Technically speaking, this post should be called "The Best Beaches on Sri Lanka's South Coast", as all of the beaches I will be including are located in this region. After spending two weeks exploring the northern and central provinces of Sri Lanka, I finally headed to the infamous South Coast for a couple of weeks of beach hopping. We did the South Coast in proper backpackers fashion; literally hopping from beach to beach via the bus service that runs directly alongside the southern coastline!
1. Tangalle
My favourite beach in Tangalle was a serene small cove just west of the town (I believe it was called Marakkalagoda). It was walkable but you could also hail a tuktuk for around 800 rupees. The cove was a welcome break from the intimidating waters of Medaketiya and Marakolliya. It was very quiet with only a couple of casual beach restaurants allowing you to use their sun-beds if you purchased a drink or two.
2. Goyambokka
Just a short drive from Tangalle lies the small beach of Goyambokka. There are actually a couple of beaches around here, the main being just south of Palm Paradise Villas (Google Map it), and from there you can walk to another two beaches. The picture above was taken at a small cove to the west of the main beach! Goyambokka was a lovely place to stay for a night or two, as it was much quieter than nearby Tangalle and felt infinitely more secret.
3. Silent Beach
Also within walking distance of our guesthouse in Goyambokka was Silent Beach, one of the most incredible beaches I visited in Sri Lanka. The beach is best known as the location for the luxury hotel Amanwella, and despite their plea to privatise the beach it remains open to the public!
The beach is largely unspoilt, with a forest of palms lining the miraculously empty golden sand. Sadly, the hotel demolished locally run beach restaurants but you can still find people offering beach chairs in exchange for purchasing some delicious fresh coconuts!
4. Hiriketiya
Hiriketiya was the perfect cove that had me feeling like I was in some kind of tropical Mediterranean. It felt extremely safe for swimming and it was also popular with surfers, both beginners and advanced. There were about three beach restaurants/guesthouses, which served delicious food and offered surf lessons. There were also two yoga guesthouses offering daily classes (Salt Yoga and Dots), so perfect if you wanted a few days of surf and yoga. Hiriketiya was the kind of place that you book for one night but end up staying an entire week!
5. Polhena
Polhena beach itself was lovely but it was more of a locals beach. However, all along the coast were a number of guesthouses which usually had a small beach to the front or side. We stayed at Beach Inns, which had a gorgeous narrow beach next to the hotel. It was amazing for turtle spotting, and I will never forget eating breakfast whilst watching turtles bob up and down in the waters below. The sunsets here were also spectacular and I could have stayed so much longer!
5. Mirissa
Mirissa is a well known beach town famed for its spectacular opportunities to see whales and dolphins. The beach was also one of my favourites as even though it was lined with lots of restaurants, it has managed to keep its charm. Plus, sometimes you do just want a day at a beach that has all the amenities you need.
Tip: Go early in the morning to nab a sun-bed with shade!
6. Dalawella
After being disappointed with the overdeveloped and rubbish laden beach of Unawatuna, I was keen to find another beach nearby as I had booked three nights in the town! Luckily, after a little research and a look on Google Maps I came across Dalawella. This was an absolutely stunning beach which was perfect for swimming and had a couple of great restaurants. In particular, I would recommend Wijaya for amazing drinks, seafood and pizza!
7. Jungle Beach
This little beach was a perfect escape from the intense heat of Galle. It is called Jungle beach because you have to walk down some steps through "jungle" to enter the beach. The water here was remarkably flat, so its perfect if you don't like being bashed by Sri Lanka's infamous waves! You will find a small beach shack serving food and drinks in exchange for sun-beds. I would totally recommend if you want to visit an unspoilt beach with amenities!
Thank you so reading! All pictures were taken by myself or James Fisher.
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Much love,
Lizzie xx
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