Joanna James
Sri Lankan beaches are not only scenic; they also host a number of adventurous and exhilarating water sports. Here is a list of some of the best places to visit to enjoy water sports.
The seaside town of Kalpitiya found in the district of Puttalam is historically well known for its maritime trade. In the 21st century, Kalpitiya has become a haven for tourists who not only visit to explore the Dutch fortress and church located in the area, but also flock to its Lagoon to enjoy a bout of kite surfing. The Kalpitiya Lagoon also hosts a large number of dolphins and whales and therefore, is a popular site for tourists and locals who wish to embark on whale watching and dolphin watching expeditions. Visitors to the lagoon can also enjoy kite surfing, an adventurous water sport that is gaining popularity in Kalpitiya. One can hire the equipment necessary and enjoy the serene beauty of the Kalpitiya Lagoon coupled with the exhilaration of the sport. Those new to the sport can also opt for trainings that will allow them to learn about piloting, wind mechanisms, setting up and launching of the kite.
When visiting and exploring Sri Lanka tailor-made, for avid surfers are the wonderful surf breaks of Arugam Bay. Arugam Bay is located in South East of Sri Lanka and has recently gained popularity for its surf breaks thus making the Bay an ideal place to visit to enjoy surfing. While there are a number of lagoons and beaches as well as a national park in the vicinity, the area is mostly visited by tourists and locals alike with the express intention of enjoying a bout of surfing. In addition to the surf breaks found in Arugam Bay, such as the 'Main Point', there are also a number of surf breaks such as Elephant Rock, Whiskey Point and Peanut Farm. The best time to visit Arugam Bay for the best surfing breaks is between May and September each year. The area has become so popular for surfers that the first International surf contest in Arugam Bay was conducted in 2010. Arugam Bay is also considered one of the best destinations in the world for surfing.
Sri Lanka tailor made holidays are incomplete without a visit to Hikkaduwa, which is also another seaside town that is ideal for surfers. Located on the western seaboard of Sri Lanka, Hikkaduwa is very well known and, as a result, enjoys a large number of visitors. Visiting Hikkaduwa is also logistically far more convenient as it is less than an hour away from Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka, via the Expressway. However, while Hikkaduwa hosts a number of places ideal for high quality surf breaks, it is not a suitable destination for surfing for those who are just starting to learn the sport. Therefore, novice surfers are likely to enjoy the surf breaks in Arugam Bay than in Hikkaduwa.
Another seaside town that is ideal for waters sports, which is also easily accessible from Colombo, is Bentota. The presence of the Bentota River, which makes its way to the Indian Ocean, has provided a cluster of hotels an opportunity to offer a myriad of water sports. Therefore, visitors residing in Bentota can enjoy adventurous and exhilarating water sports such as windsurfing, water skiing, wake boarding, diving, body boarding, surfing, canoeing and jet skiing.
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