided to stay a bit away from the main congestion so we could even enjoy a bit of peace while on the beach.
There were only a few other fellow tourists, so the snorkeling experience remained pretty good even after a couple of hours.
Where to Stay
As mentioned above, you can stay right next to Coral Beach or directly in Eilat. Both options have some pros and cons, so it's only on your preferences which one you prefer.
The area around Coral Beach is not in the city, so that you won't find much there except for a few resort hotels and restaurants.
It's not like the area around Coral Beach and nearby Village Beach is not developed. But staying in Eilat somewhere in the Hotels Zone is on an entirely different level.
Staying in the city has advantages (or disadvantages) of being close to hundreds of restaurants, shopping malls, or nightlife.
So if the things we mentioned above are not your thing, then the Coral Beach area might be a good alternative for you.
Budget | HI Eilat Hostel - One of the best hostels in Eilat, HI - Eilat Hostel offers affordable accommodation to budget travelers. Basic but clean rooms, great breakfast, and free (limited) parking is everything you'll need. Moreover, the hostel has an excellent location close to the beach, shopping center, and many restaurants.
Mid-range | The Reef Eilat Hotel - If you want to stay away from the busy streets of Eilat, The Reef Eilat Hotel might be a perfect choice for you. This hotel is located about a 5-minute walk from the famous Coral Beach (and about six kilometers south of the city), and the clean, modern rooms offer stunning views over the bay.
Luxury | Royal Beach Hotel Eilat by Isrotel Exclusive Collection - Located in the main hotel zone, Royal Beach Hotel Eilat offers luxury accommodation. The hotel has air-conditioned rooms with balconies, three outdoor pools, and everything else you would expect from a hotel in this category.
What to Pack
Make sure you have a swimsuit, mask and snorkel, reef-friendly sunscreen, and some footwear if you don't like to walk barefoot on burning sand in the summer.
If you want to capture the underwater marine life, make sure to bring a waterproof camera.
Unless you want to sit in the plastic chairs, bring a beach towel with you.
We also had a daypack and a dry sack to keep our valuables safe and dry.
Sunglasses and a book are a good combination if you want to stay there for more than a couple of hours.
And as usual, stay hydrated throughout the day. You can fill up your reusable water bottle while there.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
