Where to stay. Updated November 2026. 4 min read.
Watamu is three coves, a marine park and a village where sea turtles nest in the hotel gardens. It is Kenya's quiet coast, loved by Italian travelers for decades and still barely known in the U.S. Malindi, 20 minutes up the road, adds an old resort town, the airport and a few good hotels of its own.
The short answer: stay on Watamu Bay or Turtle Bay for the beach, the marine park and the most choice. Stay on the Mida Creek side for mangroves, birds and quiet. Stay in Malindi if you want a town with restaurants and a short airport transfer, or north of Malindi for kitesurfing. If you are still deciding between Watamu and Diani, read our Diani versus Watamu comparison first; this page is about where to stay once you have chosen Watamu.
The areas
| Area | Character | Picks |
|---|---|---|
| Watamu Bay and Turtle Bay | The village, the marine park, most hotels | Hemingways Watamu, Medina Palms, Ocean Sports, Turtle Bay Beach Club, Watamu Treehouse, Mawe Resort |
| Mida Creek side | Mangroves, a boardwalk, birds | Azura Villa, Lonno Lodge |
| Malindi (20 minutes north) | Old resort town, the Vasco da Gama pillar, Malindi airport | Q Boutique, Diamonds Dream of Africa, Driftwood Club |
| North of Malindi | Remote kitesurf lodges | Che Shale |
Watamu Bay and Turtle Bay
Most of Watamu's hotels line the bays in front of Watamu Marine National Park, a Kenya Wildlife Service park with coral gardens, turtles and calm, clear water for snorkeling at the right tide. The village is small and walkable, with cafes, Swahili food and a relaxed pace. Local Ocean Conservation, based here, rescues and releases sea turtles, and visitors can sometimes watch a release. Hemingways Watamu and Medina Palms are the polished choices, Ocean Sports is the friendly, good-value base for families and water sports, and Turtle Bay Beach Club is all-inclusive with a kids' club.
The Mida Creek side
Behind Watamu, Mida Creek is a tidal inlet fringed with mangroves, with a boardwalk through the trees and huge flocks of shorebirds. Lonno Lodge and Azura Villa sit on this quieter side, for people who want sunsets over the creek, birdwatching and kayaking rather than a busy beach. The Arabuko-Sokoke forest, home to rare birds and butterflies, is close by.
Malindi and the north
Malindi is the old Italian resort town, with the Vasco da Gama pillar, a long seafront and more restaurants and nightlife than Watamu. Q Boutique is the value choice, Driftwood Club is a long-running beach hotel, and Diamonds Dream of Africa is the most polished. North of Malindi, Che Shale is a remote kitesurf lodge on a wide, windy beach.
Hotels by budget
| Hotel | Area | Style | Price band | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q Boutique | Malindi | Boutique hotel | From about $70 | Value and town life |
| Ocean Sports | Watamu | Beach hotel | From about $90 | Families and water sports |
| Driftwood Club | Malindi | Beach hotel | Mid-range | Relaxed beach stays |
| Turtle Bay Beach Club | Turtle Bay | All-inclusive resort with kids' club | From about $130 | Families |
| Che Shale | North of Malindi | Kitesurf lodge | From about $150 | Kitesurfers |
| Mawe Resort | Watamu | Boutique resort | From about $180 | Couples |
| Medina Palms | Watamu | Suites and villas | From about $190 | Couples and families who want space |
| Hemingways Watamu | Watamu Bay | Resort | From about $250 | Fishing, honeymoons |
| Watamu Treehouse | Watamu | Treehouse retreat | From about $250 | Wellness and quiet |
| Lonno Lodge | Mida Creek | Lodge | From about $310 | Birds, sunsets, privacy |
| Diamonds Dream of Africa | Malindi | Resort | Upper mid-range | Town plus beach |
| Azura Villa | Mida Creek | Villa | Upper mid-range | Groups who want a private house |
Who should stay where
- Families: Turtle Bay Beach Club for the kids' club and all-inclusive simplicity, or Ocean Sports for a friendly, active stay
- Couples and honeymooners: Hemingways Watamu, Medina Palms or Lonno Lodge on Mida Creek
- Budget travelers: Q Boutique in Malindi or Ocean Sports in Watamu
- Kitesurfers: Che Shale, north of Malindi
What to do from your hotel
- Snorkel the marine park by boat at the right tide; the KWS park fee is paid separately
- Visit the Gedi ruins, a Swahili town in the forest about 15 minutes away
- Walk the Mida Creek boardwalk and look for birds at low tide
- Join a turtle release with Local Ocean Conservation when one is scheduled
- Look for rare birds in the Arabuko-Sokoke forest with a local guide
Watamu or Malindi as your base
For most beach weeks, Watamu is the better base: the marine park is in front of the hotels, Gedi and Mida Creek are minutes away, and the village is calm after dark. Malindi makes sense if you want a town, more choice of restaurants or the shortest airport transfer, or if you are on a tight budget. The two are only about 20 minutes apart, so it is easy to stay in one and spend an evening in the other.
Seasons
December to March is the best time: hot, calm and clear. Roughly June to September, some beaches get seaweed; ask your hotel about its beach in those months. The long rains of April and May are quiet, and some hotels close or slow down then.
Getting there
Fly from Nairobi to Malindi, about 1 hour 10 minutes, then drive about 25 minutes to Watamu. Or fly to Mombasa and drive about 2 hours north. From the Mara or other parks, light aircraft connect to the coast, often with a stop.
What we recommend
For a beach week after safari, we usually book Watamu Bay: the marine park, the village and Gedi are all close. For families, Turtle Bay Beach Club or Ocean Sports. For couples, a few nights at Hemingways or Medina Palms, perhaps with two at Lonno Lodge on Mida Creek. Pay in full or monthly with no deposit.
