Sri Lanka
Beaches
The beaches of Sri Lanka are truly outstanding. Regardless if you are into swimming, surfing, diving or just sun-bathing Sri Lanka got it all.
Surrounded by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka offers but not only exceptional diving opportunities, with shipwreck dives of special interest, but many other kinds of water sports like jet skiing, parasailing, windsurfing or whitewater river rafting.
Negombo
37km. north of Colombo and 6 km. from the International Airport, Negombo is an ideal fishing town as well as a paradise for the seafood lovers. You can enjoy watching the old world fishing crafts like the outrigger canoes and the catamarans bringing a variety of marine fishes like seers, skipjacks, pomfrets and amber-jacks. In the lagoon lobsters and prawns are caught and served as fascinating delicacies in the restaurants.
Additionally Negombo is known to have some of the widest beaches in Sri Lanka.
Mount Lavinia
Just 12 km. south of Colombo, Mount Lavinia is the most popular beach because of its close proximity to the capital. It is situated beside a wind swept headland jutting into the waters of the Indian Ocean. The Governor's House built in 1805 by Sir Thomas Maitland, now forms part of the famous Mount Lavinia Hotel. You can not afford to miss this place out!
Beruwala
56 km. south of Colombo, Beruwela beach is the starting point of a 130 km.long stretch of beach. In the past few years great strides have been made in the field of resort development in this area. The bay around remains ideal for bathing almost for the whole year.
Aluthgama
Facing sea, lagoon and river Aluthgama is offering water sports possibilities nowhere else to be found.
While swimming, body-surfing or diving in the sea, you can jet-ski, windsurf, parasail or enjoy a romantic river safari on the river and lagoon.
Bentota
The Bentota Resort Complex is an ideal romantic beach holiday with a teeming growth of hotels, shopping arcades and cafeterias. There is also an open air theatre which shows folk and mask dancing. It is located 62 kms south of Colombo.
Hikkaduwa
It is the place where you can have a glimpse of the fascinating underwater world and see the creatures that inhabit the unfathomable depths of the sea. The famed coral gardens are located here. Just get hold of a glass bottomed boat or goggles and flippers and plunge into the ocean! Hikkaduwa is 98 kms south of Colombo.
Galle
116 km. south of Colombo, Galle is town of prime importance in the southern part of Sri Lanka. It has an an old-world charm pervading its air. Its natural harbor was a famous fort in the days of yore. Today, the place holds fame for its Dutch fort, lace making, ebony carving and gem polishing.
Unawatuna
Unawatuna is a beautiful and quiet beach resort just 5 km south of Galle.
A golden beach which is protected by coral reefs, safe swimming, wreck & reef diving and some surf points making Unawatuna a more and more popular travel destination.
Weligama, Mirissa, Matara
The coast to the South of Unawatuna, especially between Weligama, Mirissa and Matara, is still untouched by mass tourism and offers beside laid back villages and secluded beaches some of the best surf spots on the island.
In this area the famous (original) stilt fishing men still can be found.
Arugam Bay
Tucked away on the South Eastern coast of Sri Lanka - about 300 kms. from Colombo, is the lazy little fishing village of Arugam Bay - richly endowed with a beautiful stretch of ocean and vast expanses of deserted beach. For many years a popular sea side holiday resort for local travelers, Arugam Bay has grown in the last twenty years, into a big attraction for surfers, who coverage on it in numbers from different parts of the world.
Nilaveli
14 km. from Trincomalee, Nilaveli is a water sports hub. Fishing, angling, water skiing, snorkeling- all are here for you. You can even have close encounters with whales in the wild.
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For more travel and background information on Sri Lanka, read our Sri Lanka Guide and the travel tips, helping you to make the most out of your holiday in Sri Lanka.