Being an island, Sri Lanka is surrounded by beautiful golden beaches, certainly a feature not to be missed by any visitor. Unfortunately due to the 2 decade long conflict in the north and east, some of the best coastlines are out of reach. Nilaveli, Pasikudah and Arugam Bay are 3 of the most beautiful white sandy beaches in the east coast that are inaccessible to most tourists bar the most adventurous who still brave the perils to enjoy the peace and seclusion that the conflict has brought these areas. A die hard band of surfers still make it to Arugam Bay during the season to catch the surf there classified as one of the top 10 surf spots in the world.
The beaches in the west coast and the south coast are no less spectacular and hosts 1000s of visitors each year. There is a thriving beach culture in Hikkaduwa and Unawatuna and to a lesser extent in Negombo. Other coast lines such as Bentota, Beruwela and Kalutara are the tourist hot spots featured by many of the large tour operators in Europe. Below are the best of the best in Sri Lanka.
Bentota – is one of the biggest stretches of beach on the island & one of the most famous tourist destinations in Sri Lanka. All along the coast of Bentota you will find a rich collection of beach resorts, ranging from standard guest houses to 5 star theme resorts & exclusive beach villas (fast growing in demand for their service & magnificent setting).
The Bentota coast line is divided into 2 parts, North and South Beach. The north beach is known as the Paradise Island, beautifully sandwiched between the choppy breakers of the Indian Ocean and the calm waters of the Bentota lagoon. Most of the standard beach resorts are crowded on this “island”. The more attractive southern end of the Bentota Beach, compromises of a wide & tranquil sandy bed that most of the top-end resorts, villas and boutique hotels call home.
When crossing the Bentota River you won’t fail to miss the tourists practicing various water sports where the river meets the sea. Certified water sports centres such as PADI & CMAS can be found at Bentota offering services such as diving excursions & deep sea fishing. You’ll also find plenty of other water sports centres run by the local, ever so friendly Beach Boys who offer other sports such as Jet skis, Wind surfing, canoeing & Banana Boat rides. Tourists from Europe will feel at home as the beach boys are able to converse in almost all European languages.
Negombo - A characteristic fishing town north of Colombo is a mere 6 km from the international airport. Set amidst lush groves of coconut palms, it breathes the spirit of the sea. Negombo is the heart land of Christian Sri Lanka, as borne out by the enormous churches and wayside Catholic shrines scattered about the town and its surrounding area.
Head out to one of the fishing villages dotted along the coast in the morning & you will find the local folk busy working hard for the days catch, pulling in there “Maa Dale” (Fishing Nets), which will be a refreshing experience for any tourist. Thanks to its position between the rich, ocean waters and the lagoon, Negombo has developed into one of the most important fishing ports of the island. Fishing dominates the local economy, with the sea providing plentiful supplies of Tuna, shark and seer.
In Negombo there is Sea food in plenty. Old - world fishing craft, like the outrigger canoes and the catamaran, bring seer, skipjack, herring, mullet, pomfret and amber jack, while lobster and prawn are caught in the lagoon. Try walking past one of the sea food restaurants & you won’t be able to ignore the magnificent aromas of the sea food platters served on their tables.
Hikkaduwa - One of the first areas to be developed for Tourism in Sri Lanka, this is still one of the most popular of our beach resorts. Hikkaduwa is famous for its coral and sub tropical fish. The reef, which is parallel to the shore and is only a few meters below the water, can be investigated with snorkel and flippers, or in a glass-bottomed boat. There are several wrecks in the area which offer interesting dives. A little further down the coast, there is good surf for board or body-surfing. There is a community of international surfers in and around Hikkaduwa during the season from October to March each year. The coral sanctuary found on the coast is a large shallow body of water enclosed by a reef, decorated with layers of multi coloured corals, which is home to a countless number of colourful fish.
Hikkaduwa is the original Sri Lankan hippy hang out and is fast growing in to the islands specialised party capital. You maybe lucky enough to get a chance to witness a techno parade, Reggae concert or the occasional rock concert, of course hosted by the ever present “Beach Boys”. This is the ideal destination for backpackers in search of that perfect beach to hang out & unwind with the local folk. You often see plenty of tourists walking along the roads dressed in sarongs & slippers. Compared to other destinations Hikkaduwa has ambience, with plenty of restaurants and shops to tempt you out of your guest houses and it’s the crowd of predominantly young & independent travellers that breathe life to this exciting beach town.
Arugam Bay - Arugam Bay is a fishing village 3km south of the small town of Pottuvil at the remote southern end of the east coast. It probably has the best surf in Sri Lanka, which forms near a low headland a little further south, and because of this it has developed into a hang-out for low-budget travellers. It has long been popular with hardcore surfers, who come here to ride what are generally acknowledged to be the best waves in Sri Lanka, and the village still has an impromptu, palm-shack feel that reflects it’s origins as a low-key surfing hangout. There’s a wide, sweeping beach in front of the village itself which is good for swimming; and south of the surf promontory a long, deserted beach leads down to ‘Crocodile Rock’, from where wild elephants can quite often be seen. The best period for surfing is between April and September and during this ‘season’ the number of travellers – most of whom are diehard surfers – visiting the area increases. When the season ends the place empties and some guesthouses and restaurants shut up shop, but this may be just what you’re after.
Nilaveli - Nilaveli is second of the Trincomalee areas Famous pair of beaches in the East Coast of Sri Lanka known the world over for its beautiful soft white sand beaches which slope gently into clear shallow seas. Nilaveli is a great destination to relax & unwind as you will find mile upon mile of clean and secluded sands leading to one of the best dive locations in Asia, offering excellent diving opportunities. A number of shipwrecks including the aircraft carrier HMS “Hermes” which went down during World War II, and its sister ship the HMS “Empire” which came to its rescue only to suffer the same fate, lie submerged beneath the waters. The Nilaveli Beach on “the other side of the island”, remains untouched & pure and very private even today – it is undoubtedly the best in Sri Lanka and one of the premier beaches in Asia.
Mirissa – Found on the south east end of the Island, Mirissa is truly the best “Undiscovered beach” in Sri Lanka. It now attracts a steady stream of visitors. Its beach remains one of the prettiest in the island, with a narrow strip of sand backed by dense palm trees which manage to camouflage all signs of any human presence. Mirissa is still untouched by mass tourism and offers beside laid back villages and secluded beaches some of the best surf spots on the island. This is also where you find the famous stilt fisherman found on picture post cards all over Sri Lanka.
The Mirissa road runs parallel to the beach, but you will not find the usual chain of restaurants that would normally be found at other famous beach destinations, which is why this is ideal for the traveller in search of a quiet secluded beach.
Unawatuna – Situated on the west coast of Sri Lanka, Hidden away off the coastal Matara Road some 5KM east of Galle is a popular tourist destination and a famous breeding ground for turtles. Unlike the other resorts to the north, Unawatuna is still a very quiet place and an excellent location to enjoy the tropical beauty of this island. Ideal for snorkelling and swimming, there are some coral reefs to be explored at near by Rumassala which is now becoming popular as a bird watching location as well.
Unawatuna offers a wide range of accommodation scattered around the nearby village, but more luxurious places are a few minutes drive from the beach. The beach side bars and restaurants are found in abundance and contribute to the popular beach culture of Unawatuna.
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