10 Best Beaches in Sri Lanka for a Perfect Getaway
There are several reasons why tourists visit Sri Lanka, and on top of the reasons are to explore the beaches. The beaches in Sri Lanka are a tourist’s haven because they are beautiful, have crystal clear waters, are sandy, and are pristine. At the beach, you can see colorful wildlife, enjoy idyllic scenery, and try different water sports like surfing, swimming, snorkeling, or scuba diving.
When planning your holiday or vacation and you are searching for Sri Lanka holiday packages, one thing that should be included in the package should be to explore Sri Lanka beaches.
From east to west, Sri Lanka offers a variety of beaches to explore. What makes it even more exciting is that every beach offers a unique experience, so you can explore different beaches and never get bored.
Whatever beach experience you are after, you can find a beach in Sri Lanka to satisfy your quest. You can explore all beaches in Sri Lanka in one trip. Hence, we have listed the best beaches in Sri Lanka, whether you are on a short visit or vacation, to include in your itinerary.
Best Beaches in Sri Lanka
If you are searching for the best beaches in Sri Lanka, here we have compiled a list for you. It doesn’t matter which part of Sri Lanka you are visiting; there is a beach to visit.
- Wijaya Beach
Wijaya Beach is on top of the best beaches in Sri Lanka to explore. Tourists love to visit this beach because of it’s lapped by crystal-clear water, stunning white-sand beach, and hanging palm trees. The scenery of the surroundings is spectacular, and the atmosphere is serene, making it an ideal place for relaxation.
You can enjoy different water sports here, and the most common is swimming. There are natural swimming pools that are formed by large rocks and a coral reef. There are different marine animals at this beach that you can get a chance to see, and the most common is the giant turtles.
- Mirissa
Mirissa Beach is a popular beach that attracts mostly surfers. There are perfect spots at this beach for surfing. The other activity that draws tourists to this beach is that there are also ideal spots for snorkeling.
Besides that, there are bars and restaurants near the beach where tourists can spend time after exploring the beach enjoying a meal or a drink and catching the beach views.
One thing you will notice when you visit this beach is that in the middle is a huge rock called Parrot Rock. The rock faces the seashore, and if you make it to the peak, you can get spectacular views of the palm tree forest below. You must first determine the tide times before walking across the rock safely because it is out at sea.
- Jungle beach
Located on the east coast, Jungle Beach is one of the best beaches in Sri Lanka, which you can visit with family but older kids. The best time to visit this beach is between May and October.
Jungle Beach stretches 4 km along the coastline. It is a sandy beach and is backed by dense jungle. The Indian Ocean water at this beach is the perfect place where tourists can enjoy sunbathing, swimming, and other watersport activities.
The main reason why tourists flock to this beach is for whale-watching and dolphin-spotting. The best way to try these two activities is to book a tour because the local tour providers know the best spots at the beach.
- Hiriketiya Beach
Hiriketiya Beach, also known as Hiri Beach, is the beach in Sri Lanka to visit if you are surfer. The beach is famous because of its waves and is regarded as a beast spot for surfing, even called the surfer’s paradise of Sri Lanka.
This beach is crowded, especially during tourist peak season, because surfers from all over the world visit the beach to surf. Throughout Hiriketiya, there are surfy and bohemian vibes that come with these surfers.
Even though you may not be a surfer, you can visit this beach to swim or relax at the beach shore as you enjoy surfers catching the best wave of the day. If you envy to become a surfer, there are surf schools on the beach where you can enroll for surfing lessons.
- Tangalle Beach
Tangalle Beach is one of the least visited beaches in Sri Lanka, given it is located on the southeastern coast, and it is not easy to get to this part because it is dislocated from the usual Sri Lanka route.
If you strive to make it to this beach, you will; it is worth the effort. It is a paradise. The nature scenery is stunning, and the atmosphere is tranquil. Hence, the best place for a vacation getaway and relaxation. There are resorts at the beach, so you should not be worried about where you will be staying.
- Koggala Beach
Situated between Unawatuna and Mirissa, Koggala Beach is not popular, and this makes it an ideal getaway beach to visit from the crowds. It is the preferred beach to visit if you don’t like crowded beaches and also beaches with white sand.
There are different things to do at this beach, including watching wildlife like turtles, small sharks, colorful fish, or creating the first footprints in the sand. If you are an experienced surfer, there are surfing spots, but the waves are strong, not an ideal spot for beginners.
The other activity not to miss is watching the tradition of stilt fishing, which is still practiced here. The local fishermen fish in the waters along the shore while perched high on improvised bamboo stilts. They display astounding resilience and commitment to their task as they sit there for hours in the scorching heat.
- Unawatuna Beach
Unawatuna is the best beach on the southern Sri Lankan coast. The golden sand beach, swaying palms, bars, and restaurants found at this beach are what attract tourists. It is crowded and busy during the peak season, but not like beaches in Spain or Thailand. You will find a spot where you can relax.
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If you are on vacation, you can spend days at the Unawatuna village. At the village, you will get to enjoy good local food and vibe, and every day go for the morning swims, and days pass slowly in a haze of coconuts.
- Hikkaduwa Beach
Situated close to Colombo on the west coast, Hikkaduwa Beach is mainly popular because it is easily accessible from Colombo. Another reason why tourists like to visit this beach is to catch the spectacular sunsets. The beach is located in west-facing nature, and in the evening the sunset view is amazing.
Tourists also flock to this beach for different watersport activities. The main one is snorkeling and diving, where you get to see coral reefs and shipwrecks such as larger sharks and small tropical fish.
Also, you can get to see giant turtles up close as they swim close to the beach. You should not touch them and keep a distance.
- Arugam Bay
Situated on the east coast, Arugam Bay is a famous beach for surfers not only in Sri Lanka but worldwide. Even international surf competitions are held at this beach. During surfing peak season from April to September, many surfers across the world visit this beach. During these months, the waves at the beach are excellent for surfing.
Regardless of its reputation, this beach retains a rural beachy vibe, with wooden huts flanking the beach and palm tree forests. Even so, there are great restaurants, cafes, and bars near the center that serve a wide variety of international dishes and have bohemian outside terraces.
- Talpe
Located on the south coast, Talpe Beach is an ideal option for those looking for a secluded beach that is accessible and peaceful. If you are looking for a quiet beach where you can reflect and relax, this is it.
You can spend days or weeks at this beach; there are hotels and family-run guesthouses along the golden sands where you can stay. You can even feel the cool beach breeze from the hotels or guest houses. They are hidden among the frangipani trees and coconut palms.
FAQS
- Which part of Sri Lanka has the best beaches?
Sri Lanka’s southern coast is part of Sri Lanka with the best beaches such as Unawatuna, Mirissa, Hikkaduwa, and Bentota.
- Which is the best white beach in Sri Lanka?
Trincomalee Coast is the best white beach in Sri Lanka.
Which beach in Sri Lanka is crystal clear?
The beach with crystal-clear waters in Sri Lanka is Marble Beach Resort.
- Which is the safest beach in Sri Lanka?
If you want to visit the beach with kids and are wondering which the safest beaches in Sri Lanka are, you can choose either Unawatuna or Uppuveli. The waters on these beaches are calm and safe for kids to swim in.
