Have you ever witnessed a turtle’s egg in the wild or a crocodile floating in a tranquil mangrove? There is so much to do in Sri Lanka, a country of culture and history, but it has also become very well known for its stunning beaches, and with good reason. For such a small island the variety and availability of beaches are fantastic. In fact, there are so many it can be a little difficult to choose, so we thought it was a good time to take a look at the best beaches in Sri Lanka.
Of course, whether a beach is good or not will depend upon your personal preferences and which activities you want on your beach trip. However, in Sri Lanka, this is complicated a little more as this can also depend on the time of year. This is because the weather conditions can change throughout the seasons and alter the tides, flatness of the water, and sunshine. For example, the best spots for calmer seas are the South beaches during the months of December to April and the East from May to September.
East Coast
Amongst some of the most beautiful beaches to call Sri Lanka home are those that dot the eastern coast of Sri Lanka. Uppuveli, Pasikuda, Nilaveli, and Arugam Bay are just a few of the more well-known gems to be found on the east coast. If you are looking for a tranquil and peaceful get-away a beach holiday is the ideal way to relax and unwind.
Down South
Affectionately known as “Down south” by the locals, the south coast of Sri Lanka features breathtaking beaches, colonial townships, monolithic Buddhist shrines, and amazing wildlife parks in Sri Lanka in a nutshell. Reef diving in Bentota beach, Snorkeling with turtles in Hikkaduwa, or whale watching in Unawatuna are just a few of the absolute must-see and do things if you are a beach lover and staying down south.
West Coast
The west coast of Sri Lanka is Sri Lanka at its “Most developed” or most westernized and it’s most tourist-oriented with countless guest houses, hotels, and accommodation strung across the west coast. Don’t let this discount the beaches on offer though, from Galle face in Colombo, Negombo beach, Maravilla beach, and up to Beruwala beach, you will be spoilt for choice as well as the rich culture from the fishing communities that line this coast.
