Best Beaches in Sri Lanka – Time for Some Fun in the Sun

The closest to the city of Colombo and the international airport the western coast offers a contemporary environment. The west coast is measured from the town of Negombo in the North to the ever popular southern coast resorts. Enjoy a world of modern benefits, water sports and the finest coastal boutique hotels to rest, relax and play.

Negombo was once a sleepy fishing village today it is one of the most cosmopolitan towns in Sri Lanka. Negombo is home to the huge Negombo Lagoon famous for producing succulent prawns and crabs while the strong Dutch colonial heritage represented at many historical points in the city is quite an attraction. Negombo town maybe quite modernised but the beaches are secluded verdant stretches of soft sand where water sports and sailing is on offer.

Starting from the town of Kalutara the southern coast snakes it way around the bottom half of the island. Definitely the most popular stretch amongst sun loving tourist this coast has many lures. Take Weligama for instance the place is home to a gorgeous bay and beach that allows you to walk for miles into the shallow sea. Mirissa in Weligama is the most popular location for setting off on dolphin and whale watching tours. Some of the best boutique hotels in Sri Lanka are found in Weligama and the southern coast together with laid back beach cafes and bars. Chilling out and staying at posh backpacker hostels popularly called poshtels are quite the thing in chilled out laidback towns such as Weligama.

One of the most popular towns in the south, heritage city Galle is home to a natural harbour and UNESCO World Heritage Site - the Old Dutch Fort. Expect gorgeous turquoise waters and sandy stretches of beach where you can enjoy an amazing sunset and watch as fishermen bring in a fresh catch. Galle is ideal to explore for its colonial heritage and many historical monuments while relaxing and enjoying the cool confines of a luxurious Galle boutique hotel will treat you to a holiday like no other. Beach hopping in Sri Lanka is quite popular and with chain hotels located along the best beaches, hotel transfers are made easy while ever popular Galle home to Mosvold Hotels houses many chain resorts for easy transfers and exploration of the islands coasts.

One of the closest resorts to Colombo Bentota is a totally tourist oriented town. The resort is quite popular and quite crowded, for it offers the latest water sports, hip bars, good restaurants and the famous Bentota Beach; a stretch loved by many for its soft sands and warm waters. Bentota is easily reached for a day trip from Galle and Weligama for those of you who prefer to stay in less crowded resorts. Close to Bentota is the sleepy town of Balapitiya well known for its Ayurveda hotels and famous river safaris on the verdant Madu Ganga – river. Apart for relaxing and enjoying the holistic benefits of Ayurveda treatments in Balapitiya you can enjoy floating along the brilliant river which is a bio-diverse environ. Balapitiya beach is of course one of the most tranquil and if you love doing nothing but lying on the soft sand and swimming in the ocean do give the leisurely town of Balapitiya a shot.

The Unawatuna Village is just 5kms from Galle and is home to a gorgeous crescent shaped beach, the soft sand dips down to the ocean which is a turquoise blue stretch of sea. Jungle beach too is a popular location along this beach which can be reached via a walking path through a lush jungle.